Simple Recipe for Homemade Cannabis Oil
For optimal storage of your homemade cannabis oil, use a dark glass container that will be kept in a closed cupboard or in the refrigerator.
Infused cannabis oil can be added in a wide range of dishes, from simple salad dressings to exciting sauces and delish pastries. Below we’ve featured an easy home recipe on how to make your own cannabis oil for cooking, as well as we answer every important question you might have about the preparation process, oil storage and usage.
Infused cannabis oil can be used to prepare various other meals and snacks with it, or it can be used medicinally to stimulate the appetite or heal pains. While you can always look for potent infused oil products at the nearest dispensary downtown, you can also prepare cannabis oil in the comfort of your home.
What Oil Is Best for Homemade Infusion?
There are several choices for oil, but it always depends on what your end goal is. Coconut oil and olive oil are two of the best options. By default, coconut oil has the highest degree of cannabinoid absorption, which means the oil will uptake most of the cannabinoids, producing a robust potent effect. However, as coconut also gives a stronger flavor, you might be limited in how you can use the preparation later on in the kitchen. Infused olive oil has more versatile uses, and it’s considered the healthier between the two. It has high enough fat content and will deliver a strong punch upon consumption nonetheless.
You can always experiment with alternatives, such as vegetable, avocado, walnut, sesame or rapeseed oil. The infusing process is the same for every type. But these oils either have lower levels of cannabinoid absorption, or may produce specific flavors which won’t pair as smoothly with other foods.
How Long Does It Take to Make Cannabis Oil?
It’s important what utensil you use to combine the oil and the weed. With a slow cooker on low heat, it will take between 4 and 6 hours, stirring occasionally. In a double boiler on low heat, it will take between 6 and 8 hours, stirring occasionally. Add to that the time it will take to decarb the weed beforehand. Perhaps the fastest way to make cannabis oil at home is by using a saucepan, where the job can be finished in around 3 hours. In any case, pick a day where you don’t have too many other activities and where you will be able to prepare your delicious infused cooking oil in peace.
How to Prepare Homemade Cannabis Olive Oil Which Can Be Used for Edibles?
If you haven’t got any experience in infusing oils, it’s best to start with olive oil. Once you have an olive-based cannabis cooking oil, you can use it for cooking eggs and avocado to preparing pasta and yummy desserts. It’s a great medium to turn any recipe into a delectable, high-giving edible. So, let’s get down to business and take a look at the step-by-step instructions and ingredient list on how to prepare a bowl of nice-smelling cannabis oil for cooking.
Decarboxylation of Weed
The one unavoidable step in preparing any weed for edible ingestion, is decarboxylation. Or where the THCA in the fresh flower converts into THC, becoming ready to unleash its psychedelic effect. For decarboxylation you’ll need the designated amount of cannabis you want to use for preparing the homemade cooking oil, as well as a baking sheet and tray, a pan and tinfoil.
Dosage suggestions: 8 grams of ground weed for 200 ml olive oil, or 10 grams of ground weed for 250 ml olive oil.
The steps:
- Prepare your weed with a grinder
- Preheat your oven to 212 °F (100°C)
- Set up a baking tray with baking sheet on it
- Place the cannabis on the sheet and cover it with tinfoil (make sure the weed is evenly spread)
- Put the weed tray into an oven and bake slowly for 40 minutes (max. 1 hour if it’s less powerful oven)
- Take out the buds once they look dry, brown and crumbly enough
For more details about the decarboxylation process please read here.
Weed used for making infused oil first needs to undergo decarboxylation, by grinding it and putting it in the oven where it is evenly spread on the baking tray.
As with any weed recipe, the hardest part is done once you have successfully decarbed the buds. Here are the next steps on how to cook your homemade cannabis-infused oil in a saucepan, which is the fastest way to go. You will also need a mesh strainer or cheesecloth, and a glass storage container.
- Combine the olive oil and the decarbed weed in a saucepan.
- Simmer on low heat for 2.5 hours, making sure that the temperature of the oil remains between 160°F (70°C) and 200°F (93°C). That is the desired temperature range which will preserve the THC content.
- After you’re done with cooking, take the mesh strainer or cheesecloth and cover the glass container with it, then carefully start to pour over the cannabis oil mixture into the container.
- Work carefully. Make sure that no plant material ends up in the storage container. Also, don’t press the oil mixture as that will let in more chlorophyll, altering the taste of the oil. When you are done with everything, discard the plant remnants.
With a saucepan, the oil will cook in less than 3 hours, whereas a slow-cooker or double boiler will prolong the kitchen session for several more hours. However, a saucepan is more susceptible to scorching than other pans for cooking, so don’t leave it unattended for too long. Regardless of what utensil you decide to use in the end, never exceed the temperature to more than 240°F (115°C) at any point. Because that would destroy the THC.
How Long Will Homemade Cannabis Oil Last?
Cannabis-infused olive oil should last for at least two months, with prolonged shelf life if it’s kept in the refrigerator. Outside the fridge, it can be put in a closed cupboard, and avoid exposure to light. If you followed all cooking instructions correctly, and used high-quality ingredients, the laced oil can last for six months and up to a year.
Once you have your cannabis cooking oil, it can add extra zing to all of your recipes. You can basically use it as a substitute ingredient in many recipes that require regular oil. It's a good idea to ‘test drive’ it first, before preparing a sauce or other meals with it. Experiment with the dosages to check its potency and flavor, and wisely decide with which favorite dishes your homemade cannabis-infused olive oil is going to pair the best. Enjoy!
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Stephen Andrews
