Recipe: Cannabis Infused CoconutOil
Posted: January 21, 2014 in Cannabis, Cooking, DIY, Science
Tags: Cannabis, Cannabis Cooking, Coconut Oil, Decarboxylation, Δ9-THC, Medical Cannabis, THC
As I said in a previous post, I took some time off from posting around New Years to do some cooking and you all would be reaping the benefits. Time to show you the best method to make medicated cannabis oil/butter. Supposedly it works better to use a crock pot but I have never used that method, I’ve only done it on stove top.
An important thing to know before making your oil is a good ratio of bud/shake to oil/butter. I prefer using olive or coconut oil as they both have more saturated fat than butter and the THC binds to it much better as a result. THC is lipidic, that means it binds to lipids…fats; THC is also hydrophobic, it cannot bind to water. I used about three ounces of shake for 2 pounds (32 ounces) of oil, and threw some kief in as well. Most recipes I have found online use a ratio of one ounce shake to one pound of oil/butter, for bud it’s more like 1/2 ounce to the pound. I wanted a very strong batch as I have a high tolerance, and it certainly turned out strong.
What will really help the potency of your medicated oil is if you pre-bake the bud in the oven before cooking it on the stove. This is a process known as decarboxylation, this is a chemical process where carbon is evaporated out of the plant matter. All living things are made of carbon and over time exposure to heat and oxygen will cause decarboxylation. Using the oven accelerates this process. This is crucial for making cannabis oil because when cannabis decarboxylates the non-psychoactive THCa and other trace cannabinoids are converted into THC, whichgreatlyraises the potency of your batch. I put my kief into a pyrex dish to keep it separated and cook it better.
Step 1: Decarboxylate the cannabis. You can either use lower heat (240ish degrees) for about an hour, or a flash heat of 5-10 minutes at much higher (about 300). I am skeptical of the flash heating method as the higher heat runs the risk of burning off desirable cannabinoids and terpenoids. I cooked mine at 280 for about 30 minutes and it was a great success.
Step 2:While the cannabis is decarboxylating start heating up the coconut oil on the stove in the jars in water. Use a medium to low heat to not crack the jars, it helps to preheat the jars in hot water before turning the stove on. You want the oil/butter to be liquid before you throw it in with the cannabis to cook it all together.
Step 3:Begin to boil water on the stove, after a couple minutes add the liquid oil to the water. After about five minutes throw the cannabis in and cook it for the next 2-3 hours. You will want to begin on a medium/high heat to boil it and finish any final decarboxylation, but soon cut it down to a low heat, and you will keep it on low heat for the next 2-3 hours. Low heat is important to not burn off the oil or give it a burned flavor.
Step 4: Let the mixture cool off and put it through a metal strainer, letting the water and oil drip into a Tupperware container. After you use the strainer I would recommend squeezing out the additional oil with cheesecloth, or at least press it through the metal strainer with a spoon. This is crucial as most of the oil will still be in the plant matter and needs to be squeezed out.Put it in the fridge overnight, NOT THE FREEZER!!
Step 5:After a night in the fridge the coconut oil will be a solid again, but the water will still be liquid, this is crucial so you can easily separate the oil from the water. Freezing it will also freeze the water making this impossible or at least *really* annoying and time consuming…so if you like being annoyed and wasting time be my guest…or put in in the fridge andvoila!
If you put it in the fridge cut out a small corner of the oil and pour out all the nasty waste water. Many people suggest using a double boiler method where the cannabis and oil are in one smaller pot layered inside of a larger one holding the water. Don’t fall for that crap. THC is lipidic and binds into the oils, unlike tannins which go into the water. If you separate the water from the oil those tannins have nowhere to go other than into your oil making it taste awful, by putting it all in one pot the tannins go into the waste water to be discarded.
Step 6:Chop up the oil into little pieces and put them back into the jars. I personally like to label my medicated things so people know what it is and don’t mistake it for just plain oil.
That’s what the final product looks like. I’ll be posting up a recipe in the next couple of weeks using this, and it’s not boring pot brownies. Stay tuned to learn how to make a medicated curry sauce.
FAQs
Ingredients you'll need:
7g (aka ¼ oz) of cannabis flower (You can also use trim! If you go this route, we suggest using a full ounce) 100g (aka ½ cup) of coconut oil.
What is the ratio of cannabis to oil when infusing? ›
A 1-to-1 volume ratio of olive oil and cannabis is a standard starting point: 1 cup of oil, and a quarter aka 7 grams of cannabis (when ground up, this equals about 1 cup). If you want a less potent batch of cannabis oil, use an eighth which is 3.5 grams of cannabis and 1 cup of oil.
What is the ratio of CBD to coconut oil? ›
Ingredients. When making cannabis coconut oil, we recommend a 1:1 ratio of cannabis to oil. If you want milder effects, use less cannabis.
How much oil from 1 oz of bud? ›
In practical terms (and with the recipes in this post), you can expect an ounce of weed—or 3-6 grams of CO2 oil—to give you about 1-2 cups of infused cooking oil or 4 sticks of cannabutter. That's enough to make up to 48 high-potency pot brownies or 96 marijuana-infused cookies!
What is the best carrier oil for cannabis infusion? ›
MCT oil. As one of the most common carrier oils for CBD products, MCT oil, or medium-chain triglycerides,is a type of fatty acid that your body can quickly absorb because it does not have to break down via digestion before sending it off to the lymph system.
Can I infuse coconut oil too long? ›
There really isn't a maximum time, but there is a point at which any longer would be pointless. In my experience 4 hours is just barely enough, and given longer the butter will get stronger. I usually go for 8 to 12 hours, much longer than that and your butter will just taste terrible and won't be any more potent.
What is the perfect ratio cannabis? ›
The Golden Ratio refers to the even ratio between THC and CBD in 1:1 products. Many consumers and patients prefer 1:1 products for different reasons including anxiety, pain management, and inflammation.
Can you infuse for too long? ›
Infusing for too long may result in an overly strong, bitter, or sweet drink, so make sure to follow our instructions and timing below!
How do you make CBD infused coconut oil? ›
Combine Hemp with Carrier Oil: In a saucepan, combine the decarboxylated hemp with your preferred carrier oil, such as coconut or olive oil. Complete the Oil Infusion: Heat the mixture on low heat for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally to infuse the CBD into the oil.
How do you mix coconut oil with CBD? ›
Add water to the saucepan — it should be about half full. Add the coconut oil to the top of your double-boiler or slow cooker. Use a low setting on your stovetop or slow cooker and heat until the coconut oil melts. Once the coconut oil melts, stir in the ground CBD hemp flower.
If your recipe has a flavor you don't want to be compromised by coconut (like a strawberry or lemony dish), then refined coconut oil is recommended. If, on the other hand, you want to add a hint of coconut to your baked goods, unrefined oil can do so without needing extra ingredients.
How much does 1g of bud look like? ›
If grown well, 1 gram of cannabis flower comes out to about one medium-to-large-sized bud, or two smaller budlets. This is the minimum you can buy at a dispensary.
What is the ratio of flower to butter? ›
Typically, 1 ounce of flower to 6 sticks of butter (3 cups) will yield approximately 4 cannabutter sticks. (Some publications will tell you that 1 ounce to 1 pound is the appropriate ratio but some butter will be lost in the process, so this recipe calls for 6 sticks versus 4.)
Can coconut oil be used for infusion? ›
There are so many reasons why you may need to infuse herbs in coconut oil. You could do that in the course of baking herb-infused topicals or edibles. Likewise, you could utilize it for hair care products and many more. Essentially, coconut oil is exceptional at taking the active attributes of different herbs.
Is refined or unrefined coconut oil better for cannabis infusion? ›
Making edibles at home is a great way to control the ingredients and dosage. And both refined and unrefined coconut oil have health benefits and can easily be used during the cannabis infusion process. If you want a less processed option with a natural coconut flavor, look for unrefined oil.
How do you infuse herbs with coconut oil? ›
Pour oil over the herbs slowly.
Add enough oil to completely cover all the herbs, filling right up to the brim of the jar. Cover the jar, give it a few shakes, and put it in a cool place inside your house. Every now and then, give your jar a shake. It will be ready to use in 3-6 weeks.
How long to infuse herbs in coconut oil? ›
Cover the jar of herbs and oil with a lid (or breathable top like cheesecloth if you're using fresh or wilted herbs) and place it in a sunny windowsill, leaving it there for two weeks. The natural heat from the sun will help infuse the oil. Shake the infusion once per day, or as often as you remember to.
