How To Make Cannabis Oil For Your Cooking Needs

Curious how to make cannabis-infused cooking oil at home?

Cannabis oil, aka canna-oil, is a staple in a variety of cannabis edible recipes. Thanks to the legalization of medical marijuana, cannabis has found a way to introduce itself in nearly every aspect of our lives.

Today, we will teach you how to make cannabis-infused cooking oil, the first step towards making your own batch of medicated treats!

Cannabis Oil 101

Most edibles you know and love are bound together by one form of cannabis oil or another. After all, cannabis oils serve as the backbone for a lot of medicated foods out there. 

Cannabis oils are simply cooking oils infused with cannabis through a process called decarboxylation. During this process, the cannabis is heated and submerged in the oil where the heat allows the compounds to be activated and infused with the oil. 

This process provides you with a highly versatile vessel to carry your cannabinoids. You can use the oil as is or implement it in nearly any culinary creation that incorporates fats.

What Kind of Oils Work Best With Cannabis

Each type of cooking oil will act as a great vehicle to carry your cannabinoids with the main noticeable differences being the consistency and taste.

When infusing cannabis with fats, many people will reach for coconut oil as it is high in the content of saturated fats, which bind effortlessly to the THC and CBD in marijuana. 

Coconut oil also preserves a wider range of cannabinoids during the infusion process compared to other oils. Coconut oil also stays solid at room temperature making it a viable option for topical use. That said, many would consider coconut oil and cannabis to be a perfect combo.

Alternatively, you could use almost any other household oil that comes to mind. In fact, lots of people reach for neutral oils like grapeseed oil or canola oil to preserve the flavor of their weed.

How to Make Cannabis Oil

What You’ll Need:

• A cup of high-quality ground cannabis (You can add or remove some based on how potent you want your oil to be)
• A cup of your favorite cooking oil
• Cooking equipment: A saucepan, a slow cooker, or a double boiler (Each cookware will require its own cooking times)
• A strainer, a coffee filter, or some cheesecloth
• A weed grinder

When cooking your oil, it’s important to be aware of the temperature and heat when cooking. To prevent damaging the cannabinoids and terpenes, keep the heat to a minimum, below 245°F (118°C).

The Double Boiler Method

Double boilers are a great culinary tool for dealing with heat-sensitive ingredients like milk and butter. 

This method provides a layer of protection between the oil and heat, allowing you to keep a constant controlled temperature on your cannabis oil. Although you are only limited to the temperature of boiling water (212°F or 100°C), this isn’t necessarily a bad thing as you’ll want to keep the temperature below 245°F (118°C) anyways.

• Grind your cannabis using your weed grinder
• Combine your oil and ground cannabis in the double boiler
• Heat your double boiler up with your mixture inside. It may take up to 6 to 8 hours to fully decarboxylate your weed and infuse the compounds with the oil. During the heating process, you’ll want to stir your oil occasionally
• Once the time has passed, use a strainer or cheesecloth to get the bits of cannabis out of the oil
• Store your infused oil in a secure container and store in the refrigerator or a dark and cool place.

The Slow Cooker Method

Also known as the cannabis water bath, the slow cooker is a low maintenance method that allows you to infuse your cannabis with oil on a low heat for extended periods of time, similar to the double boiler. 

The slow cooker also operates similarly to the double boiler, albeit with a slightly broader temperature range.

• Grind your cannabis using your weed grinder
• Combine your oil and ground cannabis and place them in the slow cooker
• Set your slow cooker to a heat setting that is just below 245°F or 118°C and let your mixture infuse and decarboxylate for about 4-6 hours. Be sure to check on the mixture occasionally and stir it to prevent scorching
• Strain the remaining bits of cannabis out with a coffee filter, cheesecloth, or strainer
• Store in an air-tight container and either refrigerate or store in a dark, cool space.

The Saucepan Method

Using a saucepan to make your cannabis oil is usually the quickest, but the smelliest way to go. You trade time for smell here. The saucepan allows for a broad temperature range, although we highly recommend you stay below the limit of 245°F (118°C) as going any higher will likely disrupt the cannabinoid composition and destroy the terpenes. 

This method also requires you to check and stir your oil more frequently than the other methods.

• Grind your cannabis using your weed grinder
• Combine your oil and ground cannabis and pour the mix into the saucepan
• Heat up the mixture on a low-medium heat and let your cannabis and oil infuse with one another for about 3 hours. Keep an eye on your mix and frequently stir it to prevent burning
• Strain the oil with some cheesecloth, a coffee filter, or strainer
• Store in a secure, air-tight container and either refrigerate or store in a dark place away from heat and light

Reducing the Odor While Cooking

If you’ve baked a batch of weed brownies before, you know damn well that the odor can fill the house and can linger days on end, making everything you own reek of cannabis. Take our word for it, it’s not a pleasant experience.

When you cook your oil, using the right equipment will make a world of difference when it comes to reducing the odor. While using a saucepan may yield quicker results, the trade-off is that it may allow the odor to leak through, even if you have a lid. 

Instead, go for crock pots or pressure cookers with rubber seals to minimize exposure to the surrounding air. The good news is, if you already have a crockpot or pressure cooker at home, chances are they already have built-in seals to contain the smell.

Ventilation is also key to maintaining discretion in your cooking. No matter what type of equipment you choose, you’ll inevitably have to open the lid and stir the oil, so it’s essential to be strategic with the choice of equipment to allow for proper airflow in the house. 

The last thing you’ll want is a house reeking of cannabis despite your efforts to lock in the smell.

How to Store Cannabis Oil

Refrigerating your infused cannabis will yield a longer shelf life. If you don’t have room in your fridge, the second-best option is to keep your infused oil in a cool, dry, and dark place as prolonged exposure to heat and light will damage the compounds in your oil.

There you have it, you’re all set to make your own edibles at home! Enjoy!