Coconut Oil for Cannabis Cooking

Cooking just got a lot more interesting.

Try infusing your foods with cannabis in your coconut cooking oil.

Cannabis needs a “fat” or “oil” to infuse properly. For this post, we specified coconut oil, but you can use most oils in your pantry.

Ingredients:

* 1 gram cannabis flower

* 1/2 cup neutral oil* (such as refined coconut, vegetable, canola, or grapeseed oil)

*Coconut oil goes rancid, especially when infused with organic materials. Please don’t make too much, so you can use it quickly or store it in the fridge for up to a month.

Prep time20 minutes
Cook time45 minutes
makes⅓ cup (160 milligrams THC total; 30 milligrams THC per tablespoon)

Coconut oil for cannabis cooking

Move over, cannabutter. Weed-infused coconut oil packs the potency without the animal fat for plant-based edibles. Nearly pure fat, coconut oil effortlessly binds to the cannabinoids in weed and has a higher smoke point than some other oils. Use refined coconut oil for a more neutral flavor.

Unlike butter, which contains water, coconut oil can be heated above its boiling point (212°F) for faster infusion. Once infused, this oil can be used in any baking recipe. Beyond coconut, this technique works with any neutral oil, from vegetable to grapeseed.

For a more or less potent oil, use more or less cannabis flower, then calculate the dose. As with all edibles, dosing is tricky because there is always a loss during decarboxylation, infusion, and cooking.

Assuming the flower contains 20 percent THC after decarboxylation and infusion (calculating a 20 percent loss), this oil doses at 160 milligrams for ⅓ cup of oil, or 30 milligrams per tablespoon. (Some oil loss occurs in the process, so ½ cup of oil typically turns into ⅓ cup.)

To calculate the individual dose of a recipe, divide the THC by the amount of coconut oil used in the final yield. For example, a cake calling for ⅓ cup of oil, yielding 24 servings, will land just below 7 milligrams of THC per piece.

To use hash, follow the same method of decarboxylation, but use less hash, testing upwards of 40 percent THC—and simply whisk the activated hash into the warm oil. To achieve the same potency at 40 percent, you’d want to use ½ gram of hash. Dry-sifted hash works better in the kitchen than pressed hash.

For the distillate, weigh out ⅕ gram onto a piece of parchment, then place it in the freezer to harden so you can easily add it to the warm oil; whisk to fully homogenize. Distillate potency ranges from 70 to 90 percent THC and comes fully activated. At 80 percent THC, ⅕ gram of distillate translates to 160 milligrams of THC.

Directions:

Heat the oven to 245°F.
Break up the flower into smaller pieces with your hands to expose more surface area to the heat; the pieces should break off like broccoli florets.
Bundle the broken-up flowers in parchment. Wrap this parchment pouch in foil or place it in an airtight, oven-safe silicone bag (I use Stasher), then put it in a small baking dish. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. (After 20 minutes, roughly 70% of the THCA will be converted to THC; after 30 minutes, 80%. If this is your first time making edibles, I’d recommend a cook time that’s on the lower end of the range.)
Remove the sheet pan from the oven and let the flowers cool at room temperature.
Using a grinder, grind the decarboxylated, cooled flowers. (You can also chop by hand with a knife and a cutting board.) They should be ground to medium—coarse like coffee, not espresso. Use the decarbed, ground cannabis right away.
To a small saucepan (or a DIY double boiler—a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water), combine the decarboxylated ground weed and the oil. Cook over low heat for 15 minutes. A candy or instant-read thermometer ensures the oil temperature doesn’t exceed 245°F.
Set a fine-mesh strainer over a heatproof bowl. Pour the infused oil into the strainer, then use a spoon to press the solids to extract as much oil as possible. Let it cool thoroughly and use it immediately or refrigerate it for up to one month in an airtight container.

#cannabiscooking, #coconutoil, #cannabiscoconutoil, #BestCopyNow,

Author Notes—Vanessa Lavorato from FOOD52 blog

Benefits of Coconut Oil for Cannabis Infusion

Coconut oil is an excellent choice for infusing cannabis due to its high fat content and ability to withstand high temperatures without degrading. Unlike butter, which contains water, coconut oil can be heated above the boiling point for a faster and more efficient infusion process.

Additionally, coconut oil is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a wide range of cooking and baking applications, making it a better option than traditional cannabutter for creating a variety of cannabis-infused recipes.

Dosing and Potency Considerations

When creating cannabis-infused coconut oil, it's important to consider the potency of the final product. The amount of THC in the oil will depend on the THC content of the cannabis flower used and the infusion process. Assuming a 20% loss during decarboxylation and infusion, this oil will have a potency of approximately 160 milligrams of THC per 1/3 cup, or 30 milligrams per tablespoon.

It's crucial to calculate the appropriate dosage for your needs and start with a small amount, as the effects of edibles can be more potent and longer-lasting than other consumption methods. Always consult with a healthcare professional for guidance on safe and responsible cannabis use.

Infusing Cannabis with Different Forms

While this recipe focuses on using cannabis flower, the same infusion process can be used with other cannabis products, such as hash or distillate. When using hash, simply decarboxylate it and whisk the activated hash into the warm oil. For distillate, weigh out the desired amount, freeze it to harden, and then add it to the oil, whisking to fully incorporate it.

Experimenting with different cannabis forms can allow you to create a range of potencies and flavors in your infused coconut oil, enabling you to customize your cannabis cooking experiences.

Storage and Shelf Life

Properly storing your cannabis-infused coconut oil is essential to maintain its quality and potency. Coconut oil can be prone to going rancid, especially when infused with organic materials like cannabis.

To extend the shelf life of your infused oil, store it in an airtight container in a cool, dark place, such as the refrigerator or a pantry. This will help prevent oxidation and maintain the integrity of the infused oil for longer periods.