Tips for Cooking With CBD Oil
Many people have been turning to CBD for a number of health reasons — to ease anxiety, to aid in athletic recovery and inflammation, and as a sleep aid. If you have been considering adding CBD to your diet, cooking with it can be a fun and adventurous way to do so. It is not any more complicated than following a recipe. However, there are some tips and tricks to help guide you on your CBD cooking journey.
What Is CBD?
With the growing importance and acceptance of medical marijuana in America, we’ve also seen increased interest in cannabidiol, also known as CBD. Like marijuana, CBD is known to have healing properties, and its use dates back thousands of years.
CBD is derived from cannabis, the same type of plant marijuana comes from. Unlike marijuana, CBD does not have hallucinogenic properties which result in you feeling “high” or in an altered state. The chemical compound that alters your state of mind is called THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol.
CBD oil contains 0.3 percent or less of THC and is not enough to make you feel any hallucinogenic effects. If you prefer to experience slight effects of THC and still harness the benefits of CBD, there are many brands who offer a blend of CBD and THC of varying ratios to fit your needs.
Why Cook With CBD?
There are a few different ways you can ingest CBD: topically, in a beverage, by eating it, and more. It is all based on preference and will exhibit, and how you decide to ingest it will influence how it will affect you and also how long it will take to work.
Some people prefer to cook with it simply to try something new, while others thoroughly enjoy the taste. You can have fun combining different flavors to see whether you prefer salty, savory, or sweet recipes with your CBD oil.
Useful Tips for Cooking With CBD
You can purchase cooking oils that are already infused with CBD, and these will list the number of milligrams of CBD per serving on the bottle. However, you can also add CBD tinctures to any of your cooking oils, as well as by piercing a capsule and emptying its contents.
Choose CBD oil from brands you trust to ensure you get a high-grade product. You can do your research online to read reviews of different offerings. One major indicator of a poor-quality oil is an inexpensive product. Invest in a higher-grade product to get the results you are seeking and to avoid potential toxins used by knock-off brands.
There are a few additional things to keep in mind when cooking with CBD oil. A variety of things can change its chemical composition, just like any other food. For example, under high heat oil can begin to smoke. This can have a seriously negative effect on the taste and potency of your CBD oil.
Serving Size
When you are first being introduced to cooking with CBD oil, start with small batches until you have had a chance to perfect your recipes. CBD-infused cooking oil is typically more expensive than regular cooking oils, and it would be a shame to waste it.
Be sure to check the serving size on the bottle and dose your food appropriately to your tolerance level. If you are using a CBD-infused cooking oil but require more fat to cook with, simply substitute CBD-free oil to compensate — we’ll cover this more later.
Don’t forget that, because the recommended dosage and desired effect varies greatly from individual to individual, there is no one serving size that suits all. This is important to remember when serving a dish to family or friends! Talk with them before serving them a dish that might not sit well with them.
Cooking Temperature and Storage
CBD oil is sensitive to light and temperature. When possible, store your CBD oil in blue or brown glass containers in dark, cool places. Try to keep bottles of CBD oil out of direct sunlight to preserve its shelf life.
It is best used in recipes that do not require it to be cooked to temperatures higher than 200 Fahrenheit. This does not mean that foods with CBD oil cannot be put into an oven at 400 degrees. Rather, the internal temperature of the food being prepared should not reach above 200 degrees. When using CBD oil, be sure to use a thermometer to avoid hitting this “danger zone.”
Cooking foods for longer periods of time at lower temperatures will help to maintain the integrity of the CBD oil. At higher temperatures it causes the CBD to lose terpenes and other phytonutrients that are found to be beneficial.
It is also helpful to be continually stirring to distribute the CBD throughout the dish, making it less likely to become overheated. Frequent stirring also ensures each serving has an equal amount of potency.
Using Fats and Oils
It is to your benefit to combining CBD oil with fats so that it has something to bind to. Most recipes call for some kind of butter or oil, so this is not something to typically be concerned about. Different foods have pair better with certain oils, so should the one you choose should suit the food that meets your body’s needs. For instance, if you have vein health concerns, you’ll want to reduce your salt intake and eat more fresh veggies. Because sesame oil pairs particularly well with veggies, you may want to try those.
Further, some oils pair better with CBD than others. Some commonly used oils are:
- Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is solid at room temperature and is high in saturated fats. It is best used for high-heat cooking, which doesn’t pair well with cooking with CBD.
- Olive Oil: Olive oil has a low temperature smoking point and is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids. It is best used for salads and cold dipping sauces.
- Sesame Oil: Sesame oil, when paired with CBD, is a real mood booster. Sesame oil contains tyrosine which improves serotonin levels in the brain. For those that try to mask the taste of CBD, sesame oil is very flavorful and is delicious in dressings and stir-fries.
- Hemp Oil: Hemp oil does not necessarily contain CBD. Some hemp oils may be infused with it, but it typically does not contain it naturally. Hemp oil is made from hemp seeds, while CBD oil is made from the hemp plant. Hemp oil is a favorite among vegetarians as it is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are often obtained by eating meat.
Know Your Body
Some people like to drink wine or beer while they cook or with their meal once it is prepared. Please take note that mixing CBD and alcohol can have a sedative effect but is different for each individual. Be careful when mixing CBD and alcohol within 4 to 6 hours of one another if you do not know how you will react.
Remember, always check with your doctor before consuming new products that may affect any current health issues or medications you are taking. Enjoy experimenting or continuing your exploration of cooking with CBD oil!
