Are you interested in adding CBD oil to your favorite dinner recipes? Before you do, remember these rules for cooking with CBD oil to ensure that your CBD recipes are both potent and delicious!
Watch the Heat
One of the most common mistakes people make when cooking with CBD oil for the first time is exposing it to too much heat. Whether cooking on a stovetop or in the oven, heat can change CBD’s composition and make it less potent and effective, making the whole endeavor a waste of CBD oil and effort.
While some heat should be okay, most people avoid the possibility of reducing the CBD oil by sprinkling it on top of the food after it’s already been plated instead of directly exposing it to heat.
Pro Tip: CBD oil in baked goods is possible, but it’s best to use recipes that bake at 350 degrees or lower to preserve the CBD oil.
Start Small
Whether directly consuming CBD oil with a tincture or mixing it into your recipes, it’s always wise to start with a small dosage and adjust from there. Starting small is a great rule to remember when cooking with CBD oil, as well as when cooking with any new spice or oil.
Like any new spice or oil you cook with, it’s best to start small and add more later if you feel the need; as the saying goes, you can always add more, but you can’t take it out! Typically, a five-milligram dosage of CBD per serving is a safe starting point.
Pair With Healthy Fats
CBD oil is fat-soluble cannabis oil without any psychoactive effects. Its fat solubility means that your body is better at absorbing it when it’s combined with other foods with a high fat content. Many people who cook with CBD oil like to pair it with another cooking oil as a carrier oil.
Many other cooking oils pair well with CBD oil, including:
- Olive oil
- Coconut oil
- MCT oil
- Avocado oil
- Canola oil
Pairing CBD oil with another type of oil will also help your body break down the CBD oil faster and make its effects more potent.
Be Patient
Even if you pair CBD oil with another oil, don’t expect the effects to be immediate. Eating CBD oil with food is different than consuming it directly with tinctures or an edible, and its effects will take longer to set in.
Because you’re consuming CBD with food, the body needs time to digest the CBD and transfer the substance into your bloodstream, where its effects mainly take hold. Give the CBD some time if you don’t immediately feel the effects. Typically, the effects of CBD take about an hour to set in.
