Select an infusing oil for edibles
Oils with high saturated fat contents are a great base oil for infusing with cannabis concentrates, such as coconut or avocado oil. Oils for infusion include:
- Canola
- Vegetable
- Coconut
- Olive
- Avocado
- Sesame
- Peanut
Canola or vegetable oil will have more of a neutral flavor, while sesame and peanut oil have a specific flavor.
Additionally, oils have different consistencies at room temperature, so consider how you’ll be storing the oil.
Dosing and measuring cannabis oils for edibles
Dosing homemade edibles is notoriously tricky. Here’s how to calculate an approximate dose with concentrates.
Determine these factors:
- The weight of your concentrate (in grams)
- The potency of the concentrate (THC% or CBD%)
- The number of servings the cooked dish will yield (e.g., “makes a dozen cookies”)
To calculate, use this equation:
(weight of concentrate x THC% x 1,000) / number of servings
- Multiply the weight of your concentrate (in grams) by the percentage of THC (as a decimal)
- Multiply that number by 1,000 to convert grams to milligrams
- Divide that number by the number of servings your recipe yields to determine milligrams of THC per portion
For example, 0.25 grams of a concentrate with 80% THC potency, should yield about 200mg of THC: (0.25 x 0.80) x 1,000 = 200.
Then, 200mg of THC distributed throughout 8 cookies gives each cookie 25mg of THC. Mix well for an even distribution.
Make sure you know your preferred edible dose—most edibles sold in dispensaries come in 5 or 10 mg per serving.
When in doubt, start with a very low dose, between 1-2.5 mg, wait 45-60 minutes, and take more if you want stronger effects.
How to decarboxylate concentrates
Before infusing oil with a concentrate, you’ll need to decarboxylate it, except for distillate and RSO, which can be added straight to an infusing oil. Decarbing converts non-intoxicating THCA into the euphoric THC so that you can get high.
High temperatures can burn out and eliminate valuable cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds, so decarbing at a low temperature is recommended.
Getting concentrates out of their containers can be tricky. If you’re having trouble removing them, try heating a dab tool to get them out or stick them in the freezer—this will stiffen them up for easy removal.
Decarbing concentrates will make them thicken up, and they will be easier to work with while slightly warm.
Materials
- Cannabis concentrates
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Oven
Directions
- Preheat oven to 200°F (93°C)
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper, and place concentrates on it
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, watching the concentrates to make sure they don’t overcook; once they have melted down and start to bubble, they are ready; if decarbing kief or a powdery concentrate, stir it around every few minutes
- Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly
- Cooking, baking, and infusing with concentrates
- Cooking
- Powdery concentrates and other concentrates that become soft during decarbing can be added directly to dishes.
- When cooking, keep the heated pan under 300°F to maintain cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds. Add the concentrate toward the end of the cooking process, and stop cooking once it has dissolved.
- Baking
- Soft or powdery concentrates can also be added directly to a batch of brownies, cookies, or other baked goods. Be sure to mix thoroughly to spread the concentrate around evenly throughout the batch.
- Infusing
- If a concentrate is very thick, or putting a concentrate directly into your dish doesn’t sounds appealing, infuse it in oil or butter.
- To infuse:
- Add oil or butter and decarbed concentrate to a double-boiler, slow cooker, or saucepan, and simmer on low for 2-3, keeping the temperature of the oil between 160-200ºF. The concentrate will melt into the infusion.
- Let the infusion cool, and add it to any recipe. Use oil to make a salad dressing or to oil a pan before cooking, or use infused butter in place of regular butter for baking.
Credit: Leafly
