When it comes to cooking with cannabis, recipes will often require using cannabutter. However, butter may not be an option for some, especially for those that follow a vegan lifestyle or have dietary restrictions. Luckily, cannabis doesn’t discriminate against what fats that its components will bind to whether it is animal or plant-based. THC and CBD molecules tether easily to fat molecules regardless of where they originated because they are lipophilic and fat-soluble. This means that they best dissolve in fats. When you infuse cannabis in this manner, you better optimize its benefits than if you were to use water or alcohol bases. For this recipe, we are going to explore a very simple yet versatile coconut oil infusion.
What you will need:
- 1 Cup coconut oil
- 1 Cup cannabis flower (use less cannabis to decrease potency)
- 1 TBSP Soy Lecithin (note that any type of lecithin will work)
- Slow-cooker
- Cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer
Steps:
- Grind your cannabis flower and de-carb it by putting it in the oven at 240° for 30 minutes. It’s important to decarb cannabis flower so that the THC or CBD molecules are activated to their full potential!
- Begin the infusion process by adding the lecithin, the decarbed flower, and coconut oil into your slow-cooker.
- Let simmer on HIGH for 1 hour and then switch to LOW for 6+ hours. The longer you let it infuse, the more potent it will be. Take care to stir every so often so you don’t scorch the oil.
- Once the steeping process is finished, strain it through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a glass mason jar or storage container. You can wait until it cools down, but it’s often easier to work with when it’s fluid. Do be beware that it will be searing hot!
- Let cool, and store in the fridge for increased shelf life.
Once done, you can incorporate your infused coconut oil in a variety of cooking recipes. It’s not just limited to edibles either! Coconut oil is often used in recipes for soaps, skin and dental health, and personal lubricants.
If you are a beginner when it comes to THC infused edibles, be sure to start low and slow to avoid overdoing it. This can lead to a very amplified and long-lasting experience, which can be jarringly intense for some. When you do find your threshold, you’ll reap all of the benefits that cannabis has to offer.
