8 Tips to Remember When Cooking with CBD Oil

CBD oil is arguably one of the most popular supplements on the market. About 14 percent of adults use CBD products regularly. But for most of them, this means taking tinctures under the tongue — and no one wants to deal with that off-putting taste!

That’s why cooking with CBD oil is a great alternative. You can incorporate the oil into your favorite recipes and still get the same benefits you’d see using the product in other ways. But before you head to the kitchen, you need to make sure you’re ready. Cooking with CBD oil isn’t as simple as you might think.

Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of each recipe.

Stick to High-Quality Oils

Believe it or not, quality matters when it comes to CBD oil. There are many different methods of extracting the CBD from hemp and some are simply better than others. High-quality oils give you more bang for your buck and taste great. Low-quality oils, on the other hand, often have a bitter aftertaste that seeps into your recipes, ruining the flavors you want to enjoy.

Why? Because the cheaper additives used to dilute the CBD oil are often bitter themselves. When they’re added to recipes, that bitterness shines through. When choosing a CBD tincture, read up on the company and make sure they use a third-party testing company to verify the ingredients. You’ll also want to look for a full-spectrum oil that doesn’t have any flavor additives on the ingredients list.

Full-spectrum oils have more beneficial compounds that make the oil more effective.

Use Low Doses When Cooking with CBD Oil

Though CBD oil can’t get you high, larger doses aren’t always better. In fact, the best way to take CBD oil is to start with low doses. If you’re not sure where to start, use the recommended dosage on the bottle as a guide. Add that amount and no more to your recipe.

After you eat, think about how you feel. If you can’t tell a difference with the amount of CBD you used, plan to increase the dose the next time. It may take a few recipes to figure out your ideal dose. Just be patient and don’t give up if you find the results underwhelming at first.

Use Fat in Your Recipes

CBD oil works best when you use fats in your recipes. This helps the oil distribute throughout the dish and allows your body to break it down more easily.

For best results, mix the oil directly with the fat. Butter, coconut oil, and even olive oil are all great carriers for CBD tinctures.

Once added, proceed with the recipe as normal. Since the oil gets mixed thoroughly with the other ingredients, you’ll end up with a better distribution of the CBD and will get more out of every serving.

Never Use Direct Heat with the Oil

CBD oil is incredibly sensitive to heat. This means you want to avoid cooking the tincture on direct heat. Direct heat causes much of the oil to evaporate. Worse, it can end up making the remaining CBD oil less potent.

If your recipe requires cooking on high heat, find a way to incorporate the CBD oil as a garnish. For example, if you’re making pasta sauce, don’t add the CBD oil until you’ve removed the sauce from the heat. Baking with CBD oil should be fine as the other ingredients will insulate the oil from the heat and help it retain its potency.

Keep It Simple at First

Cooking with CBD oil can be as involved as you want it to be. But if you’re just starting out, stick to simple recipes you know you enjoy. The last thing you want to do is use a large amount of your favorite CBD oil on a dish that leaves you wishing you’d just ordered a pizza.

Choose one of your favorite recipes and experiment with the oil. This way, you’ll be more likely to enjoy eating it, even if the tincture produces a slightly different taste then you’re used to. If you’re worried about how the oil will taste, choose a recipe that has bold flavors. These will be enough to cover up any bitterness.

If you don’t feel like cooking, but still want to get started with CBD oil, add it to your favorite salad dressing or drizzle it on your toast before you add jam or butter. Cooking with CBD doesn’t have to mean whipping up a complicated recipe.

Store Your Oils Correctly

Think of your CBD oil as a food item. This means you need to store it correctly otherwise you risk spoiling the oil. And, yes, they can go rancid if you’re not careful. For best results, keep your CBD oil in a cool and dry place away from direct light. Your kitchen cabinets or pantry are great options.

Unfortunately, storing the oil indirect light can cause the bottle to heat up. Over time, it will lose potency, leaving you with a bottle full of oil that doesn’t do much of anything.

Don’t Expect Immediate Results

Some people are lucky and experience results immediately after using CBD for the first time. For the majority of users out there, this simply isn’t the case. CBD can take time to work its magic on your body. This means you may not see results for the first few times you cook with it. Don’t get discouraged — keep trying new recipes, play around with the dosage, and try different brands of oils. You’ll find something that works eventually.

Experiment Once You’re Comfortable

After you get an idea of the right dosage and your preferred type of CBD oil, start getting creative with your recipes. See if you can find new and delicious ways to add oils to your favorite beverages, baked goods, and even savory dishes.

The only limit is your imagination!

Ready to Start Cooking?

Cooking with CBD oil is a great way to experience the benefits of CBD for yourself. All it takes is a little time in the kitchen. Start with your favorite recipes and then experiment with new ones to take things to the next level.

Need a little inspiration? Check out our latest healthy recipes for dishes that taste great and will leave you feeling fantastic.