Canna-Oil: How to Make & Use Cannabis Cooking Oil

Canna-Oil

Also: THC Cooking Oil, Cannabis Cooking Oil, Canna Oil, Cannabis Cooking Oil

Canna-oil is a cannabis-infused oil that’s mostly used in culinary creations. The cooking oil is made by infusing the active ingredients of cannabis, such as the cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes, into a carrier oil like coconut oil, olive oil, or canola oil.

Canna-oil is a cannabis-infused oil that can be used in a wide variety of recipes to turn your favorite snacks, meals, and desserts into edibles.¹ While canna-oil can be purchased from a dispensary, you can also make it at home by infusing a carrier oil with cannabis flower. This process extracts our favorite compounds such as cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant material and suspends them in the oil.

Because it comes from the marijuana plant, canna-oil is vegan and gluten-free, making it friendly to many dietary restrictions.

There are a number of reasons why some cannabis enthusiasts choose to make their own cannabis oil at home:

• You can choose the ingredients that go into the canna oil recipe, including the strain, the potency, and the carrier oil.
  
  

• It’s versatile, so canna oil can be used in any meal, snack, and beverage.
  
  

• Cannabis oil can also be used sublingually, topically, or in capsule form.

Worried about dietary restrictions? Canna oil can be vegan-friendly and gluten free, so it can be used to make almost any food an edible.

High-fat oils like olive oil or coconut oil are the best for this recipe, as well as just about any other DIY infused edible. That’s because THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids are fat-soluble, meaning they need to bind to fat molecules to become available for the body to absorb. Without the right amount of lipids, cannabis will be completely broken down by your digestive system and pass right through your body. There’s no such thing as a fat-free marijuana edible!

When making cannabis cooking oil for the first time, we recommend starting with a 1:1 ratio of cannabis to oil. Here’s what you’ll need for the cannabis oil recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of decarboxylated cannabis flower (about seven grams pre-ground)

• 1 cup of your preferred cooking oil

Cooking tools:

• Non-stick baking sheet or parchment paper

• Baking tray

• Double boiler

• Mixing bowl

• Cooking or candy thermometer

• Cheesecloth

• Glass bowl

• Airtight glass container (for storage)
  
  

Once you have the ingredients and tools you need, it’s time to get started. Here’s the easiest five-step method you can use to make your own canna-oil when you’re planning on cooking with cannabis:

Before infusing the cannabis into oil, it's important to decarboxylate the flower. This process activates the cannabinoids in the flower. Without decarboxylation, you won’t feel any intoxicating effects from your cannabis.

To decarb the cannabis flower, preheat your oven to 240-245℉ (115-120℃). Use a cannabis grinder or hand crush the flower over a lined baking tray. Spread evenly, and then bake for 30-40 minutes.

Set up a double boiler by placing a heat-resistant bowl over a pot of simmering water. The double boiler method ensures gentle and even heating, preventing the oil from burning or overheating.

Add your chosen carrier oil to the heat-resistant bowl. Once heated, add your decarboxylated cannabis. Stir gently to evenly distribute the cannabis in the oil.²

Simmer the mixture on low heat for 2-6 hours. With a thermometer, regularly check that the mixture’s temperature stays between 160-200℉ (71-93℃). Ideally, aim for 180℉ (82℃) and ensure the mixture doesn’t boil, which decreases the cannabinoids’ potency. Stir the mixture occasionally and add water as needed.

Once the infusion process is complete, strain the oil using a fine-mesh strainer, cheesecloth, or a coffee filter. Squeeze out as much oil as possible while leaving behind any plant material. Store the infused oil in an airtight container in a cool, dark place to maintain its freshness and potency until you’re ready to make a cannabis oil recipe.²

Cannabis oil can be used in a variety of ways:

• Edible: Add cannabis oil to your foods and beverages. Drizzle it over pancakes, ice creams, or salads; or stir it into casseroles, curries, and soups. Use cannabis cooking oil instead of regular cooking oil or cannabutter, unless the recipe requires cooking or baking at high temperatures, which would degrade the cannabinoids.
  
  

• Topical: Create your own custom scent or enhance your favorite body care products to make infused topicals. 
  
  

• Sublingual: Add a few drops of cannabis oil under your tongue (sublingually) for quicker absorption (onset time can vary from person to person, ranging anywhere from 30-90 minutes).
  
  

• Capsule: The canna oil can be added to an empty capsule, which when swallowed, has a similar effect to other edibles, like THC syrup.
  

Creating canna-oil can be a time-consuming process that isn’t always inexpensive. Because of this, you want to make sure your canna-oil lasts as long as possible. The best way to preserve the quality of your canna-oil is to store it in an airtight container in a cool, dark place such as a pantry. Proper storage will help maintain potency so your fresh-made cannaoil lasts.³

Got questions about how to make canna oil? We’ve got answers.

Should I use cannabutter or canna-oil?

The choice between canna-oil and cannabutter depends on personal preference and the specific recipe you're preparing. Canna-oil works well for recipes that require oil, while cannabutter is better suited for recipes that call for butter. Experiment and find the option that best suits your culinary needs.

Do I need to decarb the flower before adding it to the oil?

Yes, decarboxylation is a crucial step in the process of making canna-oil. It activates the cannabinoids and ensures that the oil will have the desired effects when consumed.

Is canna-oil the same as CBD oil?

No, canna-oil is not the same as CBD oil. Canna-oil contains a full spectrum of cannabinoids, including THC, while CBD oil is specifically derived from hemp and contains primarily cannabidiol (CBD), not THC. In order to experience the psychoactive effects we associate with marijuana, you’ll need a canna-oil that has THC in it.³

Can I freeze canna oil?

You can freeze canna oil as it won’t compromise the quality or potency of the edible. Freezing cannabis oil helps prevent the fats from going rancid.

Making & Using Cannabis Cooking Oil

Canna-oil opens up a world of culinary possibilities, allowing you to infuse your favorite dishes with your favorite strain of cannabis. By following a few simple steps, you can create your own homemade canna-oil and enjoy. Of course, if you prefer not to make your own canna-oil, you can always find it or any premade marijuana edibles at your local dispensary.