How to Start Cooking with CBD Oil: Rules and Recipes

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CBD is incredibly versatile. You can use it in numerous ways to holistically improve your quality of life, as seen by the Infused Amphora line of  CBD products.

Most people take CBD in the form of oil, but sometimes the taste of the oil itself can be off-putting. It begs the question, can you cook with CBD oil instead? 

If you don’t like the taste but still want to take advantage of its excellent benefits, cooking with CBD oil can be a perfect way to incorporate the supplement into your daily routine in a way that you can enjoy and stay consistent with.

What Is CBD Oil?

CBD oil consists of cannabidiol (the full name for CBD) and another carrier oil, such as hemp seed oil or even coconut oil. It is produced using extraction and does not produce the intoxicating effects that cannabis does. You can browse our innovative  collection of CBD oil drops from Infused Amphora to see some of the available varieties.

When blended this way with a carrier oil, CBD oil drops are known as a tincture. You can take CBD oil in capsules, through gummies, or even sublingual sprays that go under the tongue (for faster absorption). You can also consume CBD oil using  vaping products, which require  CBD cartridges and need  vape pens and batteries.

CBD effects can vary, depending on what you’re using it for. Others have found moreCBD edible benefits as well.

What to Look For When You Buy CBD Oil in the UK

CBD oil has become a popular commodity on the market today, and many companies have joined the scene to capitalise on its increasing popularity and versatility. While this is great for increasing options, it can also make the buying decision that much harder.

When buying  CBD oil in the UK, there are a few things you should look for and a few things you should stay far away from. 

First, you’ll want to be confident in your ability to read the labels of CBD products so you can understand their manufacturing and ingredients. 

You also want to look for third-party lab testing before buying any product, as a lack of regulation in the industry means these lab tests are the only real measure of transparency we have. 

And finally, you’ll want to consider brand compliance and company reliability overall to ensure you’re purchasing from a reputable company.

When learning how to use CBD oil and what products are best, here’s what to look for when  buying CBD oil.

How to Read the Label

To effectively read the label, you’ll need to know the vocabulary and jargon they use. For a refresher, remember that cannabis-derived CBD comes from the entire plant, while hemp-derived CBD comes from the hemp plant. 

You should also know what broad-spectrum, full-spectrum, and isolate mean. A broad-spectrum CBD oil contains several different compounds from the plant along with CBD. 

Full-spectrum contains all of the different compounds found in the cannabis plant, but it won’t cause any intoxicating effects. A CBD isolate contains isolated CBD only, no other cannabinoids.

There’s speculation around what’s known as the “entourage effect”, which hypothesises that the presence of various cannabinoids found in full-spectrum or broad-spectrum CBD products maximise the health benefits they can provide. If you want to maximise the impact of your CBD oil, you may want to look for labels that point out a full-spectrum or broad-spectrum blend.

Beyond these terms to look for, you’ll want to know what indicates a good product versus a bad product from reading the label alone.

• Ensure the product contains CBD. Hemp Extract is the same as CBD, but hempseed oil, hemp seeds, or cannabis sativa seed oil is not.
• Make sure the carrier oil does not contain any additional ingredients that impact purity or you may be allergic to.
• Check the percentage of THC. However, isolate products have no intoxicating ingredients in them.
• Look for information to find third-party lab testing.
• Look for milligrams per millilitre to determine its CBD concentration.

Third-Party Lab testing

Lab testing CBD is the only real way to know exactly what’s in the bottle and have peace of mind about what you’re about to take. Without cohesive legislation and regulations around the CBD industry, it’s incredibly easy for companies to get in the game without doing their due diligence. 

Reputable and reliable CBD companies will always provide access to third-party lab tests, showing the exact ingredients and concentrations within the product to back up any claims on a label.

You can find these test results on the product’s COA or Certificate of Analysis. A COA contains testing results performed by a company outside of the product manufacturer. It would be easy for a manufacturer to provide testing results, but they wouldn’t be as trustworthy as results provided by an objective, unbiased third party. 

When reading a COA, there are a few things to look for. First, check the CBD concentrations to ensure they match the label’s claims.  One study found that CBD products sold online are actually at a higher concentration than stated 43% of the time. 26% of the time, they contain less than claimed.

Then, look for the cannabinoid profile to see which other compounds the product contains, such as cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), or cannabichromene (CBC).

Brand Compliance and Company Reliability

Finally, finding a brand that is compliant and reliable is critical. In the UK, companies selling CBD isolates and extracts need to apply for authorisation through the country’s  regulated products application service. 

You can check the  register or regulated product applications to see if a CBD product you’re considering buying holds approval from the proper governmental agency.

Rules for Cooking with CBD

Cooking with CBD is a fantastic way to achieve its benefits while bypassing the more traditional consumption routes. For those who don’t fancy the taste of CBD oil, for those who have trouble swallowing oil, or for those who simply want to turn their CBD ritual into a special treat, cooking with CBD oil is the way to go.

1. Don’t Splurge on Cooking Oils

The first rule is that you don’t want to spend all of your money on a pricey tincture, only to pour it into a brownie batter. 

While you can certainly use any kind of tincture while cooking - since they are oil-based - you can save a lot of money by looking for CBD-infused cooking oil, like olive oil or coconut oil. They’re not too hard to find and come in much larger quantities for less. 

To ensure you get a hold of a quality product, look for an infused oil that is organically grown to reduce the chances of pesticides in the product. Additionally, you should look for a low dosage if you’re a  newcomer. Those with experience cooking with CBD can aim for more. 

The exception to this recommendation is if you plan to infuse a salad dressing, a smoothie, or some other small-volume liquid. In this case, the CBD oil will likely make up a large part of the finished recipe, so you may want to choose something of higher quality.

2. Fats Are Your Friend

Be sure to use healthy fats when cooking with CBD oil to make the most of your special ingredient. CBD is the most bioavailable to our bodies (more on that later) when paired with high-fat foods, which is why so many peopñe take it in tincture form. 

These cannabinoids are attracted to fat and may help your body make the most of the product, so use your favourite carrier oil in addition to your CBD oil when cooking.

3. Avoid High Heat

As tempting as it may be to saute up some vegetables or fry an egg in CBD oil, cooking at this high heat level will render the product ineffective because it will burn off the compounds. To preserve the quality and power of the active ingredient, try to cook at heats below 320ºF, which is more akin to baking or slow roasting.

While there are still plenty of unknowns surrounding CBD and heat, your safest bet is to add CBD oil to whatever recipe you’re making after the heating portion. If you’re making brownies, that would mean the difference between adding it to the batter and adding it to the chocolate sauce that gets poured on top. 

The latter is the smarter choice, and you’ll get the most of your CBD.

4. Always Give It Time

CBD can take a while to hit your system, especially when ingested with food. First, anything fibrous and digestible must pass through your gut before anything within it can reach your bloodstream, known as the “first-pass effect.” 

Keep this in mind before you start, as you won’t notice effects right after eating. You’ll need to wait, and the effects may delay by several hours. Eventually, it will hit. Consuming more is not the solution. 

5. Make Mindful Pairings

While there’s very little research around CBD when consumed with alcohol or other substances, it’s always smart to be mindful when consuming CBD. If pairing it with alcohol, you may notice increased drowsiness, so don’t drive or operate any machinery. You may also want to talk to your doctor before using CBD oil, as it may interact with some medications.

Want more information on making your own edibles? Our  CBD Edibles Guide has what you need.

Will Cooking with CBD Oil Change the Effects?

Bioavailability refers to the amount of a substance that is capable of being absorbed into the body. A substance with high bioavailability is mostly or entirely absorbed, while low bioavailability means much of it will get lost along the way. 

The consumption method plays a significant role in  CBD and bioavailability. For example, CBD edibles have the lowest bioavailability of all consumption options. Most studies put the bioavailability near 13%, while sublingual consumption of CBD drops is the second most-bioavailable method, with numbers around 19-35%.

Some of this difference comes from the first-pass effect, but some of it may also be from cooking (read: heating) the CBD oil. There is limited research on the matter, so adding CBD oil after heating is always wiser.

How Much CBD Oil to Use

How much CBD oil to use depends on a few different factors, such as body weight, the severity of the condition, tolerance and sensitivity, CBD concentration, and the presence of other cannabinoids.

Someone who weighs more, has a more serious condition they’re looking to treat, has used CBD in the past, has developed a tolerance, or is taking a CBD isolate product will likely need to take more. 

However, if you don’t weigh a lot, are only looking for mild effects, have never used CBD before, are sensitive to substances, or are taking a full-spectrum or broad-spectrum CBD product, a little can go a long way.

Here’s how to determine how much to use:

• Start with the minimum suggested dose on the product, a method known as titrating. Then, gradually increase the amount over time to find the perfect sweet spot.

• If you are familiar with CBD, start with the previous amount and concentration you’ve taken in the past.

• Know that taking too much CBD is not a risk. 

Easy and Convenient Homemade CBD Recipes to Start With

Want to get started with some simple and fun CBD recipes? Get started with some of our favourite CBD edibles recipes using CBD oil.

No bake CBD cookies

Yield 4 cookies/ servings

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut
• 2 tbsp nuts, chopped (any nut of your choice)
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 tbsp cashew butter(or any nut butter)
• Infused Amphora CBD oil drops (preferred daily dose x 4)
• sea salt
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips, or dairy free chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions:

1. Add the dry ingredients to a mixing bowl.
2. Heat up the coconut oil and honey in the microwave, until just melted and not hot.
3. Multiply your preferred daily dose of CBD by 4 (this recipe yields 4 cookies) and add to wet ingredients. Mix CBD oil and wet ingredients together well.
4. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix it all up well.
5. Spoon the mixture onto a parchment lined baking sheet, in four equal amounts.
6. Drizzle with chocolate and sprinkle with sea salt (optional).
7. Set in the freezer or fridge. Once set, store in airtight containers in the fridge.

CBD Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

Yield 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• ½ tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp raw honey
• 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• Infused Amphora CBD oil drops (preferred daily dose x 4)

Instructions:

1. Multiply your preferred CBD dose by 4 and add to small bowl.
2. Add all other ingredients to the bowl and whisk until well blended.
3. Salad dressing can be kept in the fridge. Use ¼ of this recipe for each salad.

CBD Fruit Smoothie

Yield 1 smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 cup fruit of your choice, cored, peeled and chopped.
• 1 banana
• 1 1” piece ginger, peeled and grated
• ½ cup unsweetened coconut water
• Infused Amphora CBD oil drops (your preferred daily dose)
• ½ tsp group turmeric
• Pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Puree fruit, ginger, coconut water, CBD oil and turmeric in a blender until smooth.
2. Pour into serving glass and sprinkle with a pinch of salt.

Conclusion

You should keep a few things in mind when cooking with CBD, like first how to find a reliable and high-performance product. Then, keep in mind cooking tips like avoiding high heat and using carrier oils when possible. You should also start with a low dose and work your way up if you’re not familiar with CBD already.

Cooking with the best CBD oil can be a fun way to start  taking CBD oil creatively in your lifestyle without having to rely on the more traditional consumption methods of sublingual or capsules. Use our simple recipes to get started.

 

Written by  |  Infused Amphora Team 

The Infused Amphora Team is dedicated to creating resources to educate and engage consumers on the growing evidence of CBD benefits and the extensive health and wellness properties of CBD Oil. 

Contributor  | Angus Taylor CEO

 

Infused Amphora “Learn” is intended for informational purposes only and is NOT a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.