How to cook with CBD oil

If you’re on the IGNITE website, you’re either already familiar with how amazing CBD can be or you’re curious about how it could make your daily life better.

And while there are plenty of great options for delivery methods and kinds of CBD available, you may be curious about cooking with CBD oil. Is that something you can do? The answer is...absolutely! CBD oil is a great way to infuse the improved state of mind and body with your favorite food and drinks. You just have to know how to use it, and we’re here to help you do just that with a few tips and CBD recipes.

Tips for cooking with CBD oil

Because cooking with CBD oil is not the same as cooking with canola or olive oil, there are some things to keep in mind. By keeping these tips on hand, you’ll maximize effectiveness while maintaining deliciousness.

1. You don’t have to “cook” it to cook WITH it. While a little heat is fine, excessive heat can actually lower the effectiveness of CBD. Instead, finish your dish with a drizzle of CBD oil or incorporate it into dishes that don’t use heat.
2. Add it to drinks. Adding CBD oil to coffee, tea, or smoothies is a great way to incorporate them in an easy manner.
3. Combine CBD oil with another fat. CBD is fat-soluble, which means your body is able to better absorb it when it's consumed with other fats, such as coconut or avocado oil.
4. CBD oil can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. While the flavor of CBD is diminished in sweet treats, you don’t have that issue with savory dishes. The earthiness can add another level of dimension to the flavor. Drizzle it over sauteed vegetables and fish or add to a slow-cooked sauce or soup.
5. Use actual CBD oil, not tincture, for a better flavor. The difference between the two is how they’re created in the extraction process. CBD tincture is alcohol-based and can taste very bitter and may not mix well with food or drink.

How much CBD oil should you use

Cooking with CBD oil is a little like using salt...you can always add more, but you can’t take it back out! Start out with a small amount, like 5-10 milligrams per serving. And keep in mind, because it is food, it’s going through the digestive process. This means it takes longer to feel the effects of the CBD oil (45-60 minutes), but they will last longer than other methods of ingestion.

If you feel like the dose was insufficient, you can either take more sublingually or increase the amount next time you make the recipe. There isn’t a hard and fast rule for how much to use because everyone’s body is different and the issues being addressed vary from person to person.

How to store CBD oil

CBD oil drops are usually packaged in a dark amber glass bottle. This is deliberate and related to protecting the integrity of the product, not just a pretty color or a marketing scheme. CBD oil reacts to light and temperature. Too much light can lead to loss of cannabinoids and storing in a room that is overly warm may change the composition. Prolonged exposure to air can also degrade the effectiveness of the product. The best option is to keep the CBD oil (in its tightly sealed packaging or bottle) in a cool and dry environment, such as a pantry or cupboard.

CBD Recipes

Now for the fun stuff! Let’s explore some fun and easy CBD recipes, both sweet and savory. All of the recipes use fat-rich foods like avocados or olive oil to enhance the absorption of the CBD by the body and minimal heat to preserve effectiveness. With a few simple ingredients, you’ll have a complex flavor perfectly enriched by CBD oil.

Shortcut CBD guacamole

You can find a CBD recipe for guacamole online with fresh ingredients and simply add a drop or two (using a dropper) of CBD oil. Or you can make the following shortcut CBD guacamole recipe:

Ingredients:

• 3 Ripe avocados, mashed
• 1 c. Your favorite salsa or picante sauce
• Lime juice from ½ - 1 lime
• ½ bunch Fresh cilantro
• ½ tsp Garlic powder
• Dropper(s) of CBD oil

Combine to taste, cover tightly and refrigerate or serve immediately with favorite chips, raw veggies or top your favorite dish.

CBD Pesto

Pesto can be used in so many ways, from saucing pasta to topping salads or tossing freshly cooked shrimp in. Add some CBD oil to elevate both the flavor and your mood.

Ingredients:

• 2 c. fresh basil leaves (no stems)
• 2 Tbsp pine nuts
• 2 large garlic cloves
• ½ c EVOO
• ½ c freshly grated parmesan
• Dropper(s) of CBD oil

Combine the first three ingredients in a food processor until finely minced. While the machine is running, slowly add the EVOO until smooth. Add parmesan until just combined. Fold in CBD oil and serve or refrigerate.

CBD Frosting

Add a dropper or two of CBD to your favorite frosting recipe, whether it’s buttercream to frost a cake or cream cheese frosting to top cinnamon rolls or other culinary delights. You can even combine CBD oil with store-bought frosting to make it even easier.

CBD Whipped Cream

Ingredients:

• 1 c. heavy whipping cream
• 3 Tbsp powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Dropper(s) of CBD oil

Combine ingredients and begin whipping (by hand or with a mixer), slow at first. Gradually increase speed until you get the desired consistency.

Remember, when considering trying new CBD recipes, your food and the impact of the CBD are only as good as your ingredients. Don’t settle or compromise. Find IGNITE at local stores or buy online.