Cannabidiol, better known as CBD oil, is a natural anti-inflammatory and pain reliever. It’s also legal in all 50 states with no psychoactive effects.
CBD is one of four main cannabinoids found in cannabis plants. Unlike THC, the other most well-known cannabinoid, it is non-psychoactive and will not cause a high.
CBD oil has recently become popular among doctors, scientists, and consumers for its efficacy in treating many health issues.
This article will provide five tips for those who are interested in cooking with CBD oil to help relieve their inflammation or chronic pain.
Use high-quality CBD oil
CBD oil is most effective when it is pure and unadulterated. It should be diluted with a carrier oil such as coconut oil when used in cooking.
Ideally, the product should be lab-tested to ensure that there are no chemicals or toxins present. Lab testing will also confirm the potency of the CBD oil, so you can be sure that your bottle contains exactly the right amount of CBD that you paid for.
CBD oil for cooking should not have any added flavors, scents, or ingredients of any kind as this will affect the taste of your food.
Most CBD oils are organic, vegan, and gluten-free. Make sure to check the label if these things are important to you.
Store your CBD oil in a dark glass container, away from heat and light
Keep your oil in a cool place and away from sunlight. It’s important to maintain the integrity of the CBD oil you use for cooking and a cool kitchen cupboard is usually a good solution. This is because heat and light can damage the chemical structure of CBD, making it less effective.
Most CBD is packaged in an oral applicator or dropper, so storing it in your kitchen cabinet where kids can get at it may not be a good idea.
Be mindful of the cooking temperature, since CBD is sensitive to heat.
Low and slow cooking is the key to making CBD oil a part of your diet. CBD binds to fat molecules, such as those found in meat and dairy products, when exposed to heat over 177°F (80°C). This will be hot enough to cook food but not so high that it starts burning or charring the CBD and degrades it quickly.
The best kinds of dishes that can be cooked low and slow with added CBD are meat stews, hearty soups, and slow-simmered sauces.
Start with less CBD oil than you think will be enough, then add more if needed
CBD is usually consumed in oil form orally. It’s recommended that you start with a few drops of CBD oil and then gradually increase over time if needed.
Take note of how much CBD you have added to your recipe in total. You can then divide the total amount by the number of servings that the recipe makes, so you’ll always know exactly how much you are consuming.
Most CBD oil users find it best to divide their daily dose into three equal portions.
Don’t make it up as you go along
There are hundreds of recipes for cooking with CBD oil that can be found online. So don’t try and make up your own recipe without trying a few tried and tested ones first.
CBD-infused foods are relatively new to the market, so it will be some time before there are any CBD cookbooks in your local bookstore.
However, in this age of fast information, you can find almost anything online. Just make sure that the source is reputable before you start cooking with CBD oil based on recipes found on random blogs.
