Have you ever thought about cooking with CBD but don’t know where to start? If you have, you’re likely already familiar with the benefits CBD has to offer. Incorporating this cannabinoid into food and drink is one of the best ways to include it as part of your health routine. 

However, there are some things you should know before you start putting CBD in everything you cook. But don’t worry. If you have anxiety about cooking with CBD, not only is that ironic but unnecessary. We’re here to help!

Why You Should Cook With CBD

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a chemical compound found in hemp (Cannabis Sativa) and marijuana. When isolated and offered as CBD oil it contains only very trace amounts of THC (the chemical in marijuana that has psychoactive effects) and is legal in all 50 states, Canada, and the UK. 

CBD offers a variety of benefits and is often used to help with stress, anxiety, and depression. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory and relieves pain. It is also proving to be effective as part of the treatment for cancer. 

Overall, CBD has a relaxing effect on the body. CBD is not psychoactive, so you will not feel immediate effects after taking it, when treated as a supplement as part of your health routine, you’ll begin to feel increased calmness after about a week. It also has many different health benefits, including:

• Relieves anxiety
• Offers pain relief
• Improves sleep quality
• Alleviates stress
• Combats inflammation
• Reduces the risk of cancer and diabetes
• Helps maintain brain health

CBD is the perfect ingredient to include in your cooking. It’s versatile enough you can add it to anything. Cooking with CBD is the perfect way to reap the benefits of this cannabinoid, and a great way to make it a part of your daily wellness routine.

How to Cook With CBD (5 Things You Need to Know)

Cooking with CBD is easy. It can be added to salad dressings, soups, sauces, baked goods, and cocktails. Nevertheless, there are some things you need to know before you begin putting CBD oil in everything you can.

1. Be Careful Not to Overheat Your CBD

Overheating your CBD oil has the potential to break down the cannabinoid and decrease potency. Although the research into the effects of heat on CBD is still minimal, heat often has this effect on similar compounds. 

In other words, if CBD is exposed to too much heat, its effects may burn off. With this in mind, be careful how you incorporate it into your cooking. While it seems safe to mix CBD into batters for baking, you may wish to use it in the frosting that goes on top instead, just to be safe. 

In other cases, add the CBD oil to the dish after removing it from its heating source, such as putting in a few drops into a sauce after you have finished reducing it on the stove. That way, you’ll ensure the integrity of the CBD compound is preserved.

2. Use Lots of Healthy Fats

Incorporating healthy fats into your cooking is not only good for nutrition, but it helps with CBD absorption. CBD is fat-soluble, so it’s best paired with fat-containing foods, which is why it’s an excellent addition to sauces, buttery pastries, and oils. 

For this reason, oil infusions are one of the best ways to use CBD in your cooking. Since cannabinoids are drawn to fats, buying high-quality cooking oils pre-infused with CBD makes cooking easy. You can get oils such as coconut, avocado, MCT, and olive infused with CBD. 

3. Save Your Tinctures for Certain Dishes

Pre-infused CBD cooking oils such as olive and coconut oil are great for many types of cooking. However, you can also use your CBD oil tinctures for certain dishes. Your vials of CBD are, after all, precious, expensive, and should not go to waste in food that may dilute or even decrease their potency.

CBD tinctures are the perfect way to add a little kick to smoothies and cocktails. They can also be used in frosting for topping baked goods. For other types of dishes, CBD-infused olive oil is versatile. However, as CBD is still widely unregulated, be sure to find one that is organically grown and that clearly states the dosage on the bottle. 

4. Understand the Effects of CBD in Food

When CBD is consumed in food, it takes longer for its effects to hit your body. Digestible foods have to pass through your gut and liver before reaching your bloodstream, making the CBD less fast-acting. This process is called the “first-pass effect”.

With this in mind, it’s critical to be mindful of your CBD use. On one hand, CBD potency may be lessened by including it in food. On the other hand, you should be careful not to overdo it. 

5. Consume CBD Responsibly

Be mindful of the amount of CBD you are consuming and its possible effects. Too much CBD can cause drowsiness and lightheadedness, especially when consumed with alcohol. Always be sure to maintain proper dosing and be wary of its possible effects if you are planning to drive later that evening.

It’s also crucial to always tell your friends and family if you are planning on serving them food prepared with CBD. In some cases, CBD can interact with certain medications and different people have different experiences and sensitivities to consider. 

Cooking with CBD: Additional Tips and Tricks

The easiest way to cook with CBD is to use CBD-infused oil to top a salad or to add a few drops from your tincture to a drink. Some of our favorite uses are in smoothies and cocktails or add a few drops to your latte or in a chia pudding. 

Our advice is to start with a small dose and to always use high-quality CBD oil from a reputable brand. When cooking with CBD, be careful not to overheat your CBD and remember that it works best in dishes with lots of healthy fats.