⚕️ » CBD Chef To Be: Five Tips For Cooking with CBD

CBD has officially become mainstream. There is a multitude of ready-made CBD products on the market these days, but the creativity of cooking with CBD is on the rise. CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is a natural compound derived from cannabis or hemp plants. Although research is still in the early stages, cannabidiol is thought to have positive impacts on mental health, pain management, sleep, and more. So how can CBD get any better? By incorporating it into your favorite recipes. Here are five tips for cooking with CBD! 

Choosing The Right Tinctures for Cooking

You may already have a favorite CBD oil or tincture, and when purchasing for direct sublingual consumption, splurging on something pricey might make sense. When it comes to cooking, spare your most expensive oils and opt for something that has a reasonable price point along with potency. When cooking with CBD oil, infusing or adding your desired tincture to a pre-existing oil is one of the best ways to incorporate it in a recipe. There are even options for pre-infused oils, which usually have a dosage of 15 to 30 milligrams per serving. When you are dosing your tincture or oil yourself, you can regulate how many active ingredients you are adding, which is the best choice for newbies. To “infuse” your own oil, simply add your preferred tincture to your base oil and use it as normal for cooking. If you wish to simply up the greatness of a smoothie or salad, add your CBD tincture directly on top and skip the infusing step. 

Be Aware of Heat

Cooking and heating CBD to excessive heat can potentially make CBD less effective. In order to maintain the potency of your elixir, try to keep the heat of cooking under 320 ºF. When it comes to baked goods, which is fairly new territory, adding your CBD after removal from the oven may be the best way to keep the integrity of your CBD. For example, if you are making a cake and wish to add CBD, bake your batter as usual and add CBD to the icing or topping for the cake. Because CBD can be impacted by heat, being aware of temperature is pertinent to successful CBD cooking. 

Incorporate Healthy Fats 

Cannabidiol is fat-soluble, meaning our bodies are better equipped to absorb CBD when it is paired with foods that contain fat. Utilizing CBD-infused oils, whether home-made or pre-bought,  is a great way to ensure you are including healthy fats in your CBD recipes. Whatever your favorite base oil – avocado, olive, coconut, etc. – as a carrier makes CBD most effective. 

Be Patient For Effects to Kick In

When cooking with CBD, it can take a bit longer for the active ingredients to take effect in the body. When CBD is consumed through a dropper of the tincture under the tongue, the sublingual consumption allows cannabinoids to enter the bloodstream immediately, which can lead to quick results. When consuming CBD in combination with food, it can take your body longer to digest and activate. If you are looking for immediate effects, sticking to direct sublingual consumption is recommended, but if you can be patient and await satisfaction, carry on with CBD cooking! 

Start Somewhere Familiar

Cooking with CBD can be a bit intimidating for first-time cannabidiol cooks. Starting with something familiar is a good way to get comfortable incorporating CBD in your cooking. If you have a favorite home-made salad dressing, adding CBD is a safe and easy place to begin. Pasta sauces, like pesto, are another easy starting point for your CBD cooking journey. Similarly, adding CBD to a smoothie or your morning coffee is another super-easy way to start using CBD in your food and testing out your dosage. 

For many, the idea of cooking with CBD can be enticing but also completely uncharted territory. By following these five simple tips for cooking with CBD, you set yourself off to a great start in getting creative with incorporating CBD into your cooking routine. For recipe suggestions and instruction on cooking with CBD and hemp, click here

Related: To learn more about CBD and its therapeutic properties and conditions guides, click here

Dr. Igor Bussel, M.D., M.S., M.H.A

Dr. Igor Bussel, M.D., M.S., M.H.A is a clinician-scientist and ophthalmic surgeon. Before attending Chicago Medical School, he worked as a Research Scientist in a Healthspan Pharmacology Laboratory at University of California, Irvine focused on investigating the impact of botanical extracts and dietary supplements that can slow the aging process and add healthy years to human life. He has served as a clinical/scientific consultant to multiple stage companies focused on developing interventions for age-related diseases.

Dr. Igor started to learn about CBD through his research as well as from patient experiences and has since become an advocate for their efficacy. He teamed up with long-time activist Richard Cowan to co-create CBD Seniors in 2020.

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Dr. Igor Bussel, M.D., M.S., M.H.A

Dr. Igor Bussel, M.D., M.S., M.H.A is a clinician-scientist and ophthalmic surgeon. Before attending Chicago Medical School, he worked as a Research Scientist in a Healthspan Pharmacology Laboratory at University of California, Irvine focused on investigating the impact of botanical extracts and...