CBD (Cannabidiol) Oil is hot off the press and making it into all the latest recipes, making it unquestionably the latest ‘fad’ in cooking. It promises a litany of benefits from reducing anxiety to helping with nausea, inflammation and insomnia. You may be asking yourself whether it’s time for you to jump onto the CBD bandwagon [Col’Cacchio CBD Pizza]. If you’re thinking yes, here are some tips on how to cook with the liquid gold.

What is CBD Oil?

It is composed of the naturally occurring chemical components found in the flowers and leaves of the cannabis plant. It does not include THC, which may be an off-putting concern for some in its potential use- THC is the compound that gets you ‘high’, and CBD oil does not contain it- you won’t have patrons floating around your restaurant if you use CBD!

Nowadays you can find it all over- face creams, beauty products- I’ve even seen CBD Shampoo (for more relaxed hair, maybe?). It’s most popular use, undeniably, is its inclusion in food. Food and drink products galore—from sparkling water to gummy bears to oil droppers that can be drizzled over pretty much anything (much in the way olive oil is frequently used)  —exist on the market today, and rest assured that tomorrow will bring at least a dozen more.

Though we still need more comprehensive research on the effectiveness of CBD oil, the World Health Organization has reported that “CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential…. there is no evidence of public health-related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.” It’s become a popular ‘anti-depressant’- it’s not a recognized medication for the condition, but it’s being popularly recommended as an alternative by psychologists. And while it’s easy enough to drizzle CBD directly into your mouth or nibble on some sweet treats that contain it, more and more consumers are choosing to incorporate CBD into foods on their own. If you’re in that camp but feel unsure how to start cooking with CBD oil, here are some tips on how you can cook with the stuff:

Fat, Fat, Fat

Keep in mind that cannabinoids bind well with fat, so CBD needs to be infused into a fat or oil-based ingredient like butter, ghee, or coconut oil in order to increase bio-availability and receive the full benefits of the compound. Mix thoroughly into your fat of choice and then use your fat as you normally would. Fun fact; when mixing the stuff you buy in bags (which has THC, which you won’t be using) you use a sieve to strain the oil. Back in my college days my upstairs neighbour asked to borrow my sieve, but didn’t tell me what for (I didn’t get what he meant when he said ‘brownies’). Long story short, I had to throw out the sieve.

Be careful with heat

When cooking with CBD, be careful when it comes to applying heat as excessive temperatures can cause it to evaporate and lose potency. This is one reason why many people love using CBD oil as a finishing touch on meals—try drizzling the oil over pizza, pasta, avocado or even mixing it into pesto.

Mix it up with savoury

You’ll often find CBD-infused sweets and baked goods because it’s generally easier to cover up the inherent bitterness of lower-quality CBD (see brownie anecdote above) with sugar or chocolate. However, a high-quality CBD oil is perfect for use in savory dishes. CBD oil works great in salad dressing; you can also add it to soups (perfect for soup topping decorative swirls) and pasta sauces.

Control your dose

CBD is the non-psychoactive component of the cannabis plant and will not product any of the “high” associated with THC. However, you should still be careful to dose CBD appropriately so you’re getting your desired effect. Start with a low dose to see how you respond. Remember: less is more, especially when you’re starting out.

 
With those tips under your belt, go forth and be fashionable with the wonders of CBD oil. Happy cooking!