Incorporating THC oil into your food can be a stellar way to reap the benefits of the cannabinoid without having to absorb it into your system via other means. That being said, it can be very easy to overdo it. You don’t want to start using THC and end up experiencing negative side effects immediately because you’ve used too much in your recipes. If you’re looking to get the most out of your THC oil when cooking with it, here are three tips for safe and delicious dishes.
1. Start With Low Doses to Control Potency
You can always ingest more THC if you’re not getting the desired effects, but you can never take less. That’s why it’s always best to start with low doses so that you can see how it affects you and how much more you’ll need until you’ve reached a good point. It’s important to understand up front that dosage will vary from individual to individual. That being said, anywhere from 2.5 to 10 milligrams is considered a low dose, especially for a beginner.
You’ll also want to consider the cannabis strains you’re going to be using in your recipes. Indica is said to be more relaxing while sativa is said to be more energizing. Hybrid strains are said to offer the best of both worlds.
2. Mix THC Oil With Other Fats for Even Distribution
Cooking with THC can become problematic if the THC isn’t evenly distributed across your recipe. Should you end up with, say, a cookie that has almost all of the THC you’ve used to bake a batch, you can end up with several cookies that do nothing and one cookie that produces powerful effects. Mixing your THC oil with a carrier oil or even butter is the best way to prepare your THC for cooking. Mixing THC with fats allows for better distribution and improved absorption.
Of course, your choice of fat may depend on your recipe as well and what ingredients you are cooking with. Make sure to research recipes you’re interested in and then decide which THC product will be the best fit for that dish.
3. Monitor Cooking Temperature to Avoid THC Degradation
Once you have your THC ready to put in your dishes, you may think that all of the hard work is done and that your recipes will require little additional oversight. But that’s not the case. One final thing to monitor when you’re cooking with THC oil is the temperature of your stove or oven. Temperatures that are too high can result in the degradation of the various cannabinoids that you’re looking to incorporate into your dishes. Try to keep the cooking temperature below 350 degrees, if possible.
Cooking with THC can be tricky. If you’re not careful, you can end up with dishes that have too much THC in the wrong places or dishes that aren’t as potent as you were hoping for. If you’re planning on cooking with THC, use the tips above to make sure your first dish goes off without a hitch!