Cannabis-infused olive oil is a versatile, easy-to-make ingredient that can elevate your cooking while offering a variety of wellness benefits. Whether you’re looking to use it in savory dishes, bake homemade cannabis edibles, or even make into topicals. This step-by-step guide will show you how to infuse olive oil with cannabis effectively.
About This Recipe
For this recipe, we will use decarboxylated cannabis flower (or concentrate) and a double boiler method to create the cannabis-infused olive oil! If you are starting with raw, non-decarboxlated, cannabis or for a more detailed guide, I highly recommend checking out our How to Decarboxylate Cannabis Guide before moving forward.
Before we continue, lets go ahead and gather up our ingredients and supplies. For cannabis-infused olive oil we will need..
- decarboxylated cannabis flower or concentrate
- olive oil
- glass mason jar (heatproof)
- medium-sized saucepan (this will serve as the double boiler to gently heat the infusion)
- thermometer
- fine-mesh strainer
- cheesecloth
Tips & Tricks
Calculate Potency/Dosage: Take note of the total starting THC/CBD percentage of the cannabis flower or concentrate, (flower typically ranges from 10-35% THC, while concentrates range from 70-90% THC) and estimate the potency of the cannabis infused olive oil using an online THC/CBD calculators.
Low & Slow: Never let the cannabis olive oil heat over 190°F during the infusion. If you don’t have a thermometer, a good rule of thumb is to, keep the water at a very gentle simmer and never let it reach a full boil.
Avoid mixing Water & Oil: Ensure your mason jar can stand upright in the saucepan filled with water, you don’t want any water mixing with the oil. If the mason jar is at risk of tipping over into the water, you can either add more olive oil to the mixture or remove some of the water from the pot
Don’t Squeeze Too Hard: When separating the flower from the final infused product, gently press the plant material; squeezing too hard can release chlorophyll and make the oil taste grassy.
Start Low & Go Slow: If you’re new to edibles, start with a low dosage and wait at least 1–2 hours before consuming more. Remember, you can always take more, but you can’t take less!
Infused Olive Oil Recipe
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 cup olive oil
- 7 grams decarbed cannabis flower (or ~1 gram concentrate)
Instructions
- In a heat-safe mason jar, combine your decarboxylated cannabis flower with olive oil. Fill a saucepan with water and gently submerge the mason jar, ensuring it stays upright and no water gets into the mixture. Place this saucepan on a stove over low heat.
- Infuse at a Low & Slow Heat: Slowly heat the cannabis-olive oil mixture to 170°F, maintaining a temperature range of 160°F to 180°F throughout the infusion. Allow the mixture to infuse gently using this double-boiler method for 2-4 hours. DO NOT heat your cannabis & olive mixture over 190°F degrees, this will degrade your final infused olive oil.
- Strain Mixture: After at least 2 hours on the stove, remove the glass jar from the hot water and let the jar cool before separating the cannabis-infused olive oil from the herb. Place a metal strainer lined with cheesecloth over a clean container and carefully pour the cannabis-infused olive oil through the strainer.
- Cool & Enjoy: Your cannabis-infused olive oil is now ready to be enjoyed in your favorite recipes! Once oil is completely called down, top with lid and store away in a cool and dark spot. I love adding it to my infused pizzas, over ice cream, and for dipping my bread.
FAQ
What is the best temperature for infusing cannabis olive oil?
The ideal temperature range for infusing cannabis into olive oil is between 160°F–190°F. This ensures that cannabinoids (like THC and CBD) are activated and preserved without degrading.
How do you store cannabis-infused olive oil?
To extend the shelf life of cannabis olive oil, store it in an airtight container and in a cool place. This will help maintain freshness and potency. Properly stored, your weed-infused olive oil can stay fresh and potent for 6 months to 1 year.
How long should I infuse cannabis in olive oil?
For the best results, let your cannabis and olive oil mixture infuse on low heat for at least 2-4 hours.
Can I use trim or shake instead of cannabis flower for olive oil infusion?
Both cannabis trim and shake can be used to make infused olive oil. However, they may produce a weaker infusion compared to using high-quality cannabis buds or concentrates like kief or rosin.
Can I make cannabis-infused olive oil without decarboxylating cannabis?
The decarboxylation step is crucial when making edibles, its the reason why you cannot just eat weed an expect to feel “high”. Fear not, I do have another method of making Cannabis-Infused Oil that incorporates the decarbing and infusing into one step (this method decarbs the weed and infuses it with the oil at the same time).
Conclusion
Your cannabis-infused olive oil is now ready to be enjoyed in your favorite recipes! Once oil is completely called down, top with lid and store away in a cool and dark spot. I love adding it to my infused pizzas, over ice cream, and for dipping my bread.
