Tips for cooking with CBD oil

Chances are you’ve seen CBD in all sorts of tasty snacks and treats, but did you know you can make your very own CBD-infused recipes right at home?  Move over salt and pepper... there’s a new ingredient in the pantry, and it tastes like relief! It’s time to move things over from the medicine cabinet to the kitchen cabinet with our top 7 tips for cooking with CBD.

What is CBD oil? 

When cooking with CBD, we’re usually talking about CBD oil. If you’re not familiar with this form of CBD, here’s the 411:

CBD is short for cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is one of the two main chemical compounds called cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, the other being THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). Unlike THC, CBD is non-psychoactive, so no, it cannot get you high. What CBD has been known to do, however, is help with stress and anxiousness, and discomforts—more on that later.

CBD oil is made by extracting CBD from the cannabis plant and blending it with a carrier oil to make it easier to consume. At Soul, we use MCT oil derived from coconuts, which has a number of health benefits in addition to making CBD easier to absorb. While it’s totally cool to take CBD oil straight up, it also makes a great addition to all kinds of recipes.

What can CBD do for you?

The science around CBD is constantly evolving, but the results are promising to say the least! CBD has been known to help :

• Stress
• Anxiousness
• Pain
• Inflammation
• Mood

The health benefits of CBD are typically cumulative, which means people typically start to feel the effects once they’ve been taking it consistently for a while.  Furthermore, not everyone reacts the same way to CBD, so at Soul, we always recommend using your CBD products regularly for 30 days to fully understand how your body reacts. While CBD is generally regarded as safe, you can always consult your doctor if you’re unsure about incorporating it into your wellness routine.

7 tips for cooking with CBD

1. First thing’s first: quality matters. At SOUL, our CBD oil tinctures are made with organic, American-grown hemp with all-natural flavors and zero fillers. 
2. Start low, and move slow. Whether you’re new to CBD or a seasoned pro, cooking with it can take a little practice. Start with a small amount for your first few recipes until you get the hang of it.
3. Fat is your friend! CBD works best when combined with some sort of fat. This is one of the reasons CBD oil tinctures are made with coconut-derived MCT oil, but that doesn’t mean it should replace the fat in your recipe. For cooking, opt for high quality fats like extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, or grass-fed butter.
4. Keep your CBD oil in a cool and dry place. Like other bottled cooking oils, keeping them away from humidity and sunlight will help keep your CBD fresh.
5. You don’t have to be a Michelin-rated chef to start cooking with CBD. You can simply add a few drops to simple recipes like salad dressing, smoothies, and lattes.
6. If you like to bake, try adding a few drops of CBD oil to the butter or coconut oil in your recipe.
7. IMPORTANT: Do NOT heat your CBD oil over direct heat, as it will negatively impact the overall effectiveness of your CBD.

Get cooking!

Hungry yet? Try anyone of our 5, all-natural delicious flavors. Our Peppermint tincture brings a refreshing kick to your morning coffee and even your favorite mint-based cocktail recipes. Mojitos, anyone? Our Watermelon, Orange, and Lemon Lime flavors make for great additions to smoothies too. In the mood for dessert? Make sure to try our Chocolate Mint Bar Recipe and experience the taste of sweet relief.