Back in October, we really had some fun with incorporating CBD into spooky treats and creepy cocktails. Now with spring in full swing, we thought we’d revisit the topic in a more manageable way: how to use CBD in baking and cooking. There’s a lot of conflicting opinions on whether or not CBD can be used in the kitchen; many staunchly oppose it while others agree wholeheartedly. But what does science have to say about it? In this article, we’ll be going over some key information on how to ensure the CBD you add to your recipes (or CBD-inspired ones you find). Dust off your apron, don some lab-grade goggles, and let’s get to work on finding the sweet spot for baking and cooking with CBD!
A Brief Recap of CBD
Cannabidiol, or CBD for short, is one of nearly 100 known cannabinoids found in the hemp plant. Aside from cannabinoids, there are also other compounds like terpenes and flavonoids that make specific strains more recognizable in terms of scent and flavor. Hemp-derived cannabinoids like CBD will have the legal limit of 0.3% THC. While CBD will not get you high, it does have some psychoactive properties such as mood improvement, appetite regulator, stress reliever, and much more.
There are certain types of CBD that can have trace amounts of THC: full-spectrum CBD will contain 0.3% THC and all of the naturally occurring flavonoids and terpenes and minor compounds, allowing users to enjoy the popular theory of the “entourage effect.” Broad spectrum CBD has been stripped away of all flavonoids, terpenes, and THC, though there may still be some lingering amounts of THC present. CBD isolate is the purest form of CBD and contains only that.
CBD oxidizes fairly quickly if exposed to UV light, heat, or even regular air. It’s always recommended to keep your CBD products in a cool dark place. Certain products will be required to be refrigerated after opening, so you’ll want to check the label to ensure your product can last the longest. The potency of the CBD will not degrade immediately once you open the bottle, but the longer it sits untouched and unprotected after opening, the less effective it will be. Now that
CBD’s Boiling Point
You’re undoubtedly familiar with what a boiling point is: the point at which a liquid becomes a vapor. If you can prevent CBD from reaching its boiling point, you’re golden! In the baking world, the sweet spot temperature of most recipes calls for an oven temp of around 350℉/176℃. Coincidentally, that’s also CBD’s boiling point! When baking or cooking with CBD it’s best to stay just under that temp to ensure you won’t compromise the cannabinoid’s efficacy. This can be tricky when following standard cookie and other delicious treats’ recipes (350℉ seems to be the industry standard), so try to look for recipes that use low or no-heat (read: fridge or freezer “no-bake” recipes) temps. The temperature in ovens tends to fluctuate throughout its use (ever hear a “whoosh” when you walk by?) and some ovens may read hotter than what the numbers on the screen say. Even though the liquid CBD may be encased within a solid mass (dough or batter), the amount of terpenes and cannabinoids will be “boiled off” with higher heats.
Should I Even Use CBD When I Cook Or Bake?
With all this information on how sensitive CBD is to heat and air, you may be wondering if it’s even worth it to use it in your baking and cooking. Here’s a few reasons that may encourage you to find and make some CBD recipes.
- It’s a more enjoyable way of incorporating CBD into your lifestyle
- CBD (especially flavored ones) can help enhance the flavor of whatever you’re cooking or baking
- Special occasions call for extra special foods!
- Pets are more likely to consume CBD if it’s in food. Of course, make sure you only give your furry friend the designated type of pet CBD
- It’s easier to mask the natural flavor of CBD that may trigger sensitivity in some users
- Your body may be able to absorb the CBD better (especially those with epilepsy, low carb/high fat diets, etc.)
Are There Specific Types of CBD I Should Use?
When it comes to baking and cooking with CBD, there are many different product types on the market. CBD gummies might make an appearance as a decoration or garnish, but that’s about it. For the sake of convenience, it’s best to stick with the liquid form of CBD: oils and water-soluble tinctures. Here’s some ways to incorporate both liquid types in your kitchen.
CBD Oils: drizzle over salad in addition to dressing, mix into mayonnaises and oily spreads, sauces (only those that don’t require heating or very low heat), low or no-heat cookies/cakes/puddings, nut and seed butters, or coconut/olive oil drizzles.
CBD Tinctures (Water Soluble): swirl into beverages (tea, soda, juice, coffee, etc), create mocktails (no alcohol), sorbets and smoothies, soups (cold or cooled after heated).
Is It Okay To Share Without Telling?
You may not think that adding CBD to your recipes and not telling people about it is all that serious, but it’s actually considered food tampering if you do. For example, if you’re at a party and you see a pan of brownies, you’d get pretty upset if someone didn’t inform you there was cannabis in them right? The same applies to CBD-infused foods. The people that eat and hopefully enjoy your foods deserve to know what’s in them. Furthermore, there may be sensitivities, allergies, or strict doctor warnings to avoid hemp-derived compounds that you may not be aware of. Here’s some safe practices to abide by whenever you want to share CBD foods you’ve created with friends and family.
- Be sure to inform your guests and acquaintances that your dishes have CBD in them.
- Carefully and neatly add labels to any dishes or containers that house your foodstuffs.
- Be mindful of how much CBD you added to your dish, and try to label the dosage amount per serving whenever possible.
- Keep out of reach from children and animals, whether they be yours or others.
- Be prepared to pull up the ingredient list of whatever CBD product you used.
- Keep the CoA (Certificate of Analysis) handy in case those consuming your dish want to know about the purity and potency of the CBD product you used.
- Make a note of which CBD product you used, how much, and the overall feedback so you know how to prepare the dishes next time.
Final Thoughts
Incorporating CBD into your baking and cooking experiments can be surprisingly enjoyable. As with anything in the kitchen, it comes with patience and perseverance. Try starting off by incorporating CBD into your salad dressings or morning cup of coffee. You might be surprised with how easy it is to gradually add cannabidiol into your daily routine. If you feel like sharing your CBD creations with others, be sure to let them know beforehand, as there may be personal or medicinal reasons why someone is abstaining from hemp or other hemp-derived cannabinoids. Above all, try to have fun whenever using cannabidiol in the kitchen. CBD has been helping many people for centuries, and now it’s time that this wonderful cannabinoid helped you in the kitchen too!
Here at ERTH Wellness, we’re excited to offer you a variety of CBD products to help get you started. Our collection of water-soluble tinctures and oils are ideal for adding into your low-heat or no-bake recipes, as well as your beverages and dressings. If you need a garnish, check out our CBD gummies! We also offer pet CBD that you can mix into your furry friend’s kitchen-friendly recipes, perfect for all occasions. Not quite ready to start bringing hemp into your kitchen? No problem! We also offer CBD pre-rolls, vape juice, softgels, topicals, and much more. Should you have any questions about anything in this article or regarding hemp in general, let us know! Our team of cannabis experts look forward to speaking with you. In our next article, we’ll be looking into topicals! Specifically, do they work, are they worth buying, and should you use them? We hope to see you there as we tackle this and other in-depth topics regarding all that cannabis and hemp-derived cannabinoids have to offer. Until we meet again!
