Cannabis Coconut Oil vs Canna-butter in Edibles: What Is the Difference

If you’re a medical cannabis patient and want to try something new in the kitchen, know that there are different ways to infuse your meals with cannabis. Cannabutter may be every professional edible chef’s biggest staple, but did you also know that oil can be infused with medical cannabis as well? Not only is this method incredibly simple, but for those who might not enjoy the taste or smell of cannabutter, cooking with oil is a great way to avoid those same flavors while still being able to reap all of the benefits from consuming your medicated meal.

Below we will go into greater detail about cannaoil, but first let’s briefly compare cannabutter vs cannabis-infused oil, or canna oil. It is important to keep in mind that making canna oil and ensuring appropriate dosages requires experience. So, if you are unsure about dosing please reach out to a qualified medical cannabis professional for guidance.

Cannabutter

Cannabutter is the key ingredient in cannabis-infused brownies, cakes, and cookies. You make it by extracting cannabinoids and other compounds from the flower into butter. If you’re new to making edibles at home, cannabutter is a good place to start because it goes well with both sweet and savory dishes.

It’s easy to make—you can even prepare it in an Instant Pot. Additionally, its low cost and high-fat content support most cooking methods; however, it does have some limitations. By making canna oil instead, you can avoid these disadvantages.

Disadvantages of cannabutter

The biggest downside to cannabutter is the saturated fat content from the butter and dairy. If you’re trying to eat healthy, or are plant-based, then this isn’t a good option for you. Additionally, because butter has such a low smoke point, it’s not ideal for cooking with in every recipe. So what’s the alternative? You could use medical cannabis-infused oil made olive oil, coconut oil or avocado oils instead!

Cannabis-infused oils

For the purpose of discussing cannabis-infused olive oil, we will focus on olive oil since it is one of the healthiest oils and can be easily purchased. On its own, olive oil does have some health benefits:includes monounsaturated fats and antioxidants which help protect cells from damage. Additionally, research has shown that unlike coconut or avocado oils,olive has not been associated with weight gain . Plus there are many prices options available for quality product , meaning you won’t have to break your budget .

Disadvantages of canna oil

The main disadvantage of making olive oil-based canna oil is that the strong flavor profile of olive oil doesn’t always pair well with some dishes, such as cupcakes or other sweet recipes. The other disadvantage is that “nicer” olive oil can be pricey but, as mentioned above, there is enough variety on the market to make it easy to find a quality version that still fits your budget.

What other oils can you use?

If you’re interested in making canna oil or edibles, know that olive oil and butter are not your only options. You might also want to use these oils:

• Avocado oil – rich in antioxidants; contains omega-9 fatty acids
• Walnut oil – nutty flavor goes well in salads and pestos; may help decrease LDL cholesterol levels
• Coconut oil – may boost heart health; is relatively easy to find
• Rapeseed oil – high smoke point; most rapeseed oil is non-GMO; low in saturated fats

You can infuse cannabis into any type of oil, it’s only a matter of finding the right recipe. After you’ve found an infusion method that works for you, begin adding it to the meals you already cook at home.

CBD oil vs cannabis oil

This is where it can get confusing. CBD oil is not the same as cannabis oil or canna oil. CBD oil does not contain any THC — meaning it doesn’t have any of the psychoactive effects of THC/cannabis. If you’d like to make your own canna oil without the psychoactive effects, you can always purchase cannabis flower that’s high in CBD and low in THC. You can use the cannabis you’ve collected in this way similarly to any other cannabutter or canna oil recipe.

Besides hemp oil, there’s also THC and CBD. They’re both widely used for different products, ranging from soaps to supplements, but cooking isn’t one of them.

Which kind of oil should I use?

If you’re thinking about making canna oil at home, but feel lost as to which oil is the best to use- don’t worry. You’re not alone. There are a few things you should consider before making your decision:

• Flavor- As mentioned, some oils are more savory while others (like olive oil) can be used in sweet dishes too. If you want a versatile cannabis-infused oil to use in both types of cuisine, go for a more neutral option like coconut oil.
• Texture- When you’re making a canna oil, think about the types of dishes you’ll use it in most often and how that will affect the dish’s “mouthfeel.” For example, butter and ghee have thicker textures than oils.

To learn more about all the different kinds of cooking oils.

Leave it to the pros

Let’s get real: cooking with cannabis is a challenge, especially if you’re not confident in the kitchen. You have to be mindful of smoke points and flavor profiles, but also creating cannabutter or canna oil from scratch. If want to try an edible but aren’t sure you could make one yourself, visit our dispensary in Baltimore. Our patient coordinators would be more than happy to discuss dosing and our selection professional-made edibles!