Cooking with CBD

The CBD industry is growing at a rapid pace, with many people beginning to adopt the product and integrate it into their daily lives. Although the science surrounding CBD still isn’t confirmed, there’s no denying that CBD as a product is increasing in popularity. One of the most common ways CBD is taken is through foods and beverages, allowing the consumer to receive the benefits of CBD in a tasty product. Whether you’re looking to start your own dispensary and sell CBD edibles or just adopt a new trend in the food industry, learning how to cook with CBD can be a lucrative prospect.

What Is CBD?

Cannabidiol, often abbreviated as CBD, is a chemical that is found in a cannabis plant. CBD is obtained from hemp, meaning it lacks the psychoactive properties found in similar products.

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 authorized the production of hemp and removed hemp and hemp seeds from the Drug Enforcement Administration's list of banned substances. Despite the Act passing, CBD-infused products remain illegal at the federal level. Just like marijuana, CBD is only legal at the state level. Due to the recent state-by-state legality, a wide variety of CBD products have hit the market in recent years, ranging from food to beauty products. Check your local and state laws to understand the restrictions on CBD-infused products in your area.

CBD Beverages

A CBD beverage is defined as any beverage that contains some form of CBD. To make a CBD beverage you must use water-soluble CBD, allowing your CBD to dissolve in liquids. Water-soluble CBD is broken down easier by the body, allowing it to quickly be absorbed into the bloodstream and making the CBD more potent. Here are some of the most common CBD beverages that you can find being sold:

• CBD Tea - A top new coffee shop trend is infusing CBD with teas such as kombucha to enhance health benefits.
• CBD Coffee - Adding CBD to coffee can counteract some of the negative side effects caffeine can bring about. However, only anecdotal evidence supports this claim.
• CBD Smoothies - Adding CBD to smoothies can provide health benefits such as improved digestion and relaxation.
• CBD Beer - One of the top new bar trends in 2022 is cannabis-infused beer. Although not as popular as THC-infused beverages, CBD beers are still a great option for beer drinkers that are health conscious.

Cooking with CBD Oil

Much like how CBD can be added to beverages, it can also be added to food recipes. While not as soluble and potent as it is in beverages, CBD still has effectiveness in food. Most of the time, cooking with CBD oil won’t alter the taste or texture of the dish, allowing you to freely add the potential health benefits of CBD to whatever you’re making. There are also many different ways to add CBD to recipes ranging from adding it prior to cooking to just simply drizzling it on top of a completed dish.

CBD Oil Recipes

CBD is a versatile ingredient, and there are many dishes that the product can be added to. Almost everything can be infused with CBD, but some dishes are better suited for CBD cooking than others. Here are some popular foods that would be great when infused with CBD:

• CBD Gummies - CBD gummies are made by adding CBD after the cooking process but before they harden. Gummies are a popular way of ingesting small doses of CBD.
• CBD Honey - When you infuse CBD into honey with light heat, you create CBD honey. CBD and honey are a great match with their herbal earthy flavors and combination of potential health benefits.
• CBD Soups - When making soup, add a CBD glaze once cooking is complete. The potential health benefits of CBD combined with the warmth of soup make it a great dish to have when feeling under the weather.
• CBD Sauces - There are a variety of sauces you can create with CBD, ranging from hot sauce to barbeque sauce.

Baking with CBD

Baking with CBD is another great way to ingest CBD, infusing the potential health benefits of the product into delicious sweet treats. CBD does not pair well with heat, so it is best used in recipes that don’t require a lot of heat to bake. Despite the limitations on heat, there are a variety of amazing CBD recipes for baked goods.

CBD Baked Goods

Baked goods are one of the best ways to intake CBD, providing a flavorful method for ingesting the product. Products that come from the cannabis plant are commonly infused into baked goods, as the sweetness of the food masks any unpleasant flavors that may come from the oil. Additionally, CBD helps market baked goods to health-conscious consumers. Although CBD may not alter calorie count, it can increase a baked good's health appeal and provide the potential benefits of CBD. If you’re looking to dabble in making CBD baked goods, here are some of the most common recipes to check out:

• CBD Brownies - Brownies are a great option for CBD baking, as CBD can be added to the frosting. Alternatively, one can make no-bake brownies to maximize the effectiveness and avoid placing the CBD on heat.
• CBD Cookies - Cookies are a great baked good to create with CBD, as CBD goes well with popular cookie flavors such as chocolate chip and sugar.
• CBD Cupcakes - Cupcakes are versatile when it comes to adding CBD, as the product can be added into both the frosting and the cupcake itself.
• CBD Pancakes- CBD pancakes are a unique CBD baked good that can be created by adding an oil and CBD mixture to your pancake batter.

How to Store CBD Oil

When storing CBD oil, the two biggest things you need to avoid are heat and light. Excessive light and heat exposure alters the chemical composition of CBD and reduces potency, so the product is best stored in cool dark places. Exposure to air can also negatively affect CBD. However, you likely won’t have to worry about this, as most CBD oils come in sealed bottles that are perfect for long-term storage.

Tips for Cooking with CBD Oil

When cooking and baking with CBD, there are several tips that you can use to maximize taste and benefits. CBD has many unique properties that aren’t typically found in other ingredients, so understanding how to cook with it is critical. To get the most out of your CBD recipes, you should employ these tips:

• Mix with Other Oils - CBD is fat-soluble, meaning it is best taken in with fats from other oils. One of the most cost-effective options to use is CBD-infused oils such as olive oil.
• Avoid Heat - High heat can alter the composition of CBD, potentially changing the effects that it has on your body. As a result, you should avoid placing CBD oil over direct heat.
• Use Sparingly - A small amount of CBD can go a long way, so use it sparingly in your recipes.

Is CBD Safe?

One of the biggest concerns of people contemplating adopting CBD is the safety of the product. Studies of CBD are still in their infancy, but the consensus is that CBD is safe to include in products like food and beverages. Reported side effects of CBD are generally mild, including drowsiness, fatigue, reduced appetite, and dry mouth. Although there is some debate surrounding the benefits of CBD, it is likely not a dangerous product that one has to worry about consuming.

CBD Benefits

Too few studies have been done on CBD to know the exact benefits of the product, but some studies and anecdotal evidence have appeared positive for CBD. The only confirmed benefit of CBD is reducing seizures, as seizure medicine containing CBD has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Other evidence such as animal testing and self-reporting shows that CBD can help with anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain, although human-test studies have not confirmed this. Although unproven, with such a wide range of potential health benefits, it's no wonder why health-conscious individuals have begun integrating CBD into their diet and cooking.

CBD vs. THC

Despite many differences, CBD is often compared to THC, a product that comes from the same plant that CBD does. THC is the compound that provides a psychoactive feeling to users, impairing cognitive function, unlike CBD. Although this big difference exists, CBD and THC share the same chemical structure and can be ingested in the same ways. Both can also be used in cooking, but CBD recipes are made to infuse health benefits while most THC recipes are made just to enjoy the psychoactive properties of THC.

Although still relatively new and unproven, CBD has a lot of potential in the food industry. The market is growing rapidly, and legalization and ease of regulations could catapult CBD into becoming a lucrative product. It's important for restaurants and other foodservice locations to learn how to cook with CBD now, allowing them to get in on the trend early and experience future success.

Posted in: Menu Tips | Kitchen & Cooking Tips | Bakeries | By Kevin Singhel

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