(yet another) Easy ABV (or Fresh) Cannabis Coconut Oil recipe (with a geeky twist)

This recipe is functionally similar to many others - what makes this one unique are the tools used for the procedure. Instead of steeping/cooking in a crock pot, I use a saucepan on a induction cooktop. Instead of straining through a cheesecloth or nut milk bag, I use an Aeropress with Able Disk Fine filter.

I had some ABV saved up, and wanted to infuse some coconut oil, to use the resulting product as a topical and/or in edibles/potables. After perusing various methods and recipes, I decided to keep things simple and settled on a basic simmer-and-strain process.

Just so you can picture what tools I'm using (if you haven't already followed the links above) here's what I use:

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Here follows my actual recipe and procedure in full, including optional steps necessary only if using fresh herb.

MrNaturalAZ's Easy ABV (or Fresh) Cannabis Coconut Oil

1 - (skip for ABV) Finely grind fresh cannabis.

2 - Place material in appropriate size saucepan.

3 - Add coconut oil to fully cover.
(approx. 1 tbsp coconut oil per gram of material)

4 - Set temperature cooking mode. Heat at 180f for 6-10 hours, stirring every half hour.
(Induction cooker may have auto shut-off after some period of elapsed time - mine does at four hours - so pay attention if it beeps. Just restart, remembering to check and set temp mode again if needed)

5 - (skip for ABV) Raise temperature to 210 for one hour to decarboxylize.

6 - Allow to cool somewhat, but while still warm and liquid, strain and press mixture to separate oil from plant material.

Oil made from fresh cannabis will be about 2x the potency of ABV oil, and also have a higher THC/CBD ratio.

An Aeropress with fine stainless steel filter works great for step 6, especially for smaller quantities, but a nut milk bag or cheesecloth also works, if a bit more messily.

Finished product can be safely stored at room temperature, but some people (those in warm climates especially) may prefer to refrigerate it to maintain a solid butter-like consistency.

Consistent temperatures are nearly impossible to maintain with conventional stovetop. I use a portable induction cooktop which has temperature control. Another option might be a countertop electric "multi-cooker" appliance that allows one to set and maintain a desired temperature.

Enjoy! Any questions or comments are appreciated. I know I didn't go into great detail about how to use the induction cooker or the Aeropress, so if you need clarification of any of that just ask!

If you try this recipe yourself, let me know how it works out for you.

MrNaturalAZ said:

This recipe is functionally similar to many others - what makes this one unique are the tools used for the procedure. Instead of steeping/cooking in a crock pot, I use a saucepan on a induction cooktop. Instead of straining through a cheesecloth or nut milk bag, I use an Aeropress with Able Disk Fine filter.

I had some ABV saved up, and wanted to infuse some coconut oil, to use the resulting product as a topical and/or in edibles/potables. After perusing various methods and recipes, I decided to keep things simple and settled on a basic simmer-and-strain process.

Just so you can picture what tools I'm using (if you haven't already followed the links above) here's what I use:

+

Here follows my actual recipe and procedure in full, including optional steps necessary only if using fresh herb.

MrNaturalAZ's Easy ABV (or Fresh) Cannabis Coconut Oil

1 - (skip for ABV) Finely grind fresh cannabis.

2 - Place material in appropriate size saucepan.

3 - Add coconut oil to fully cover.
(approx. 1 tbsp coconut oil per gram of material)

4 - Set temperature cooking mode. Heat at 180f for 6-10 hours, stirring every half hour.
(Induction cooker may have auto shut-off after some period of elapsed time - mine does at four hours - so pay attention if it beeps. Just restart, remembering to check and set temp mode again if needed)

5 - (skip for ABV) Raise temperature to 210 for one hour to decarboxylize.

6 - Allow to cool somewhat, but while still warm and liquid, strain and press mixture to separate oil from plant material.

Oil made from fresh cannabis will be about 2x the potency of ABV oil, and also have a higher THC/CBD ratio.

An Aeropress with fine stainless steel filter works great for step 6, especially for smaller quantities, but a nut milk bag or cheesecloth also works, if a bit more messily.

Finished product can be safely stored at room temperature, but some people (those in warm climates especially) may prefer to refrigerate it to maintain a solid butter-like consistency.

Consistent temperatures are nearly impossible to maintain with conventional stovetop. I use a portable induction cooktop which has temperature control. Another option might be a countertop electric "multi-cooker" appliance that allows one to set and maintain a desired temperature.

Enjoy! Any questions or comments are appreciated. I know I didn't go into great detail about how to use the induction cooker or the Aeropress, so if you need clarification of any of that just ask!

If you try this recipe yourself, let me know how it works out for you.

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Although I don't have any of the equipment required for this recipe, one thing caught my eye: Using the oil topically.

This is new for me. If you apply the oil to the skin will enough cannabis be absorbed to get you high? How much oil do you need to use? Or is the coco/cannabis oil just a good, healthy skin ointment with no extra benefit?

Nesta said:

Although I don't have any of the equipment required for this recipe, one thing caught my eye: Using the oil topically.

This is new for me. If you apply the oil to the skin will enough cannabis be absorbed to get you high? How much oil do you need to use? Or is the coco/cannabis oil just a good, healthy skin ointment with no extra benefit?

Click to expand...

While transdermal uptake is possible, the research I've done indicates that it would be ridiculously inefficient, to the point of having no practical effect. In other words, no, topical application will not get you high. I've seen it recommended that gloves be worn if using the cheesecloth method of straining, but I think that's more a food safety issue than it is to prevent absorption.

That's not to say there's no medicinal benefit to topical application - in addition to coconut oil being excellent for one's skin, the cannabis does indeed provide a measure of local pain relief and antibiotic action. So it's good for cuts, scrapes, burns, and other wounds. It just doesn't offer any psychoactive effects when topically applied.

For that, you'd have to either consume it orally or insert it anally. The former results in slower-onset longer-lasting effects (as does eating/drinking any cannabis product); the latter produces fairly quicker onset, shorter-lasting effect, but not quite as quick as smoking/vaping.

As for amount to use, it varies depending on lots of factors - quality of original product, how "vaped" it is, personal level of sensitivity/tolerance, etc. I'd say, for ingestion, start with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon, then wait several hours for the full effect to be reached before deciding if you might need a little more.

As you become more experienced with edibles, you'll be able to more accurately judge the necessary dosage to achieve the desired effect. Just remember that eating/drinking cannabis is different than smoking/vaping - it can take several hours to begin to notice the effects, and the effect will last longer, too (so plan your activities accordingly).