More and more consumers across the nation are turning to CBD for an assortment of reasons and via a collection of consumption methods. The food industry has followed suit with thousands of different brands of CBD-infused gummies and edibles on sale in the United States.

Between pre-packaged goods like our Miracle Gummies to homemade recipes made with our CBD hemp oil, this plant-based power-up is becoming a mainstay in people’s hearts and kitchens. Including CBD oil in your favorite foods or drinks can be an ideal way to enjoy the many health benefits of CBD. Enjoying CBD in food would be especially beneficial to seniors looking to benefit from the ingredient, as consumption levels are easily controlled.

Although CBD-infused foods might not sound the most appetizing at first, they certainly have the ability to be. Home chefs using CBD can follow these recommendations to make CBD as delicious as it is useful.

Before anything else it’s vital to take the quality of your CBD oil product into consideration. There are many CBD products with label claims that do not reflect the ingredients actually inside the bottle. It’s ideal to choose products that have been verified by third-party lab test results for quality and potency. SeraLabs CBD products have been tested by third parties, as evidenced here.

Always be mindful of how much heat you are applying to your dish when cooking with CBD, regardless if you are using a stove top or oven. If there is too much heat, the CBD compounds can evaporate — leading to a loss of potency. Cannabinoids boil at a point between 320 and 356 degrees F, so be sure not to go over that temperature. In order to stay extra safe, aim for below 320 degrees F. Protip: Add the CBD oil after your dish is heated to maximize the use you will get out of it. For instance, you can drizzle CBD oil over fresh-from-the-oven muffins.

Since CBD is fat-soluble, your body obtains its benefits best when it’s coupled with a food that contains fat. Cannabinoids are attracted to fats, so it’s recommended to use a base of olive, coconut, or avocado oil for your CBD cooking recipes.

Since CBD is a unique ingredient, it’s encouraged that you start with something familiar when it comes to cooking with it. For instance, when preparing a salad at home add some CBD to the dressing or directly to the lettuce. CBD oil also works great when added to a smoothie or your coffee, or when cooked into a reduction and served over steak or seafood. Here’s a way to start—a recipe for a Vanilla Mint Chip CBD Smoothie by our friends at Hemp Home Chef:

Serves 2

• 1 medium frozen banana sliced
• ½ small avocado
• 1-2 cups baby spinach
• 1 cup unsweetened oat milk
• ¼-½ tsp peppermint extract
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 2 dropperfuls SeraLabs 1000mg CBD oil
• 1-2 medjool dates for extra sweetness
• Chocolate chips for garnish