CBD, the non-psychoactive component of cannabis, has gained popularity for helping people reduce anxiety, sleep deeper, and even reduce menstrual cramps. If you’re looking to incorporate CBD into your diet, adding it to food and beverages in oil form is the easiest way to do so. Here are tips and tricks for cooking with CBD. 

1. Don’t spend big bucks on cooking with tinctures. If you already have CBD oil you want to use in a cooked recipe, consider saving your expensive oil and instead purchase CBD infused olive oil for cooking recipes. Fancy oils are great for adding to beverages, but olive oil works great for cooking and has dosage details right on the bottle (15 to 30 milligrams per serving).
2. Watch out for heat. Although not confirmed, experts believe that heat can reduce the effectiveness of CBD. Try to keep it under 320˚F. For example, if you’re making a cake, opt for adding it to the frosting, rather than the batter. 
3. Incorporate healthy fats. CBD is fat-soluble, meaning it is best absorbed when paired with fatty foods. Incorporate it into recipes with olive, coconut, MCT, or avocado oil for best results. 
4. Be patient with the effects. Absorbing CBD in foods will take longer than placing drops under your tongue. Be patient with your digestion and know that the effects will be milder than direct ingestion. 
5. Be mindful of consumption. Pay attention to dosage recommendations and don’t drive if you’re pairing it with an alcoholic beverage. Check that CBD will not react with any of your regular medications and keep track of what has been cooked with CBD in case guests come over looking for a snack. 
6. Great recipes to try. Using CBD infused oils in salad dressings or pesto is a great place to start. A few drops of CBD oil in coffee, cocktails, or smoothies are also a good option for more fast-acting effects.

As a more mild and non-psychoactive alternative to its cousin THC, CBD is becoming mainstream in health and wellness circles for its relaxing effect. If you want to try using CBD, adding it to your favorite recipes is a great place to start!