Are you ready to make your own cannabis-infused oil? You’re in the right place if you want something easy and effective. This step-by-step beginner’s guide will teach you how to make cannabis-infused MCT oil at home. Once made, this oil is versatile and can be used as a sublingual oil or a base for many cannabis-infused recipes and topical preparations.
Table of Contents
Article Features
- Just two ingredients: cannabis flowers & MCT oil
- No special equipment – just a crockpot and mason jars
- Want to make it easy? Skip the hard work, order my Bliss MCT Oil, and have it delivered straight to your door – now shipping across the United States!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Cannabis-infused MCT oil is a popular type of oil infusion made with two simple ingredients: cannabis flowers and MCT oil.
MCT oil is a type of fat extracted from coconuts. They are rapidly digested and absorbed by the body.
MCT oil remains liquid at room temperature, is completely clear, and has no flavor, making it one of the reasons it is so popular in my Well With Cannabis Community.
Many members love that this infusion can be used either sublingually held under the tongue or in homemade edibles.
In this guide, I will show you my super easy process for infusing MCT oil and talk about some important tips and tricks to help you on your cannabis journey.
What You’ll Need
- MCT oil – a clear, tasteless oil. You can learn more about the benefits and drawbacks of MCT oil below. You can purchase MCT oil here.
- Cannabis flowers – You will need your desired amount of cannabis flowers, ranging from 3.5 grams to 1 ounce. You can purchase hemp flowers from my online shop.
- Lecithin, optional: If you’re new to working with lecithin, you can learn more about adding lecithin to edibles. If needed, you can purchase liquid or powdered. This ingredient is optional.
Note: A complete list of ingredients with amounts and printable instructions is located on the recipe card below.
The Step-by-Step Process
- Step 1 – The goal is to create a water bath that stays at approximately 180-190° F for the cooking process. The printable instructions in the recipe card below are for using a crockpot to create the water bath.
- Step 2 – While the water bath is heating in the crockpot, measure and decarb the cannabis flower. Learn how to decarb in an oven or decarb in an Instant Pot.
- Step 3 – Evenly divide the decarbed cannabis flower and MCT oil between the mason jars you plan on using. If you plan on using sunflower lecithin, add it to the mason jars now.
- Step 4 – Carefully place the jars into the water bath. Then, leave the lid on the crockpot alone to infuse for 4 hours. After 4 hours, remove the jars from the hot water and allow them to cool.
- Step 5 – Whether it be a paper filter and funnel, cheesecloth, French press, or a simple coffee filter, you will want to set up a straining station to separate the plant matter from the oil.
- Step 6 – Once cool enough to handle, strain the prepared oil with your method of choice. You can save the leftover cannabis pulp for future recipes.
- Step 7 – Return the prepared oil to whatever jar you want to store it in; I use a small amber tincture dropper bottle.
- Step 8 – Store the prepared oil in a cool, dry place. It will last longer if stored in the refrigerator and even longer if stored in the freezer.
Note: Complete step-by-step printable instructions are located in the printable recipe card below.
Storage Instructions
Store your prepared MCT oil in a cool, dry place.
It will last longer if stored in the refrigerator and even longer if stored in the freezer.
Learn more about how to properly store edibles and tinctures here.
Is MCT Oil a Tincture?
I’ve seen many people, including those inside my cannabis community, fuss over the terminology of a tincture.
Technically, a tincture is an alcohol-based preparation, like the Green Dragon or a QWET tincture.
Because it is not made with alcohol, this cannabis MCT oil preparation is considered an infusion, not a tincture.
However, you’ll often see people refer to MCT oil as tinctures simply because they are oftentimes held under the tongue for sublingual application.
It is important to note that there is a difference in effect between holding a tincture under your tongue vs. simply swallowing it.
While the difference is small, the effects can be quite noticeable from other application methods.
Sublingual Use for MCT Oil
Sublingual simply means under the tongue.
This method involves holding oil or tincture under your tongue so your mucous membranes can absorb it.
There is a dense concentration of capillaries under the tongue and around the mouth, so products held in the mouth are delivered directly to the bloodstream1.
Many people like this method because the typical onset time starts fairly quickly, between 15-30 minutes.
The typical duration time lasts for an average of 2-4 hours.
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Edible Use of MCT Oil
You can consume edibles in many different forms, including:
Eating cannabis is a bit more complicated than simply placing it under the tongue.
This is because the cannabinoids we ingest pass through our digestive system.
During digestion, THC is absorbed into the bloodstream and travels to the liver, where it undergoes the hepatic first-pass metabolism.
This process converts THC into a different form, now 11-OH-THC, a potent psychoactive metabolite that easily crosses the blood-brain barrier2.
This explains why eating cannabis can provide stronger, more potent, or intoxicating effects for many people.
This is why it is so important to follow the golden dosing rule: start low and go slow.
MCT Oil vs. Coconut Oil
It is important to note there are some differences between MCT oil and coconut oil.
You will notice this primarily when baking or using oil in recipes.
While both are derived from coconuts, there is a noticeable taste and texture difference between the two.
Coconut Oil vs.
- Refined has no flavor, and unrefined has a slight coconut flavor
- Solid at room temperature
- Opaque when solid
- Refined has no flavor, and unrefined has a slight coconut flavor
- Easy to substitute in baked goods
- Not great for sublingual application
- May cause digestive distress in large amounts
- High smoke point, 350° F, great for cooking
MCT Oil
- Derived from coconut
- Liquid at room temperature
- Remains clear
- Has no flavor
- Not as easy to substitute in baked goods
- Great for sublingual applications
- May cause digestive distress in large amounts
- Low smoke point, 284° F, not good for cooking
MCT Oil and Digestive Distress
One important thing to note is that MCT oil in large amounts may cause digestive distress in some individuals.
Many members of my cannabis community have reported that consuming too much MCT oil, either in an edible or sublingually, causes digestive problems.
MCT oil may cause diarrhea, vomiting, bloating, and cramping because it is metabolized differently by the body.
Additionally, it is not recommended for individuals who have liver problems.
⚠️ That is why it is important to start low and go slow, just like all things cannabis; that way, you can see how your body reacts.
How to Make Cannabis-Infused MCT Oil
Ingredients
- 16 ounces MCT oil
- 1 ounce decarbed cannabis flower
- 1 teaspoon liquid sunflower lecithin
Instructions
- Lay a clean tea towel down on the bottom of the crockpot. This will create a buffer between your mason jars and the crockpot, potentially preventing any jar moving or cracking during cooking.
- Fill your crockpot with enough warm to hot water to cover the top of the mason jars you plan on using by an inch to create a water bath.
- Place the digital thermometer into the water. Start the crockpot heat on high. When a temperature of 185° F is reached, turn the crockpot to low.
- While the water bath is heating in the crockpot, measure and decarb the cannabis flower. Click here for a full cannabis decarboxylation tutorial, if needed.
- Evenly divide the MCT oil between the mason jars you plan on using. You can either use pint-sized or half-pint-sized jars, it’s you’re preference, just be sure they fit in your crockpot. No matter the size, be sure to leave a 1/2 inch headspace from the top.
- If you plan on using sunflower lecithin, add it to the mason jars now.
- Evenly divide the decarbed flower between the MCT oil filled jars. Stir well. Wipe the rim of the jars with a clean paper towel and place the lid on. Tighten the metal ring to finger-tip tightness, it does not have to be tightened all the way. Do not tighten too tightly.
- Once the water bath reaches a temperature of 185° F, carefully place the jars into the water bath.
- Place the lid on the crockpot and leave it alone to infuse for 4 hours.
- After 4 hours, carefully remove the lid, followed by the jars from the hot water. Set them aside to cool.
- Once cool enough to handle, you will want to strain the MCT oil through a paper filter and funnel, cheesecloth, or French press to separate the plant matter from the oil.
- Save the leftover cannabis pulp for use in future recipes. Then return the prepared cannabis oil to whatever jar you would like to store it in. We use a small amber tincture jar.
- Store the prepared cannabis MCT oil in a cool, dry place. It will last longer if stored in the refrigerator and even longer if stored in the freezer.
Notes
- Yield: ~16 ounces / ~2 cups
- Temperature Control: The water bath does not need to stat perfectly at 185° F the entire time. Any temperature between 170°-190°F is OK.
- Safety First: I recommend you sanitize your jars by keeping them submerged in the 185° F crockpot for 10 at least minutes. This step is not necessary, but good practice for safety and hygiene.
- Floating Jars: Sometimes the mason jar will float when placed in the water bath. This is no need for concern, simply put something heat and water safe over the top of the jar to weigh it down, a clean rock works well.
- Alternative Carrier Oil Options Include:
- Olive oil
- Avocado oil
- Hemp seed oil
- Grapeseed oil
- Coconut oil
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Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use my free edible dosage calculator to get a guestimate of how potent your MCT oil infusion will be. You can use my dosing guide from there to know how much to take. If you’re new to cannabis, consider starting with a microdose option.
You may want to consider making a small test batch before making a larger batch. This recipe calls for 1 ounce of flower and 16 ounces of MCT oil, which will yield a large batch. If you want to make a smaller batch first to see if MCT oil infusions are right for you, use this cannabis flower-to-oil ratio guide.
If you want a stronger, more potent infusion, you can make this MCT oil infusion with FECO. Follow the directions for making FECO here, including directions for mixing with MCT oil after cooking. You can also make infused MCT oil with other types of cannabis concentrates.
Take your edibles to the next level…
My Edibles Made Easy Online Cooking Course will teach you how to easily make cannabis edibles and topical recipes at home. This step-by-step video course will teach you how to infuse, extract, and create edibles with many different product types – all from the comfort of your own home.
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Discover the Many Types of Cannabis Oil Infusions
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Cannabis Flower-to-Oil Ratio Guide & Printable Chart
Cannabis Infusions & Extractions
Easy Cannabis Coconut Oil Recipe
Cannabis Infusions & Extractions
Sooo can you overcook this? Apparently my crockpot was over 200 for a bit 😅
No worries, I’m sure you’re just fine, Alice! A little extra heat will not destroy your batch.
If I have 1oz of Decarbed ‘leaf’ what’s the best ratio for a strong oil? With lecithin? I’d thought about halving the liquid amount?
For a strong oil infusion with 1oz of decarbed “leaf,” you can start with 1 cup of oil for a potent result. Adding 1-2 teaspoons of sunflower lecithin can help enhance absorption. Halving the liquid amount is a great way to boost potency further if desired, just make sure all of the plant matter can be covered.
Can you wash infused mct oil to help reduce the chlorophyll
Hey Gary. I’m so happy you reached out with this question! From my experience, washing infused oils works best with something that solidifies when chilled, like butter or coconut oil. Since MCT oil stays liquid even when cold, the washing process may not work as effectively to remove chlorophyll or other unwanted elements. The solidification step is key because it allows you to separate the oil from the water layers easily after chilling. With MCT oil being liquid at all temperatures, the separation process could become tricky and less efficient. If you’re open to alternatives, sticking with options like butter or coconut oil may provide better results for a cleaner infusion.
Thank you! I usually make a double boiler thing on the stove. Borrowed a slow cooker this time- so much easier. Thanks for straight-forward recipe and instructions.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Gail! I’m so happy you found the recipe and instructions straightforward. Using a slow cooker can definitely make the process easier and more convenient, it’s such a great tool to have on hand. I’m glad it worked out for you!