Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) is a fully decarboxylated cannabis extract that is ready to consume immediately and requires a fat source for proper digestion and absorption. The extraction process applies heat to the raw cannabis plant material. This heat changes the chemical composition of the cannabinoids and makes them biologically active upon ingestion. Combining the thick, dark oil with dietary fats allows the digestive tract to process the compounds effectively. Consumers add this activated concentrate directly to foods, beverages and cooking oils.
Why You Skip the Decarboxylation Process
Decarboxylation is the chemical reaction that removes a carboxyl group from cannabis compounds. When making traditional weed edibles with raw flower, you must bake the buds in an oven. This heat turns inactive THCA into active THC. RSO undergoes this exact process during its creation at the lab. The manufacturer uses heat to boil off the alcohol solvent. This step simultaneously decarboxylates the extract.
Because the oil arrives fully activated, you skip the baking step entirely. Applying additional high heat to the oil degrades the cannabinoids and terpenes. You only need to gently warm the extract to make it easier to mix into your chosen carrier fat. A double boiler or a simple warm water bath provides the exact temperature needed to thin the thick liquid.
How Dietary Fats Interact With RSO
Cannabinoids are lipophilic. This means they dissolve in fats. They are also hydrophobic, meaning they repel water. When you swallow raw extract without a fat source, your digestive system struggles to process the thick oil. The absorption rate remains low.
Mixing the extract with a heavy fat source solves this problem. The fat acts as a vehicle. It carries the cannabinoids through the digestive tract and into the bloodstream. Different fats have different absorption efficiencies. Saturated fats like butter and coconut oil perform best. Liquid fats like olive oil or canola oil work well. Their lower saturated fat content just makes them slightly less efficient at binding to the molecules.
Adding an emulsifier to your fat improves the final product. Sunflower lecithin is a common additive in home kitchens. It forces water and fat to stay mixed. Adding a single teaspoon of liquid sunflower lecithin to your warm butter or oil prevents the extract from separating as the mixture cools.
Mixing RSO With Coconut Oil
Coconut oil serves as an excellent carrier for cannabis extracts. The high saturated fat content binds efficiently with cannabinoids. This creates a stable base for cooking, baking and direct consumption. You can use refined coconut oil to avoid a strong coconut flavor in your food. Unrefined coconut oil works perfectly if you enjoy the natural taste.
Ingredients and Equipment
You need one syringe of RSO and one cup of coconut oil. You also need a double boiler setup, a silicone spatula and a glass jar for storage. Silicone tools are necessary because the extract is incredibly sticky and will cling to wooden spoons or metal whisks.
Step-by-Step Coconut Oil Recipe
Start by filling the bottom pan of your double boiler with water. Bring the water to a gentle simmer on the stove. Place the top pan over the simmering water and add your measured coconut oil. Let the oil melt completely. Keep the heat low to prevent the oil from reaching a boil. You want to keep the temperature of your infused oil below 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Take your cannabis extract syringe and place it in a cup of warm water for a few minutes. This softens the thick fluid. Squeeze the desired amount of oil into the melted coconut fat. Use your silicone spatula to stir the mixture continuously. Stir for about five to ten minutes until the dark oil dissolves entirely into the clear coconut fat.
Remove the pan from the heat. Pour the infused oil into your glass jar and let it cool. It solidifies at room temperature. You can substitute this infused coconut fat for regular oil in your favorite baked goods or use it to grease a pan. If you pick up an extract syringe, check the label for the total milligrams to plan your infusion.
Infusing Standard Butter
Butter is a traditional base for homemade cannabis foods. It works perfectly for cookies, brownies and savory dishes. The fat content in dairy butter binds well with the active compounds.
Ingredients for Cannabis Butter
Gather one cup of unsalted butter and your desired dose of extract. Unsalted butter gives you control over the final taste of your recipes. You need a small saucepan, a whisk and an airtight container for storage. You can also use ghee. Ghee is clarified butter with the milk solids removed. It has a higher smoke point and lasts longer in storage.
Steps to Create RSO Butter
Place the saucepan on a burner set to the lowest possible heat setting. Add the unsalted butter to the pan. Watch the butter closely as it melts to prevent burning. Once the butter is completely liquid, remove your extract syringe from its warm water bath. Inject the oil directly into the melted butter.
Whisk the mixture steadily for several minutes. The dark extract must blend completely with the yellow butter. Look for an even color without any dark streaks or clumps. Take the saucepan off the burner once the liquid is uniform.
Carefully pour the infused butter into your storage container. Place the container in the refrigerator to let the butter set and harden. You can use this block exactly like regular butter in any recipe. If you need supplies for this project, browsing our menu provides options for different strains and oil types.
Figuring Out the Math for Your Doses
Accurate dosing is a critical step when making rso recipes. You must calculate the total milligrams of active cannabinoids in your entire batch of oil or butter. From there, you divide that total by the number of servings you produce.
Start by looking at the packaging of your extract. A typical syringe contains one gram of oil. The label lists the THC percentage. If the package indicates 80% THC, the entire syringe contains 800 milligrams of THC.
If you mix that entire 800-milligram syringe into one cup of butter, your one cup of butter holds 800 milligrams of THC. A standard recipe for brownies might require half a cup of butter. Half a cup of your infused butter contains 400 milligrams of THC. If you cut that batch of brownies into 20 equal squares, each square contains 20 milligrams of THC.
You can lower the dose by using less extract. You might dispense a tenth of a gram. This amount looks like a single grain of rice. A tenth of a gram of 80% THC oil contains 80 milligrams. Mixing those 80 milligrams into one cup of butter results in a mild batch. Baking 20 cookies with half a cup of that butter yields cookies with two milligrams of THC each.
Always start your calculations with the total milligrams in the raw product. Divide by the total liquid volume. Divide again by the portion size of your final baked goods. This math gives you a clear number for each serving. Keep detailed notes of your math for future reference. Write down the percentages, the volume of carrier fat and the final serving sizes. If you live near Bristol County, reviewing the stock in Attleboro helps you plan your recipes based on current lab results.
Proper Storage of Homemade Edibles and Oils
Temperature and light degrade cannabinoids over time. You must store your infused oils and butters correctly to maintain their potency. Keep your glass jars in a cool, dark place. A kitchen cabinet away from the stove works well for coconut oil. Dairy butter must stay in the refrigerator.
Use airtight containers to block oxygen. Oxygen exposure causes the oils to go rancid and degrades the active compounds. Label every container clearly. Write the date of creation and the total milligrams on the label. This keeps your kitchen organized and prevents accidental consumption by others.
Freezing your infused fats extends their shelf life for many months. You can cut a block of infused butter into individual portions before freezing. This allows you to thaw only what you need for a single recipe.
Common Mistakes to Avoid During Preparation
Applying too much heat is the most frequent error in the kitchen. Boiling the butter or oil destroys the terpenes and reduces the THC content. Always use the lowest possible heat setting on your stove.
Using a microwave to soften the syringe is another major mistake. Microwaves heat unevenly and will melt the plastic syringe or destroy the oil inside. Always use a warm water bath to soften the extract.
Uneven mixing leads to inconsistent doses. If you do not stir the mixture long enough, some parts of the butter will have high concentrations of THC while other parts have none. Stir continuously and scrape the sides of the pan with your silicone spatula..
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding medical questions and follow state laws
