Using Cannabis for cooking and industry

Cannabis for cooking and industry

cooking with cannabis seeds

 

Cannabis/Hemp Seeds

 

Of course, we all know that cannabis seeds are used for growing but did you know they make for an excellent food source and can be used in cooking? Many pet stores sell cannabis/hemp seeds as pet food – primarily for fish and birds but they can and should be used in human cuisine too.

 

Raw cannabis seeds are an excellent source of vitamins, natural and easy to digest protein and they’re the most prevalent source of essential fatty acids in the plant world. Two tablespoons of hemp seeds contain about 5g of protein, 2g of fibre and 300mg of potassium,

 

Omega-3 fatty acids are present in the whole cannabis plant but they’re most abundant in seeds. If you’re a vegan, vegetarian or just looking to diversify your protein sources, cannabis seeds are the very best source you can find and they offer a great alternative to any who are on restricted diets or those that can’t consume or are allergic to fish.

 

There are many health benefits in consuming cannabis seeds like helping with weight management, promoting healthy heart and cardiovascular function and blood pressure, as well as improving brain functions and guarding against the onset of Alzheimer’s, dementia or other mental disorders. If you’re looking to maintain lean muscle or looking to bulk up, hemp seeds are the best supplement available and since they’re filling and tasty, they can help people eat less and keep their weight in check.

 

Their pleasant nutty flavor is totally non-intrusive when it comes to preserving the flavor of your favorite foods and you can sprinkle them and incorporate them in many meals, salads and low-fat “snacks” like hummus, quinoa and plain yogurt. To enhance the flavor you can toast the seeds for a few minutes on a medium heat.

 

Cannabis/Hemp seed oil

 

By cold pressing cannabis or hemp seeds you can make oil that is highly nutritious and may be especially helpful for the skin. Unrefined hemp oil is dark to clear light-green in color, the darker the color, the grassier the flavour. Like the seeds or seed hearts, it has a nutty flavor.

 

Refined cannabis seed oil is colorless and clear with little flavor. It’s mostly used in body care products such as soaps, shampoos and detergents, in industrial products such as lubricant, paints, inks and plastics but it can also be used for the large-scale production of biodiesel or used as a feedstock.

 

Cannabis seed oil is not psycho-active and it doesn’t contain any of the cannabinoids and terpenes found in cannabis and is not to be confused with FECO/RSO, hash oil or CBD oil and is used primarily in cooking.

 

Cannabis seed oil provides 9kcal/g and contains 5 to 7 percent saturated fat and 5 to 11 percent of monounsaturated fat. About 49% of the weight of cannabis seeds is an edible oil that contains 76% as polyunsaturated fat, including omega-6 fatty acids such as linoleic acid (LA, 54%) and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA, 3%), and omega-3 fatty acids such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, 17%) and stearidonic acid (2%). Both LA and ALA are essential fatty acids. Cannabis seed oil is not suitable for frying as it has a relatively low smoke point so it’s used primarily as food oil and dietary supplement.

 

Cannabis seed oil is considered to be a ‘drying oil’ as it can polymerize into a solid form. Due to its polymer forming properties it can be blended with other oil or used on its own as a wanish in wood finishing, as a hardener and plasticizer in putty or as a pigment binder in oil paints.

 

One of the major uses of cannabis seed oil is in skin care and protection products. The fatty acids and vitamins may help keep the skin healthy and prevent breakouts. A 2014 study studying lipid profiles of cannabis seed oil found that the oil is rich in fatty acids and healthful oils. The abundance of fatty acids makes the oil an excellent choice for nourishing the skin and protecting it from oxidation, inflammation and other causes of aging.

 

The authors of a 2014 review note that the topical application of hemp seed oil help the skin to fight and resist infections as well as strengthening it. The study also suggests that due to the high quantity of beneficial fats, cannabis seed oil may be a helpful treatment for a range of skin issues, including: dermatitis, psoriasis, (varicose) eczema, acne rosacea and lichen planus, an inflammatory skin condition.

 

A recent study in mice found that a cannabis seed extract was able to help protect the brain against inflammation. The authors note that hemp seed oil contains polyphenols, which may play a role in protecting the brain. Another study published in the journal Nutrition & Metabolism highlights the nutrient profile of cannabis/hemp seeds and notes that they might have a positive effect on various health issues, such as lowering cholesterol and high blood pressure, as well as dealing with atherosclerosis.

 

A 2014 review concludes that an increase in alpha-linolenic acid, one of the fatty acids in cannabis/hemp seed oil, appears to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. This fatty acid, called linolenic acid, is also present in flaxseed oil and fish oils.

 

Cannabis/Canna flour

 

Another edible product you can make using cannabis or hemp plants is cannabis or canna flour, which is essentially just ground up plant matter. Unlike with infused food like oil and butter, canna flour involves the whole plant – including the leaves and buds.

 

Of course, if you’re using cannabis flowers with higher levels of THC, it can be psychoactive but you can also use the hemp plant or just leaves, that usually contains very low levels of THC. The leaves can also be used for juicing or as micro-greens and the use of cannabis sprouts is also increasing, as they provide many health benefits.

 

Take note that cannabis/hemp seeds you buy as food are most likely already processed and they won’t germinate, to make your micro-greens or sprouts you’ll need seeds that haven’t been processed.

 

If you’re not a fan of the cannabis flavor, canna flour might not be to your taste but if you like it, it’s a great addition to your cooking arsenal. Cannabis flour can be kept for months, as long as you keep it in a tightly sealed jar and out of the sunlight in a dry and cold place. Not only is it loaded with great nutrients and highly medicinal but it also provides a fiber boost and is super easy to make.

 

To make 1 cup of cannabis or canna flour you’ll need:

  • A coffee grinder or food processor
  • Sifter or a fine screen
  • And of course 25g of cannabis – it can be leaves, buds or a mixture of both. Stems and branches are not recommended as they’re hard to process

Step by step instructions are provided below but you can also follow along with this video.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adrhM3csT-0

 

  1. If you want your canna flour to be psycho-active you’ll need to decarb your cannabis first, if not, you can skip the first step.
    Place cannabis on a rimmed baking sheet in a 115C oven for 60 minutes to activate the THC (decarboxylate) or 90 minutes to activate the CBD. Allow it to cool.
  2. Transfer your cannabis matter to a clean coffee grinder or a food processor and process the cannabis until it becomes a very fine powder.
  3. Use a sifter or a screen to remove any hard or unprocessed parts
  4. Store in an airtight container in a dark, dry and cool place until ready to use. For optimal freshness, use within 3 months.

When you’re ready to use canna flour, just replace about ¼ of the flour the recipe calls for with cannabis/canna flour. If you put more, you’ll most likely lose the consistency and risk the recipe not coming out as intended. Since the plant has a strong taste, you may want to increase the other strong flavors in your dish to balance out the flavor. Using canna flour works perfectly with sweet and savory dishes alike – especially anything with a strong herbal flavor. When cooking with canna flour, do not let your temperatures exceed 180C.

 

If you’re using buds or more potent plant matter, such as sugar leaves or trim as a starting material for your cannabis flour, calculate the THC dosage per serving. For instance – if you used 25g of 20% THC buds, your canna flour will have 5g of THCA, which when decarbed will give out 5 X 0.88 of THC.

 

To view details of all of The Vaults 420 Promos as they go live throughout April, visit this page https://www.cannabis-seeds-store.co.uk/Cannabis-Seeds-News/420-cannabis-seed-promos-at-the-vault-cannabis-seeds-store

 

Why not head on over to The Vault Cannabis Seeds Store and pick up some cannabis seeds now, whilst taking advantage of the discount codes VAULT15 for 15% of your order total and don’t forget to check out our discount cannabis seeds page for all the latest offers, promos and competitions!

 

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Remember: It is illegal to germinate cannabis seeds in many countries including the UK.  It is our duty to inform you of this fact and to urge you to obey all of your local laws to the letter.  The Vault only ever sells or sends out seeds for souvenir, collection or novelty purposes.

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