How to Infuse Cannabis Into MCT Oil

MCT oil is fractionated coconut or palm kernel oil, mostly C8 and C10 fats, typically 50 to 80 percent of the blend. It stays liquid at room temperature, which is why it is used as a cannabis carrier oil.

If you already know you want MCT and just need the method, skip to the step-by-step section below. If you are still deciding between carrier oils, our comparison of the best oils for cannabis infusion covers that choice in more depth than this page will.

What is MCT oil

MCT stands for medium-chain triglycerides: fats with 6 to 12 carbon atoms, dominated in commercial MCT oil by C8 (caprylic acid) and C10 (capric acid). These are fractionated out of coconut oil or palm kernel oil through a distillation process that isolates the shorter chains and leaves the longer-chain fats behind.

The practical difference from whole coconut oil is simple: coconut oil is roughly 82 percent saturated fat and solidifies below about 24C (75F), while fractionated MCT oil is liquid at room temperature and stays that way in the fridge. That makes it easier to measure, pour, dose by the dropper, and mix into food or capsules without melting a jar first.

MCT oil itself is flavourless or very mildly coconut-scented, depending on the source and refinement, which is part of why it is popular as a carrier: it does not compete with the taste of what you are making.

Why infuse into MCT instead of coconut oil or butter

Three practical reasons show up most often:

• It is already liquid. No melting step, no waiting for it to solidify again before bottling into a dropper.
• It is close to flavour-neutral. Coconut oil carries a coconut taste and butter carries a dairy taste; both compete with recipes where you do not want either. See our cannabis coconut oil recipe if that flavour profile is actually what you want.
• It doses more precisely. A liquid oil measures by the millilitre or the drop. Butter and coconut oil are usually measured by the spoonful once solid, which is a coarser unit for dosing.

The trade-off is cost. MCT oil generally runs more expensive per litre than coconut oil, and it is not a butter substitute in recipes that need butter’s texture or browning behaviour. For a full side-by-side across more carrier oils, use the oil comparison guide rather than treating this page as that comparison.

Does MCT extract more THC

MCT oil is reported to extract roughly 70 to 90 percent of available cannabinoids in a standard stovetop or sous vide infusion, compared with roughly 40 to 70 percent for olive oil. The gap is generally attributed to MCT’s fat structure being efficient at dissolving cannabinoids, which are fat-soluble.

Those are ranges, not guarantees: your actual yield depends on decarb quality, infusion time and temperature, and how finely the flower was ground. For the mechanics of what drives extraction efficiency up or down, see our dedicated page on cannabis oil extraction efficiency rather than this summary.

How does MCT compare to coconut, olive and butter?

How do you infuse cannabis into MCT oil step by step

The two stages are decarboxylation, which converts THCA into active THC, and infusion, which dissolves the cannabinoids into the fat. Skipping decarb produces an oil with far less active THC, since raw flower is mostly non-intoxicating THCA.

1. Grind the flower. A coarse to medium grind exposes more surface area without turning it to dust, which can scorch during decarb. Our NOIDS Herb Lab page covers grind consistency if you are troubleshooting uneven decarb.
2. Decarboxylate. Spread the ground flower on a lined tray and bake at 115C (239F) for 40 minutes. Do not exceed roughly 160C (320F): above that point THC begins degrading toward CBN. For a temperature reference across different ovens, see the decarboxylation temperature chart, and for the full method including troubleshooting, see the complete guide to cannabis decarboxylation. The maximum theoretical THCA to THC conversion is 87.7 percent by mass; real-world decarb typically lands below that ceiling.
3. Combine flower and MCT oil in a heatproof container. See the ratio table below for how much oil per gram of flower.
4. Infuse at 70 to 90C (158 to 194F) for 2 to 3 hours. A double boiler, slow cooker on low, or a sous vide bath all work. Never let the oil reach a rolling boil: it wastes terpenes and adds no extraction benefit. If you want tighter temperature control than a stovetop gives you, our sous vide decarboxylation page covers the equipment and settings, and the same water-bath logic applies to the infusion stage.
5. Strain through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth while the oil is still warm and pourable. Squeeze gently to recover oil without pushing excess plant matter through.
6. Bottle and label. Use a dark glass dropper bottle. Write the infusion date and an estimated mg of THC per millilitre on the label before you forget which batch is which.

What ratio should you use

The right ratio depends on the flower’s THC percentage and how strong you want the finished oil. As a starting point:

Those figures are illustrative estimates only, not a guarantee. Actual potency varies with your flower’s lab-tested THC percentage and your real decarb and extraction efficiency. Run your own numbers through the potency calculator before dosing anything you make.

How to dose and store

Start low. A reasonable first test dose for someone unfamiliar with edibles is 2.5 to 5mg of THC, waited out for at least 90 minutes to two hours before taking more, since onset is slower and less predictable than smoking. Our complete edible dosage guide walks through dosing tiers by experience level.

On bioavailability: MCTs are absorbed and metabolised differently from long-chain fats, and MCT oil’s use as a supplement carrier is partly built on that mechanism. It is mechanistically plausible that this affects how cannabinoids are absorbed too, but controlled human comparisons specific to cannabis in MCT oil are thin. Treat any claim of a specific bioavailability multiplier as unproven rather than fact.

For storage, a dark glass bottle kept in a cool, dark place is typical practice, with many home producers using it within 2 to 3 months and refrigerating for longer storage. Treat any specific shelf-life figure as typical practice rather than a guarantee, since oxidation speed depends on your exact oil, container, light exposure and temperature.

What goes wrong

• Weak or inactive oil. Usually a decarb problem: too short a bake, too low a temperature, or flower that was too finely ground and scorched unevenly.
• Cloudy or gritty oil. Plant matter was not strained finely enough, or the infusion ran too hot and broke down waxes into the oil.
• Oil that does not seem to work at all. Before assuming the batch failed, check whether the issue is actually about your body’s response to edibles rather than the oil itself; our page on why edibles do not work for some people covers absorption, tolerance and dosing miscalculations that get mistaken for a bad batch.
• Inconsistent dosing between batches. Comes from not knowing the flower’s actual THC percentage, or eyeballing the ratio instead of measuring. Recalculate with the potency calculator every time your flower source changes.
• Rancid oil before you expect it. Usually storage in light or heat, not a flaw in the infusion itself.

Frequently asked questions about MCT oil infusion

Is MCT oil better than coconut oil for infusing cannabis?

Both report similar extraction ranges, roughly 70 to 90 percent. MCT stays liquid and doses more precisely; coconut oil is cheaper and better suited to topicals and baking where its texture and flavour are wanted.

Can I infuse cannabis into MCT oil without decarboxylating first?

You can, but the oil will contain mostly THCA rather than active THC, and THCA is not intoxicating in the way THC is. Decarb at 115C (239F) for 40 minutes first.

What temperature should I infuse cannabis and MCT oil at?

70 to 90C (158 to 194F) for 2 to 3 hours. Never bring it to a rolling boil.

How much MCT oil do I use per gram of cannabis?

Roughly 30 to 35ml of MCT oil per gram of decarboxylated flower is a common starting ratio; see the batch table above for scaled amounts.

How long does homemade MCT cannabis oil last?

Typical home practice is 2 to 3 months at room temperature in a dark bottle, longer if refrigerated. Treat this as a general guideline, not a fixed rule, since your actual shelf life depends on storage conditions.

Does MCT oil have a taste?

MCT oil is close to flavour-neutral, with at most a very mild coconut note depending on the brand, which is why it is often chosen over coconut oil or olive oil for recipes where taste matters.

Can I use MCT oil cannabis infusion in capsules?

Yes. Its liquid, precise-dosing nature makes it a common choice for homemade capsules, provided you know the mg of THC per millilitre from your batch calculation.

Is MCT oil more bioavailable than other carrier oils for cannabis?

It is mechanistically plausible given how MCTs are metabolised, but controlled human studies comparing cannabinoid bioavailability across carrier oils are limited. Do not rely on a specific multiplier as fact.

Explore starter tools at the NOIDS Basic Bundle.

Prefer a solid fat instead of MCT? Compare it in what kind of coconut oil is best for edibles.

Wondering how it compares to coconut oil? See MCT oil vs coconut oil for edibles.