Easy Pressure Cooker Cannabis-Infused Coconut Oil Recipe

May 5, 2026
By Artesha Lawrence

This article was first published in the Higher Education edition of Fat Nugs Magazine, published in the summer of 2025.

Using an Instant Pot is one of my favorite ways to infuse cannabis quickly and effectively.

When I first learned about infusing over six years ago, I was living in a small apartment, and I wanted to find a way to make oils and butters without alarming my neighbors – and the leasing office. After quite literally spending a whole day on YouTube looking up infusion methods, I decided on the Instant Pot pressure cooker. In the years since, I have made some adjustments, but this recipe for cannabis-infused coconut oil has consistently given me wonderful results, and this is my personal go-to infusion method.

Edibles offer an alternative route to cannabis medicine for people who can’t, or don’t want to smoke, and infusions make it easy to give any dish a cannabis boost. Like everything we consume, infused oil is better when it’s made at home. If you’re looking for a basic, nearly fail-proof way to create infusions in your home without stinking up your kitchen, start here.

Pressure Cooker Cannabis-Infused Coconut Oil Recipe

Ingredients

7 grams of cannabis flower (adjust for desired potency)
8 oz (1 cup) melted coconut oil
2 cups water
1 tsp organic sunflower lecithin (optional but recommended)

*The oil in this recipe can be swapped 1:1 with butter or ghee, depending on your preference.

Equipment

Instant Pot (or pressure cooker)
Mason jar with lid
Kitchen scale
Fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
4-cup glass measuring cup or heat-safe bowl
Kitchen towel or heat-resistant gloves

How to Make Cannabis-Infused Coconut Oil in a Pressure Cooker

Step 1: Decarboxylate the Cannabis

Weigh 7 grams of cannabis flower using a kitchen scale.
Break the flower into small pieces (chunky, not too fine).
Place the cannabis in a clean mason jar and loosely tighten the lid.
Pour 2 cups of water into the bottom of the Instant Pot.
Place the mason jar inside.
Secure the Instant Pot lid and set the steam release valve to Sealing.
Select Pressure Cook (or Manual) on High Pressure for 40 minutes.
When the cycle finishes, carefully quick-release the pressure by turning the valve to Venting.
Open the lid and remove the mason jar using heat-safe gloves or a kitchen towel.
Let the jar cool slightly before opening.

Step 2: Infuse the Oil

Open the cooled jar and add 8 oz (1 cup) melted coconut oil.
Add 1 tsp organic sunflower lecithin to the jar (optional).
Stir gently to combine.
Secure the mason jar lid again (finger-tight).
Add more water to the Instant Pot if needed – you want 2 cups total at the bottom of the pot.
Lock the Instant Pot lid and set the steam valve to Sealing.
Select Pressure Cook on High Pressure for 40 minutes.
When the infusion cycle finishes, carefully quick-release the pressure.
Remove the mason jar using heat-safe gloves or a kitchen towel.
Let the jar cool until safe to handle.
Strain the infused mixture through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a 4-cup glass measuring cup or heat-safe bowl.
Transfer infused cannabis coconut oil into a clean, airtight container.

Step 3: Store & Use

Store the infused oil in a cool, dark place or refrigerate for up to 2 months (freeze for longer storage).
Use in baking or cooking, as desired.

Step 4: Testing Oil Potency Using tCheck Your Cannabis-Infused Coconut Oil

After the infusion is complete and cooled, I test the potency using my tCheck device. tCheck is an at-home device for measuring the strength of cannabis infusions. It’s a small investment, but if you’re making edibles or infusions regularly, it’s helpful to know how strong they are. Here’s how it works:

Add a small sample of the oil to the tray
Connect the device to the app
Run the test

In less than a minute, I get results showing how many milligrams of cannabinoids were in each milliliter of oil. This step helps me calculate accurate dosing for my recipes.