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Carrier Fat Science: Choosing the Right Base

science7 min read

Why fat matters, how different carriers compare, and which one to choose for your recipe — from butter to MCT oil to alcohol.

Guide Notes

Author / Editor

BatchCraft Editorial Team

Chaady Research Desk

Methodology

Content is written for educational recipe-planning use and cross-checked against the calculator, recipe gallery, and process guidance already published on the site.

Review Status

Updated March 13, 2026

Recipe and planning pages are designed to work with the BatchCraft calculator workflow, including serving-size assumptions, prep notes, and batch-planning helpers.

Why Fat Matters

The active compounds in plant material are lipophilic — they dissolve in fats, not water. This is why you cannot simply make a tea and expect good results. A carrier fat serves as the solvent that extracts and holds these compounds, making them available for your body to absorb.

The type of fat you use affects extraction efficiency, bioavailability, flavor, shelf life, and which recipes you can make. Understanding the differences helps you choose the best carrier for your specific needs.

Saturated vs. Unsaturated Fat

Saturated fats generally bind lipophilic compounds more effectively than unsaturated fats. This is because saturated fatty acid chains pack more tightly and provide more binding sites.

Property	Saturated (Butter, Coconut)	Unsaturated (Olive, Avocado)
Binding efficiency	Higher	Moderate
Shelf life	Longer (solid at room temp)	Shorter (liquid, oxidizes faster)
Flavor	Rich, distinct	Lighter, more neutral
Best for	Baked goods, gummies, topicals	Salad dressings, capsules, cooking
Smoke point	Lower (butter ~350°F)	Higher (olive ~410°F)

Butter

Butter is the most traditional carrier for edibles. With about 80% fat content (mostly saturated), it offers excellent extraction efficiency and a rich flavor profile that works well in baked goods.

Fat content: ~80% (63% saturated)
Default amount in BatchCraft: 227g (1 cup / 2 sticks)
Best for: brownies, cookies, toast, mac and cheese
Shelf life: 2-3 weeks refrigerated, 6 months frozen
Note: Contains water and milk solids — strain well after infusion

Clarified Butter

For longer shelf life and higher fat concentration, clarify your butter first by melting and skimming off milk solids. Ghee (fully clarified butter) is nearly 100% fat and stores much longer.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is arguably the best all-around carrier. Its very high saturated fat content (82%) provides excellent binding efficiency, it's solid at room temperature for easy portioning, and it has a long shelf life.

Fat content: ~100% (82% saturated)
Default amount in BatchCraft: 240g (1 cup)
Best for: gummies, capsules, topicals, baking, cooking
Shelf life: 2-3 months at room temperature, 1+ year refrigerated
Refined coconut oil has a neutral flavor; virgin has a coconut taste

MCT Oil

MCT (medium-chain triglyceride) oil is derived from coconut or palm oil and contains only medium-chain fatty acids. These are absorbed faster than long-chain fats, potentially leading to quicker onset when used in edibles.

Fat content: 100% (100% saturated medium-chain)
Default amount in BatchCraft: 240g (1 cup)
Best for: tinctures, sublingual drops, capsules, smoothies
Shelf life: 2+ years (very stable)
Faster absorption than other fats — may reduce onset time
Caution: Large amounts on an empty stomach can cause digestive discomfort

Sublingual Use

MCT oil is the preferred carrier for sublingual (under-the-tongue) dosing because it absorbs through oral mucosa faster than other fats, bypassing first-pass liver metabolism for quicker onset.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is a good carrier with a pleasant flavor, though its lower saturated fat content (14%) means slightly less binding efficiency than coconut oil or butter. Extra virgin olive oil adds a distinctive flavor that works well in savory applications.

Fat content: ~100% (14% saturated, 73% monounsaturated)
Default amount in BatchCraft: 240g (1 cup)
Best for: salad dressings, dipping sauces, pasta, capsules
Shelf life: 1-2 months infused (refrigerated)
Higher smoke point makes it versatile for cooking

Alcohol (Tinctures)

High-proof alcohol (190-proof/95% ethanol) is an extremely efficient solvent — more efficient than any fat. Alcohol extracts a wider spectrum of compounds including water-soluble ones that fats miss. Tinctures are dosed sublingually (under the tongue) for fast onset.

Use food-grade ethanol, 190-proof (95%) for best results
Default amount in BatchCraft: 500g
Best for: tinctures, sublingual dosing, concentrates
Shelf life: virtually indefinite when stored properly
Fast onset when used sublingually (15-45 minutes)
Can be reduced (evaporated) to concentrate potency

Safety Note

Never use isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol or denatured alcohol — these are toxic. Only use food-grade ethanol (like Everclear). Handle high-proof alcohol away from open flames.

Glycerin

Vegetable glycerin is a sugar alcohol that can serve as an alternative carrier for those who want to avoid both fat and alcohol. However, glycerin is a less efficient solvent than either fat or alcohol, resulting in lower potency extractions.

Default amount in BatchCraft: 240g
Best for: alcohol-free tinctures, sweet applications
Shelf life: 1-2 years
Lower extraction efficiency than fat or alcohol
Sweet taste — works well in sublingual preparations
Vegan and alcohol-free alternative

Choosing the Right Carrier

Quick Decision Guide

Baking? Use butter or coconut oil. Capsules or drops? Use MCT oil. Fast onset needed? Use alcohol tincture. Alcohol-free tincture? Use glycerin. Savory cooking? Use olive oil.

The "best" carrier depends entirely on your recipe, desired onset time, dietary preferences, and intended use. The BatchCraft Calculator lets you select any carrier and adjusts the default amounts accordingly.