How to make infused oil & butter at home
- Exact times and temperatures for 15 bases, from olive oil to honey
- Works with fresh or dried herbs
- Step-by-step guides for butter, olive oil, coconut oil, ghee and more
Low, steady heat for the right amount of time. That's the whole secret.
Machines from $259.99 · or 4 interest-free payments of $65.00
Shown: LĒVO II+
At a glance
Infused oil, the short version
Infusing is simple: warm your oil or butter low and slow with the herbs you love, for long enough that the flavor moves into the fat. Too hot and herbs scorch and turn bitter. Too short and the oil tastes like plain oil. Here are the numbers that matter.
| What it is | Oil or butter warmed gently with herbs until it takes on their flavor and aroma. The herbs come out; the flavor stays in. |
|---|---|
| Olive oil | Infuse at 165°F (74°C) |
| Butter, ghee, coconut, MCT and avocado oil | Infuse at 170°F (77°C) |
| Honey | Infuse at 105°F (41°C), about bathwater warm. Add 1 tsp of lecithin per 2 cups of honey. |
| How long | About 1 hour for soft herbs like basil, rosemary, citrus and vanilla. 1–2 hours for roots and vegetables. 2+ hours for seeds. |
| Fresh herbs | Dry them first. Water left in the herbs shortens shelf life. |
| Storage | An airtight jar, like a mason jar, kept cool and out of the light. |
| Exact settings | Every herb and base pairing is in the time and temperature calculator. |
Choose your base
Which oil or butter should you infuse?
Pick the base by what you'll make with it. Each one has its own sweet-spot temperature: hot enough to pull flavor out of the herbs, low enough that nothing scorches.
Infuse at
165°F 74°C
Olive oil
Best for
- dressings
- marinades
- dipping oil
Pairs with Rosemary, basil and garlic.
Get exact times for Olive oil
Infuse at
170°F 77°C
Butter
Best for
- baking
- sauces
- compound butter
Pairs with Thyme, garlic and rosemary.
Get exact times for Butter
Infuse at
170°F 77°C
Coconut oil
Best for
- baking
- gummies
- body balms
Pairs with Lavender, peppermint and turmeric.
Get exact times for Coconut oil
Infuse at
170°F 77°C
MCT oil
Best for
- gummies
- coffee
- smoothies
Pairs with Ginger, cinnamon and lemon balm.
Get exact times for MCT oil
Infuse at
170°F 77°C
Ghee
Best for
- high-heat cooking
- curries
- lattes
Pairs with Cardamom, cinnamon and turmeric.
Get exact times for Ghee
Infuse at
185°F 85°C
Vegetable glycerin
Best for
- gummies
- syrups
- tinctures
Pairs with Mint, hibiscus and chamomile.
Get exact times for Vegetable glycerinHow to make infused oil, step by step
Pick your herb and your baseMatch the base to the recipe.
Olive oil for dressings and marinades, butter for baking and sauces, coconut or MCT oil for gummies and balms. Dried herbs are the easiest place to start.
Dry fresh herbs firstWater is what spoils an infusion.
Fresh herbs carry water into the oil, which shortens its shelf life. Dry them before you infuse. The LĒVO II+ and Lux have a built-in Dry cycle that does it in the machine. Dried herbs go straight in.
Hold a low, steady heat165–170°F for most oils and butter.
Infuse at your base's temperature for your herb's time: about an hour for soft herbs like basil and rosemary. On a stove that means a thermometer and a lot of stirring. A LĒVO holds the temperature and stirs for you.
Strain, jar and storeAn airtight jar, kept cool and dark.
Strain out the herbs and pour into a clean, airtight jar. With a LĒVO the herbs stay in the pod, so there's no cheesecloth: just dispense or pour.
Cook with itUse it anywhere you'd use the plain version.
Drizzle infused olive oil on bread and pasta, swap herb butter into any recipe, or stir infused honey into tea. Browse 500+ recipes.
Time & temperature calculator
Get the exact settings for your herb and base
Pick your herb and your base for the recommended time and temperature. It covers 15 bases, from olive oil and butter to honey, milk and vinegar.
Rosemary Woody herbs like rosemary and thyme. Bold, savory flavor.
Olive Oil Fruity, peppery flavor for dressings and dipping.
Set it once. Your LĒVO holds the time and temperature for the whole cycle.
Don't have a LĒVO yet?
Shop machinesEvery herb, carrier, time and temperature
| Herb | Time |
|---|---|
| Flower | 5 hours |
| Basil | 1 hour |
| Petal | 1 hour |
| Vanilla | 1 hour |
| Citrus | 1 hour |
| Rosemary | 1 hour |
| Vegetable | 1–2 hours |
| Root | 1–2 hours |
| Seed | 2+ hours |
| Carrier | Temperature |
|---|---|
| Avocado Oil | 170°F · 77°C |
| Glycerin | 185°F · 85°C |
| MCT Oil | 170°F · 77°C |
| Corn Oil | 185–200°F · 85–93°C |
| Grapeseed Oil | 185–200°F · 85–93°C |
| Sesame Oil | 185–200°F · 85–93°C |
| Canola Oil | 175–185°F · 79–85°C |
| Almond Oil | 175–185°F · 79–85°C |
| Ghee | 170°F · 77°C |
| Coconut Oil | 170°F · 77°C |
| Butter | 170°F · 77°C |
| Olive Oil | 165°F · 74°C |
| Honey | 105°F · 41°C |
| Milk | 165°F · 74°C |
| Vinegar | Varies by herb (below) |
| Herb | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Flower | 105–115°F · 41–46°C | 2–4 hours |
| Basil | 130°F · 54°C | 1–2 hours |
| Petal | 110–120°F · 43–49°C | 2–3 hours |
| Vanilla | 120–130°F · 49–54°C | 3–4 hours |
| Citrus | 110–120°F · 43–49°C | 2–4 hours |
| Rosemary | 120–130°F · 49–54°C | 3–4 hours |
| Vegetable | 120°F · 49°C | 2–4 hours |
| Root | 120–130°F · 49–54°C | 3–4 hours |
| Seed | 120–130°F · 49–54°C | 3–4 hours |
| Pairing | Time | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Flower + Honey | 2–4 hours | Add 1 tsp of lecithin per 2 cups of honey to help the flower bind to it. |
| Flower + Milk | 1–2 hours | — |
| Flower + Avocado Oil | 5 hours | Or infuse low and slow: 10 hours at 160°F. |
| Flower + Coconut Oil | 5 hours | Or infuse low and slow: 10 hours at 160°F. |
Verified reviews
Set it, forget it, cook with it
J G. · Verified LĒVO C buyer
Easy no thoughts infusion
Great device to set and forget for making infused oils for foods
Kimberly W. · Verified LĒVO C buyer
It’s awesome!
Love my Levo cause it just works! Excited to try more infusion combinations.
Vickie W. · Verified LĒVO II+ buyer
Levo ll
I love the levo ll machine. Low to no odor, very easy to use. Start up ready!
Anthony C. · Verified LĒVO Lux buyer
First timer
We absolutely love love love the Levo Lux. This machine is foolproof. So much can be made.
Infuse it the easy way with LĒVO
Set the time and temperature once. LĒVO holds it, stirs it and keeps the herbs out of your oil.
Infused oil questions, answered
What's the best oil for infusing herbs?
It depends on what you're making. Olive oil is best for dressings, marinades and dipping. Butter and ghee are best for baking and sauces. Coconut and MCT oil are best for gummies and balms because they stay stable and blend easily.
What temperature do you infuse oil at?
Olive oil at 165°F (74°C). Butter, ghee, coconut, MCT and avocado oil at 170°F (77°C). Honey much lower, at 105°F (41°C). Use the calculator for any other base.
How long does it take to infuse oil?
About 1 hour for soft herbs like basil, rosemary, citrus and vanilla. Roots and vegetables take 1–2 hours, and seeds 2 hours or more.
Can I use fresh herbs?
Yes, but dry them first. Water left in fresh herbs shortens the shelf life of your oil. The LĒVO II+ and Lux have a built-in Dry cycle for this. Dried herbs can go straight in.
Is infused butter made the same way?
Yes. Butter infuses at 170°F (77°C), the same as most oils. See the full butter guide.
How do I infuse honey?
Keep it low, at 105°F (41°C). Honey is low in fat, so add 1 teaspoon of lecithin per 2 cups to help the herbs bind to it. See the honey guide.
Can I make infused oil without a machine?
Yes, on the stovetop or in a slow cooker. The hard part is holding a low, steady temperature and straining afterward. See how the stovetop compares.
Do I need to strain the oil?
On a stove or in a slow cooker, yes, usually through cheesecloth. With a LĒVO the herbs stay in the pod, so you dispense or pour straight into a jar.
Still deciding which machine fits? Take the machine quiz
Start infusing this week
Pick your LĒVO and color. Free shipping over $199.
Free shipping over $199 · 1-year warranty · Pay in 4