Difference Between Clarified Butter and Ghee: a quick comparison

Difference between clarified butter and ghee

Knowing the difference between clarified butter and ghee, you will be unveiling their potential and be able to cook up some excellent food.

Many households have now added butter as an alternative to their base for cooking. Butter comes with great flavors. But what about those lactose intolerant or who want an alternative to butter? Ghee has been gaining a lot of names in the market as it contains none of the milk solids and, therefore, is a great alternative.  

Difference Between Clarified Butter and Ghee:  What One Understands By Clarified Butter?

Clarified butter is a product from which everything, including the milk solids alongside the liquid, is removed, and you get 99% to 100% butterfat. To prepare clarified butter, unsalted butter is taken and heated in a pan. This will cause the liquid to create a foam-like substance on the top, which you can either be removed, or it will slowly evaporate.

The milk solids will start sinking at the bottom and, with the help of a mesh and cheesecloth, the heated product is strained. What you are left behind would be clarified butter. When left at room temperature, this product will solidify.

Difference between clarified butter and ghee: What One Understands By Ghee?

While the process of ghee and clarified butter is almost the same, there is some essential difference between clarified butter and ghee; ghee will never solidify at room temperature. For ghee preparation, the product after heating is not immediately removed. It is made to boil to give it a brown color and a nutty flavor.

Difference between clarified butter and ghee

• Ghee offers a brownish tinge but clarified butter is of golden yellow color.
• Clarified butter is lactose and casein-free dairy, but ghee is overcooked clarified butter.
• Ghee offers a nuttier aroma than clarified butter.

The difference between clarified butter and ghee is based on flavor, texture, and smoke point. You will come across various companies promising to offer quality and fresh ghee. Still, Milkio has been working for years to deliver grass-quality ghee clarified butter to your kitchen counter. 

Clarified Butter Uses:

Cooking at High Temperatures:

• It is ideal for sautéing, frying, or searing due to its high smoke point, imparting a rich, buttery flavor to dishes without the risk of burning.

Baking Applications:

• They are used in baking for their moisture content and distinct buttery taste, enhancing the flavor and texture of baked goods like cookies and pastries.

Dairy Allergies:

• Clarified Butter is suitable for individuals with lactose intolerance, as the clarification process removes milk solids, leaving behind the butterfat.

Oil Replacement:

• They are substituted for regular cooking oils to add a unique buttery essence to dishes, making them versatile in various cuisines.

Clarifying Sauces:

• They prepare clear sauces and gravies by eliminating milk solids, providing a smooth texture and a butter flavor.

Ghee Uses:

High-Heat Cooking:

• Exceptional for high-temperature cooking, such as deep-frying and stir-frying, offering a nutty flavor and a high smoke point.

Traditional Indian Cuisine:

• Integral in Indian cuisine, it is used to temper spices, make traditional dishes like dal, and contribute a distinct aroma and flavor.

Long Shelf Life:

• Its stability enhances shelf life, allowing extended storage without refrigeration, making it convenient for culinary applications.

Coffee and Tea Additive:

• A popular addition to beverages, adding a rich, buttery taste to coffee or tea, especially in variations of the “bulletproof” or Butter coffee trend.

Ayurvedic Practices:

• It is employed in Ayurvedic medicine for its believed health benefits, used internally and externally for nourishing the body and promoting skin health.

Clarified butter vs. ghee: which one is better?

The choice between clarified butter and ghee depends on personal preferences, dietary needs, and the intended use. Both have distinct characteristics and what may be considered “better” varies based on individual requirements. Here are key points to consider:

Clarified Butter:

• Composition: It is made by heating butter to separate the milk solids and water. The result is a butterfat with a rich, buttery flavor.
• Smoke Point: While higher than regular butter, clarified butter offers a lower smoke point than ghee, making it suitable for medium to high-temperature cooking but not as ideal for high-heat applications.
• Flavor Profile: Retains a more subtle butter flavor compared to ghee.
• Versatility: Suitable for various culinary applications, including sautéing baking, and as a substitute for regular cooking oils.

Ghee:

• Composition: Ghee is clarified butter simmered longer to evaporate moisture and brown the milk solids. It results in a nuttier flavor and a higher smoke point.
• Smoke Point: Ghee offers a higher smoke point than clarified butter, making it more suitable for high-temperature cooking methods like deep-frying and stir-frying.
• Flavor Profile: Exhibits a more pronounced, nutty taste for the caramelization of milk solids during the cooking process.
• Versatility: Widely used in Indian cuisine and famous for its extended shelf life, it is convenient for storage without refrigeration.

Considerations:

• Health Concerns: Ghee is often preferred by individuals with lactose intolerance as it contains fewer milk solids. However, both clarified butter and ghee are high in saturated fats, so moderation is key.
• Flavor Preference: The nuttier flavor of ghee may be preferred in certain dishes. In contrast, the milder taste of clarified butter might be preferable in others.
• Cooking Needs: The intended use in cooking (e.g., sautéing, frying, baking) may influence the choice between clarified butter and ghee based on their respective smoke points.

In summary, neither is inherently “better” than the other; it depends on your culinary preferences and the specific requirements of your cooking or dietary needs.

About Milkio Grass-fed ghee:

Try Milkio grass-fed ghee, manufactured by Milkio Foods, New Zealand using the finest ingredients, and traditional ghee-making process. Milkio grass-fed ghee is all-purpose and does not contain lactose, casein, and gluten.

The ghee offers an intense nutty feel-good aroma, rich, creamy texture, and versatility, making it a superfood for the kitchen.

Milkio Ghee is a carb & sugar-free product safe for consuming lactose intolerants and casein sensitives. It is keto and paleo diet-friendly.

Milkio ghee offers a high smoke point. It is shelf-stable dairy oil you can store in the kitchen at room temperature for up to 18 months from the manufacturing date. To buy Milkio ghee, please check the Milkio website for product specifications, and/or sales assistance.

If You Wish to partner with us to Import/Buy/Distribute/Trade Our Milkio Ghee products, or for developing Private label ghee products, or contract ghee manufacturing support, Please Feel Free To Contact Us Via Our Email, We Will Be In Touch With You Within the next 48 Hrs.

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Read more:-

• Difference between ghee and clarified butter you are not aware perhaps
• Grass-Fed butter vs ghee everything you must know about.
• Grass-fed Ghee benefits over butter: learn to plan your dairy diet

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Reference Links:

• Ghee
• Butter