Ghee among other dairy products is a crucial part of Indian cuisine. From sweets to holy offerings, many households use clarified butter to cook their everyday food. Made with cream obtained by boiling milk, ghee

also finds use outside the kitchen. Many people use it (ghee made from cow’s milk) to massage newborns or to light a lamp in front of Gods and Goddesses.

Video Credit: Masala Kitchen/ YouTube

Despite being an integral part of Indian heritage, many vendors have been reported to sell fake ghee. It is either contaminated with palm oil or synthetic scents to cut the cost, making it hazardous for the health of consumers. If you are cautious about your health, you can make ghee at home. It will be in its purest form and keep you worry-free about the ingredients in it. Here are some do’s and don’ts to keep in mind while making ghee at home.

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Use High-Quality Makkhan

The first step is to ensure you buy quality buffalo or cow’s milk. When boiled, only high-quality milk develops a thick layer of cream which can be churned and turned into a delicious batch of white makkhan. It can be used to serve with stuffed paratha or cooked to extract ghee from it. If you use pure milk, without any kind of contamination, the consistency and quality of the ghee will be better.

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Don’t Overheat

When extracting ghee, you need to cook white butter on low flame for a few hours. If you are in a hurry, postpone making clarified butter for the next day. Unlike gravies and snacks, you cannot cook ghee on a high flame because the white butter will start burning. Moreover, if the ghee is subjected to high flame for long hours, it will develop a bitter taste.

Use Heavy-Bottom Pan

To make ghee

, you must always use a heavy bottom pan. You can either use a stainless steel or even a non-stick pan. This will prevent the white butter from burning and ensure an even heat distribution. It will also help you keep the temperature in check and allow for even melting and separating milk solids. Keep on a low flame, and the ghee will achieve the perfect golden hue and texture.

Don’t Forget To Stir

If you keep the white butter, it will not burn. Keep monitoring the process in short intervals and give the ingredients a good swirl. It will also promote even distribution of heat and melting of milk solids. Stirring makes the process of cooking, extraction, and storage slightly easy. You must keep cooking makkhan until it releases a nutty aroma and the milk solids stuck to the surface are brown (not burnt and black).

Use A Sieve

Once ghee is extracted from makkhan, turn off the flame and allow the ghee to cool off. Use a sieve made from stainless steel. If you use one made with plastic, it will dissolve as soon as it comes in contact with hot ghee or leach chemicals into it. Straining will also prevent milk solids from getting stored with ghee. You can also use cheesecloth for the process. 

Don’t Let Water In

You must prevent water from getting inside the container of ghee. It will lead to a build-up of moisture which can hamper the shelf life of ghee and ruin it. You should also avoid storing ghee in a metal container to prevent reaction with chemicals. Ceramic or glass containers are perfect for storage and ensure a long shelf life.

Use Milk Solids

When you have strained the ghee

, the pan will be left with milk solids. You don’t have to discard them. Scrap them and use them to make parathas or spreads. These can further be cooked with sugar to make a delicious dessert at home. You can store it in the refrigerator and enjoy it for a few days.