Ghee Recipe / How to make ghee

Name: Ghee Recipe / How to make ghee
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 32 oz unsalted butter ((2 lb))

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5 from 30 votes

Learn how to make ghee or clarified butter at home with this recipe. All tips, tricks, and troubleshooting are included.

What is ghee

Ghee is a nutty-flavored form of highly clarified butter used in Indian cooking, produced by heating unsalted butter to separate milk solids from the fat. Considered "liquid gold," ghee is a nutritious staple in Indian households, used for cooking, flavoring meals, and enriching Indian desserts.

I have grown up eating homemade butter and ghee. I had never seen my mother buy them. My mother would collect cream from boiled milk and store it in the refrigerator every day. Towards the end of the week, she would churn this cultured cream into butter, and she would then make ghee out of the butter.

Why you will love this recipe?

This ghee recipe provides detailed, step-by-step instructions, making it easy to prepare homemade ghee with confidence.
It follows a traditional method of making ghee, which ensures the development of the desirable nutty aroma and flavor, replicating the authentic taste of this versatile ingredient.
This recipe includes tips, such as how to check for readiness and all common questions and troubleshooting techniques.

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Place the butter in a heavy-bottomed pan and place it on medium-high heat (image 1). The butter will slowly become frothy, and white foam will be formed. Keep simmering (image 2).

Step 2: Scrape the sides and bottom of the pan. Continue to simmer (images 3 and 4).

Step 3: Keep checking the color of the milk solids. Stir intermittently and scrape the sides and bottom of the pan (images 5-8).

Step 4: The milk solids will start to settle to the bottom, and clear golden liquid will remain on top (image 9). The cooking time will depend on the amount of butter used.

Step 5: Carefully pour the hot ghee into the muslin cloth to separate the caramelized milk solids (images 10 and 11). Let it cool completely before storing (image 12).

Expert Tips

Ghee can be stored at room temperature in a dark spot for up to three months. Storing it in the refrigerator can give it a longer shelf life of up to one year. Cool it completely, place it in mason jars (or any clean glass jar), and seal them tightly before storing.

The best ghee is made from the butter of organic grass-fed cow's milk. You may either use homemade or store-bought butter. Always use good quality grass-fed butter, and where possible, use organic butter.

The whole process may take 20-30 minutes, and the total time depends on the amount of butter and the heat. Keep a close eye on it and keep stirring intermittently, taking care it does not burn.

You can also make ghee in an Instant Pot. Place the butter in the inner pot of the Instant Pot and set it to saute mode (normal). The butter melts at around the 10-minute mark. It is best to set an external timer to check the time. The melted butter will begin to boil and turn frothy. The milk solids separate after about 10-12 minutes and settle at the bottom of the pan. Transfer the ghee to a heat-safe container immediately to avoid burning it.

Recipe FAQs

How much ghee do I get from a cup of butter?

Two cups of butter will give you approximately 1.5 cups of ghee. You may adjust the quantity of butter as per your need.

Is clarified butter dairy-free?

Ghee is lactose-free but not dairy-free. It is made by removing the milk solids from butter. If it is cooked well enough to remove the lactose, it is considered lactose-free.

What is the smoking point of ghee?

Ghee has a very high smoke point of 485 F (250 C), making it stable at high heat. Hence, it is more suitable for deep frying.

Should I skim off the froth from the top?

No. Just continue to simmer, and the froth will reduce and eventually disappear. There is no need to skim it off. Keep scraping the sides and bottom of the pan, as this will make sure the milk solids do not burn. Make sure to strain the ghee using cheesecloth or muslin.

How to check if the ghee is done?

To determine when ghee is ready for storage, listen for a reduction in its crackling sound, indicating that the water content has evaporated. Simultaneously, watch for a shift in the milk solids' color from white to dark golden brown. Heating ghee beyond this point can cause the milk solids to burn, introducing bitterness. Promptly transfer it to another heat-safe container to cool, as allowing it to linger in the cooking vessel may cause it to overcook and taste burnt. Insufficient simmering may leave residual water content, leading to spoilage unless refrigerated. Perfectly prepared ghee keeps well at room temperature, bearing the delightful nutty aroma characteristic of this prized ingredient, and with experience, you'll easily recognize when it's ready.

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