Ghee (or clarified butter) holds a constant position in every Indian kitchen, whether it's to enhance the flavour of your meal or to make your paratha soft. A spoonful of ghee works wonders in your everyday cooking expedition. But that's not all - ghee also provides you with several essential nutrients. It contains iron, antioxidants, protein, and various vitamins and minerals that come together to nourish you from within. However, did you know that the jar of ghee you're buying from the store could be unsafe for consumption? Yes, you read that right! Hence, we've got some simple tricks to test the purity of ghee at home. Let's elucidate further.
Also Read: Think Ghee Is Bad? Think Again! 5 Myths About Ghee You Should Stop Believing Now
Is There Fake Ghee? What Are the Impurities in Ghee?
To put it simply, ghee is a unique variant of butter, prepared by boiling butter to caramelize the milk protein, which is later removed. In other words, ghee is the remaining concentrated fat.
According to FSSAI, due to its increasing demand, both in India and abroad, the market is flooded with adulterated ghee today. The board further explains that the most commonly used adulterants are vegetable oils, animal fats, mineral fats, and starch. Adding oils and fats increases the level of beta-sitosterol and cholesterol in the ghee, eliminating all its health benefits.
Also Read: Is Ghee Better Than Olive Oil For Indian Cooking? Nutritionist Explains
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How to Check If the Ghee Is Pure or Not? 3 Easy Tricks to Detect the Purity of Ghee:
Method 1: The Texture Test:
Take a spoonful of ghee on your palm and rub it well. If you see the ghee melting, then consider it to be pure. If you find any solid formation on your palm, then understand it has additives.
Method 2: The Temperature Test:
The process is quite simple. Take a spoonful of ghee, place it on the gas stove, and wait for the texture to change. If you find the ghee turning dark brown, then consider it to be pure. However, if it takes time to melt and turns light yellow, then the best possible option is to avoid it.
Method 3: The Bottle Test:
Another simple way to test the purity of ghee is by transferring it to a transparent bottle and adding some sugar to it. Now, close the bottle, shake it well, and let it sit for some time. If you find a line of red colour depositing at the bottom of the bottle, then understand that the ghee has additives in it.
Now that you know how to find if the ghee you are consuming is safe, we suggest following one of these methods every time you buy a bottle from a nearby store. And if you plan to avoid the fuss altogether, we suggest making ghee at home and enjoying it without any worry. Click here to learn how to make ghee at home.