Kitchen Hacks: Easy ways to check the purity of ghee at home

Rancid ghee is often sold in the name of ghee because of its similar colour and texture. (Source: File Photo)

A widely consumed dairy product in India, ghee or clarified butter, which is made from cow’s milk, is an important ingredient in many households. Before vegetable oils came into being, food was primarily cooked in ghee. With time, however, ghee lost its primacy and is now often a part of cooking affairs on special occasions. Composed of 99.5 per cent fat (of which 62 per cent is saturated fat), ghee is also an important ingredient in many Ayurvedic medicines.

Finding good-quality ghee can often be a task as adulterated cow ghee (mixed with vegetable oils or fats and animal body fats) is widely prevalent in the market. Rancid ghee is often sold in the name of ghee because of its similar colour and texture.

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If you are ever unsure about the quality of your ghee, here are some easy tricks you can bookmark and refer to the next time you have a doubt.

Heat test

Ghee is a common ingredient used in the Indian kitchen. (Source: File Photo)

One of the simplest measures is to heat a teaspoon of ghee in a vessel. If the ghee melts immediately and turns dark brownish in colour, then it is of pure quality. However, if it takes time to melt and turns light yellow in colour, it is best avoided.

Palm test

If a teaspoon of ghee melts in your palm by itself, then it is pure.

Double-boiler method check

To check if the ghee contains traces of coconut oil, melt ghee in a glass jar using the double-boiler method (flat-bottomed insert that fits over a pan of simmering water). Put this jar in the fridge for sometime. If ghee and the coconut oil solidify in separate layers, then the ghee is adulterated.

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Iodine test

Add two drops of iodine solution to a small quantity of melted ghee. If the iodine turns purple in colour, then it indicates that the ghee is mixed with starch and should be avoided.

Bottle test

Use the bottle test to check the purity of ghee. (Source: File Photo)

Take a teaspoon of melted ghee in a transparent bottle and add a pinch of sugar to it. Close the container and give it a vigorous shake. Let it stand for five minutes. If a red colour appears at the bottom of the bottle, then the sample contains vegetable oil.