24 Carrot Kitchen

menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
    • Meet Christine
    • Contact
    • FAQ
    • Work With Me!
  • Recipes
    • Beverages
    • Breakfast
    • Dairy Free
    • Dessert
      • Brownies
      • Cake
      • Cookies
    • Dinner
    • Gluten Free
    • Dressings/Sauces
    • Grain Free
      • Bread
    • Seasonal and Holidays
    • Side Dish
    • Salad
    • Smoothie
    • Snack
      • Trail Mix
    • Slow Cooker
    • Soup Recipes
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
    • Uncategorized
  • Resources
    • Favorite Blogging Essentials For Success!
    • Food Photographer Resources-Your One Stop Guide
    • The Ultimate Kitchen How To Page
    • Instagram
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
    • Meet Christine
    • Contact
    • FAQ
    • Work With Me!
  • Recipes
    • Beverages
    • Breakfast
    • Dairy Free
    • Dessert
      • Brownies
      • Cake
      • Cookies
    • Dinner
    • Gluten Free
    • Dressings/Sauces
    • Grain Free
      • Bread
    • Seasonal and Holidays
    • Side Dish
    • Salad
    • Smoothie
    • Snack
      • Trail Mix
    • Slow Cooker
    • Soup Recipes
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
    • Uncategorized
  • Resources
    • Favorite Blogging Essentials For Success!
    • Food Photographer Resources-Your One Stop Guide
    • The Ultimate Kitchen How To Page
    • Instagram
×
Home » How to

How To Make Clarified Butter (Ghee)!

Published: Dated: December 10, 2015 Modified: Last Modified: April 29, 2020 Christine Galvani 17 Comments This post may contain affiliate links ·

Home » How to

824 shares
  • Facebook83
  • Twitter
Jump to Recipe

How to Make Clarified Butter, also known as ghee!  In this DIY ghee recipe, a product I adore, you will learn how to make your own ghee, which is a traditional Indian recipe for clarified butter.  I found that when I went dairy free, cooking with this ghee recipe became a wonderful option for many recipes that traditionally called for butter.  Although you can buy ready made ghee, you will love being able to make your own ghee easily.

Clarified Butter - Ghee in a glass jar - 24 Carrot Kitchen

How To Make Clarified Butter:

The above photo is freshly prepared Ghee that has cooled and solidified at room temperature.

Ghee is also referred to as Clarified Butter.  Ghee is basically butter that is warmed so that the milk solids that contain lactose and casein melt away, which makes it an invaluable cooking fat for those avoiding dairy products with those ingredients.  And it is Whole 30 approved.

My first batch burned!  The temperature was too high. I gave it another try and find that it is so easy to make now.

The below photo shows freshly made Ghee that is still warm and in a liquid state.  I wait until it has cooled before using.

 

Clarified Butter in a glass jar with lid! - 24 Carrot KitchenHow Is Clarified Butter Made:

To get started you will need: (affiliate links)

  1. a Ghee strainer fitted with some cheesecloth
  2. A sturdy pot. I use my heavier pots for this.
  3. unsalted butter - I prefer grass-fed butter (like Kerrygold).
  4. a jar with a lid I usually use 1 pound of butter (two 8 ounce bars of Kerrygold unsalted butter) at a time and need one jar.

Here are the strainer and cheesecloth over the jar that I will pour the ghee over once done.  The strainer catches all the brown milk solid bits that are left at the bottom of the pan.  You don't want those in the ghee.

Ghee Strainer over empty jar - 24 Carrot Kitchen

Start off by placing your butter in your pan.  The first time I made ghee, it burned and sputtered because the temperature was too high.  When making ghee I have the stove burner temperature on low.  I make sure the butter goes through several stages and this can take anywhere from 15-30 minutes.  I stay in the kitchen, doing other things while it is cooking, so I can keep an eye on the progress.  Then I have one jar of ghee which usually lasts a few months.

Unsalted grass-fed butter in saucepan - 24 Carrot Kitchen

The butter below has melted, but there are still a few more minutes of cooking time.

Melted butter in saucepan - 24 Carrot KitchenThe butter goes through stages as it cooks towards the finished product Ghee.  I have several photos so you have a good idea of what to expect.

Melted butter with foam in saucepan - 24 Carrot Kitchen

Melted butter in saucepan - 24 Carrot Kitchen

Melted butter in saucepan - 24 Carrot KitchenIn the below photo, the butter is getting a little darker, browner, and same with the edges.  There is the residue at the bottom which will be caught in the strainer and some will be left at the bottom of the pan.  I am satisfied that my Ghee is ready at this point.

Melted butter in saucepan - 24 Carrot Kitchen

Melted butter in ghee strainer over glass jar - 24 Carrot KitchenAbove I have strained the Ghee into my jar.  Above and below you can see the bits of milk solids left in the bottom of the pan.

bottom of saucepan after clarified butter - ghee has been made - 24 Carrot Kitchen

I pour the finished Ghee into a jar and let it cool.  Sometimes I strain a few times just to be sure I am getting rid of the milk solids, lactose, and casein.  If you are extremely sensitive, you might talk to your health care provider about whether homemade Ghee is a viable resource for you.  My functional medicine practitioner gave me the go-ahead.

freshly made clarified butter in jar - 24 Carrot Kitchen

 

Uses For Your Clarified Butter:

So, now you have made clarified butter or ghee, what are some uses?  Ghee has an awesome buttery yet caramel flavor.  I will sometimes add it to baked goods or cookie recipes.  It is a great fat to add to any hash, such as sweet potatoes or white potatoes.  It also goes great with eggs and pancakes.  I use it in the Slow Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes recipe.

Storing Your Homemade Ghee:

I prefer to store my Ghee in the refrigerator and it seems to last longer and stay fresher this way, especially in the summer months.  In the winter months, I know many prefer to keep it in a cupboard because of the softer consistency.  I would do this if I know I will be using my Ghee often enough to go through the jar rather quickly.  Otherwise, my preferred storage method is the refrigerator.

Do you have a favorite way to use Ghee?

Please let me know if you have any questions.

https://24carrotkitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/lumen5-video.mp4
5 from 5 votes
How to Make Ghee - 24 Carrot Kitchen
Print
How To Make Clarified Butter (Ghee)!
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 

Learn how to make clarified butter in this easy ghee butter recipe!

Course: Condiment, Cooking fat
Cuisine: American
Servings: 25
Calories: 260 kcal
Author: Christine Galvani
Ingredients
  • 2 8 ounce unsalted butter. (e.g. grass fed Kerrygold brand)
Instructions
  1. Place your unsalted butter in the bottom of a sturdy saucepan and turn the heat to low.
  2. As your butter is melting, place a piece of cheesecloth in a strainer over a glass jar.
  3. Once the ghee is done, pour over the cheesecloth into the jar. Discard the cheesecloth.
  4. Let your freshly prepared ghee cool in the jar. Then add a lid and store at room temperature for one month or in the refrigerator.
Recipe Notes

*Estimated 25 servings per batch of ghee.

Nutrition Facts
How To Make Clarified Butter (Ghee)!
Amount Per Serving
Calories 260 Calories from Fat 261
% Daily Value*
Fat 29g45%
Saturated Fat 18g90%
Cholesterol 78mg26%
Sodium 3mg0%
Potassium 8mg0%
Vitamin A 905IU18%
Calcium 9mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

 

More How to

  • bowl of steel cut oats
    How to Make Oat Flour
  • a mango and chopped mango in a bowl.
    How To Cut A Mango
  • bowl of pineapple chunks.
    How to Cut a Pineapple
  • Dehydrated orange slices on the counter.
    Dried Orange Slices

About Christine Galvani

Foodie recipe creator of delicious grain, gluten, and dairy-free recipes for 5+ years. Nature lover, adventure seeker, wife, mom, dog mom. I love to create clean eating, real food recipes that everyone loves.

Read more about me here!

Comments

  1. Elaine @ Dishes Delish says

    February 02, 2017 at 11:30 am

    I've bought ghee before but never made it myself. I love all the photos you included! It's so nice to see what it's supposed to look like at all stages!

    Reply
    • Christine says

      February 03, 2017 at 12:05 pm

      Thanks Elaine!

      Reply
  2. Julia @ HappyFoods Tube says

    February 02, 2017 at 11:28 am

    I've been meaning to make the ghee for a while now. Thanks for this post!

    Reply
    • Christine says

      February 03, 2017 at 12:05 pm

      Oh, Julia, you are in for a treat!

      Reply
  3. Veena Azmanov says

    February 02, 2017 at 11:09 am

    5 stars
    My mom would make ghee all the time from fresh cream.. now I make with butter too! Once you get use to the heavenly flavor of ghee it's so addictive.

    Reply
    • Christine says

      February 03, 2017 at 12:05 pm

      Thanks Veena!

      Reply
    • Charlene says

      March 08, 2018 at 2:10 am

      Can i ask how you make it with cream?

      Reply
  4. Kristina says

    February 02, 2017 at 10:42 am

    5 stars
    This looks so much easier than I thought it would be! Thanks for the helpful step-by-step photos!

    Reply
    • Christine says

      February 03, 2017 at 12:06 pm

      Thanks Kristina!

      Reply
  5. Abby says

    December 11, 2015 at 10:57 am

    5 stars
    Thank you so much for posting the stages of cooking..... I found them extremely helpful !
    Now I don't have to buy this anymore.

    Reply
    • Christine says

      December 17, 2015 at 5:06 pm

      I am so glad this is helpful to you! 🙂

      Reply
Newer Comments »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Christine Galvani

Welcome!

Easy, fast recipes with whole food, seasonal ingredients is my focus these days.  My quick tip is to find a core group of recipes you make on repeat.

More about me

Popular

  • blended blueberry smoothie in the blender.
    Blueberry Smoothie
  • coconut flour cupcakes with frosting.
    Coconut Flour Cupcakes
  • Tortilla chips on a platter with salsa.
    Homemade Tortilla Chips
  • chocolate cake with frosting and chocolate shavings
    Chocolate Coconut Flour Cake

Seasonal

  • banana granola on baking pan.
    Banana Granola
  • turkey breast with gravy.
    Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
  • risotto in a bowl.
    Instant Pot Risotto
  • bacon turkey breast
    The ultimate bacon wrapped turkey breast recipe (boneless)

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 24 Carrot Kitchen