When it comes to fats not everything is frowned up on! Some fats are called healthy fats and for so many reasons. Health experts brand such healthy fats as essential to consume ingredient in your daily diet too. The traditional Indian ghee is one example in such a context.
The ghee which has seen reverence across Indian kitchens and temples at once, is not considered a fattener when had in the right proportions. In fact, ghee has risen in popularity thanks to COVID -19’s arrival! Its property as an immunity booster is all the more relevant in the current age and time.
With fast pace in your life at play, making ghee at home might seem like a cumbersome process. But then, even your mom must be doing it even at 60! The packaged stuff from pan Indian brands are surely good but without getting into any reasons why, home made ghee sure is a winner.
Here are few hacks that might help you extract ghee in a better way. These tips will help you only when you know how to extract ghee at home though!
1. Use Chilled Water
Always keep a couple of water filled bottles in the fridge before you start the process of extracting ghee at home. Avoid using room temperature water on the malai since it does not allow good separation of the fat layers.
2. Skip The Blender
It is quick and easy to whip the butter with an electronic blender. However, if you can, stick to using your hands to squeeze, move around and whip the malai is the best bet. This might take little longer but the white butter you extract is of better quality and smoother.
3. Never Use Aluminium
When you put the blended and well separated white butter to convert into ghee, it is best you use a heavy base steel or food grade non stick wok. Avoid using aluminium since ghee extraction is a steady process and this material is not a healthy or viable option anymore.
4. Do Not Over Store Milk Fat
Use the malai you store in the freezer within 10 days from storage of the first layer. Too old malai might heap up into a large quantity but has a pungent smell that is not a deal breaker.
5. Store In Glass Or Steel Jars
Storing ghee is important. Avoid even the best quality plastic. Bring to a cooled temperature after the ghee is ready. Pour into a clean, moisture free jar made from glass or stainless steel. Your ghee’s shelf life sees ample increase with this hack.
6. Summing Up- Clean Up Tip
When you have finally extracted ghee, your pan or wok might look at it has gone to the dogs. However, simply adding some water to the pan along with regular detergent powder. Then you watch it as you bring to a rolling boil will get the pan back to its original state. You see there is always a desi nuska for home made stuff!
Satarupa B. Kaur has been writing professionally for a decade now. But, she is always on the go; she loves to travel, books, and playtime with her toddler as she explores new places and food!
