6 Ways To Detect Fake Paneer

By Krati Purwar

February 27, 2025

The market is full of fake products. From paneer to ghee, vendors start selling contaminated products during festivals to earn more money and make sales. If you have recently bought paneer, here is how you can know if it is fake.

Lemon Juice

Drizzle lemon juice on paneer, if it is made of chalk, you will witness ingredients fizzing. It will quickly prove if the milk product is safe for consumption.

Heat

Heat a cube of paneer, and if it melts without releasing residue or oil, it is pure. If it releases oil, it’s impure.

Water

Add a small amount of paneer to the water. If the cube is pure, it will sink, but an adulterated piece will float.

Tincture Iodine

Add paneer to boiling water. After 5 minutes, keep it aside, and let it cool off. Add a few drops of iodine tincture, if it changes colour, discard it.

Taste

Real paneer is soft and quickly melts in the mouth. However, artificial paneer is chewy and rubber-like with a foul smell.

Physical Exam

If the paneer is fake, it will boast an unusual smell and show signs of discolouration, while the real paneer is white.