By Deepali Verma
May 17, 2024
Paneer that is truly pure should be silky smooth and a consistent shade of white or off-white. Any irregularities such as discolorations, can be signs of contaminants.
Take a little paneer and squeeze it between your fingers. Avoid making it too soft or mushy; a little crumbliness is OK. Pure paneer is both strong and delicate in texture.
The flavour and scent of pure paneer are somewhat sour and creamy. If the paneer has a strong or sour scent, it might be tainted.
Place a tiny bit of paneer into a glass of water. If the paneer is pure, it will sink without breaking, but if it is not, it may disintegrate or crumble.
Put some paneer over low heat in a pan without adding water or oil. The difference between pure and adulterated paneer is that the former will lose moisture while the latter will keep its shape.
A little paneer cube boiled in water with a few drops of iodine tincture. A blue colour might indicate the presence of starch or binders.