Ghee vs. Butter | Is Ghee Healthy?

Nature & Nurture
Jul 18, 2020
2 min read

Ghee at a Glance

Ghee is a form of purified butter that is made by simmering butter over a slow flame.

It originated in India and has been used in South Asian Cuisine to amplify the taste of various Curries, Chickens, and Flatbreads.

Recently the move to healthier, ethical, and wholesome foods has brought the question to light- Is Ghee Healthy and is it a better alternative to butter?

Throughout this article we will dissect both fats and highlight the key differences and what it means for your health.

What is Ghee?

Ghee or Clarified Butter is a cooking fat, similar to olive oil and butter, that has an extremely high smoke point.

A high smoke point means the fat won't break down and burn when cooking. This boasts great benefits when sautéing, frying and roasting up to 250° C (482°F).

Ghee also has extremely nutty tones and smells, which supplement any dish to create a rich taste profile. Ever had Naan at an Indian Restaurant? The succulence can be attributed to Ghee.

Side by Side Comparison with Butter

The most critical part of any food is not just it's taste, but it's nutritional value. Lets take a side by side look.

So we can see that the process used to create Ghee makes it a more condensed product. It contains more calories, fat, and cholesterol than Butter.

It provides more good fats (Poly & Monounsaturated Fats), and more Vitamin A. The difference between calories and cholesterol are negligible when considering the products themselves.

The preparation of Ghee is a process of purification. Any Casein and Lactose that was present in Butter is completely removed, which makes it an excellent supplement for those that are dairy sensitive or lactose intolerant.

Another reason Ghee is healthier is because Ghee, unlike butter, can also be used in medicinal ways. It can be used topically on burns and rashes as it contains healthy fats and oils to promote the natural healing process.

Furthermore, Ghee has a significantly longer shelf life than butter. When the opened it can last 3 months in your kitchen cabinet, or up to a year when refrigerated.

How to use Ghee?

Ghee is a versatile tool that can really turn your pantry into a superpower. Here are a list of following things you can do with Ghee.

High Heat Cooking and Baking
Mashed Potatoes and Baked Potatoes
Drizzled over Popcorn
When Scrambling eggs to prevent sticking
When Caramelizing onions or other vegtables.
Spreading over crackers.
Drizzled over rice when making.

Conclusion- Is Ghee Healthy?

Butter just simply does not have the reach that Ghee does due to chemical limitations. Ghee can compliment many more dishes and taste profiles while maintaining a slightly higher good fat content than regular Butter.

Ghee also has next to no casein and lactose, which makes it extremely friendly for lactose intolerant and sensitive stomachs. Here is a link to a U.S. Library of Medicine article showing how Ghee is much safer in patients with Galactosemia.

The only real downside to Ghee is that it needs to be made in a very particular way.

We suggest you try out Ghee for yourself!