Desi ghee, also known as clarified butter, is a popular cooking medium in India, known for its delicious flavor and high nutritional value. Though consuming too much of it is thought to be harmful to health, it is necessary for good health to some extent, and the flavor it adds to food is absolutely divine.
Advantages of Ghee
Ghee, also known as clarified butter, should be considered a power food. People have almost forgotten the benefits of ghee in this age of refined oil. Scientists have now agreed with what Ayurvedic researchers have been saying for thousands of years. Read the benefits listed below to find out if ghee is truly safe to use and beneficial.
- Ghee does not need to be refrigerated to be preserved; it can last for hundreds of years and still be usable.
- Ghee is safe to consume even if you are lactose intolerant.
- Ghee is high in vitamins A and E. It’s also high in antioxidants like K2 and CLA.
- Ghee is nutritionally superior to coconut oil. The abundance of fatty acids is quickly absorbed by the liver and converted into energy.
- Unlike what most people believe, ghee can actually aid in weight loss by burning excess fat in the body.
- People who consume ghee are unlikely to suffer from digestive problems.
- Ghee aids in the production of butyric acid in the body, which is beneficial to the immune system.
So, why use refined oil or other substitutes when ghee is far more beneficial to our health? This is why it continues to be a popular choice among Indian households, with some trusted brands maintaining a stronghold in the market.
The following are the top ten best ghee brands in India:
Amul
Amul, which has the tagline “The Taste of India” and lives up to this name with its amazing taste, texture, and quality, is at the top of the list of best ghee brands in India. It costs Rs. 340 per litre.
Britannia
Britannia is another well-known ghee brand that offers four varieties of desi ghee, with its cow’s ghee being the most popular. A 1 litre pack of this brand costs Rs 415.
Nestle Everyday
Nestle is a market leader in the desi ghee market, selling desi ghee under the Nestle Everyday brand. It carries a sense of trust with it. Nestle Everyday 1 litre packs are available for Rs 330.
Gopaljee Ananda
Next on the list of best desi ghee brands in India is the Delhi-based Gopaljee Ghee, which has a nationwide distribution network and is well-known for its taste and purity. The cost of a one-liter pack is Rs 330.
Verka
Verka, a MILKFED Punjab brand, is one of India’s oldest and most popular desi ghee brands, valued for its taste, quality, purity, and freshness. Verka Ghee costs Rs 380 per litre.
Madhusudan
Madhusudan Ghee is a well-known brand in the food industry that provides high-quality pure desi ghee with an excellent taste and health profile at an affordable price. The cost of a one-liter pack is Rs 327.
Healthaid
Another Punjab-based brand of desi ghee that is well-known throughout India is Healthaid, which sells skimmed milk, fruit ice cream, cottage cheese, and cheddar cheese in addition to high-quality desi ghee. The product costs Rs 370 per litre.
Milkfood
Milkfood, a Patiala-based manufacturer, is next on the list of top 10 ghee brands in India. It is reputed to use the finest quality butter as the raw material for producing pure ghee that excels in taste, texture, and health value. The cost per litre is Rs 380.
Anik
Anik Ghee is one of India’s oldest ghee brands, using traditional and hygienic methods to produce products that are delicious and healthy. A 1 litre pack of Anik ghee costs Rs 390.
Gowardhan
Gowardhan is a leading dairy brand based in Pune that specialises in cow’s milk-based dairy products such as ghee, cheese, and butter. The use of cow’s milk promises a distinct flavour and good health, as well as lighter and calcium-rich rice. This brand’s price per litre is Rs 425.
Patanjali, Organic India, Nova, Shakti Bhog, Himalaya, and Kohinoor are some other well-known ghee brands in India. Each of these brands has a devoted following in the country.
How can the purity of Ghee be determined?
Even if you buy ghee from a reputable manufacturer, you may have concerns about the purity of the ghee. Instead of opting for a lab test, you can perform a couple of tests to eliminate such doubts and serve your family pure and unadulterated ghee. Here are some methods for ensuring the purity of ghee:
Method 1 – Heating the Ghee
A tablespoon of ghee in a pan is a simple way to ensure that you purchased pure ghee. Heat the pan over medium heat. If the ghee heats up and melts within a few seconds, it could be pure ghee. However, you can examine the colour of the ghee. If the ghee is light brown in colour, it is pure. If the ghee is not pure, it will take longer to heat and melt. The colour of the melted ghee is yellowish. It’s a dead giveaway that your ghee is contaminated.
Method 2 – Testing With HCL
The second simple but slightly scientific method of determining the purity of ghee is to use HCL. Observe the steps –
- Take a test tube and fill it with one tablespoon of ghee.
- Heat the tube to melt the ghee.
- Put a similar amount of concentrated HCL into ghee.
- Inside the mixed solution, add a pinch of sugar.
- Shake the entire solution to thoroughly combine it.
- You’ll notice that the colour changes after you finish the test.
- If the bottom layer of the mixed solution appears slightly pink or reddish, the ghee is tainted.
- It indicates that there is rancid ghee present, as the colour will not change if there is no rancid ghee present.
Method 3 – Using Coconut Oil
To test the purity of ghee, we use a tablespoon of coconut oil in the third method. To begin, go through the following steps –
- Melt one to two tablespoons of ghee in a glass jar using the double-boiler method.
- While the ghee is melting, combine it with a similar amount of coconut oil. Allow the mixture to cool after it has melted.
- Place this solution in the refrigerator. If the coconut oil solidifies and forms a separate layer, the ghee is contaminated.
- If the ghee is properly mixed and the solution does not form a separate layer after freezing, it is pure.
- Identifying the separate layer is simple, and the test can be performed in any home without the use of any special equipment.
Method 4 – Melting the Ghee
Putting a tablespoon of ghee in your hand and letting it melt is a simple but slightly unreliable way to test the purity of ghee. The ghee is pure if it melts on its own. However, if the ghee requires an additional source of heat to be heated, it is tainted.
This test, however, is not the best for determining the purity of ghee. The outcome may vary depending on the region, room temperature, and other factors. However, this method will assist you in determining whether the ghee is pure or contaminated.