Maybe you bought ghee to make some delicious sweets.
Or perhaps you used half a bottle to make some crispy fried chicken for your guests.
Either way, you are probably here because you have found some old ghee and are wondering if it is spoiled.
Here is some good news: Ghee has a very long shelf life and rarely gets spoiled.
But if your ghee shows some discoloration, mold growth, smells odd, or its taste is not up to the mark, you can discard it to be on the safe side.
Let us delve a little deeper and find out all about this fantastic cooking ingredient.
What Is Ghee?
Ghee is a pure clarified butter that’s enjoyed the world over for its delicious toasted umami taste. It is a clear, golden-colored liquid that is free from milk solids.
Do you want to know the best part? Ghee’s smoke point is 482 ° F (or 250 ° C), well above most cooking oils.
How To Know If Ghee Has Gone Off
Ghee does not go bad quickly like regular butter.
Let us explore why: Butter goes bad when hydrolysis occurs, and the butyrate produces an off smell. But your ghee does not have any milk solids. There is no butyrate, so there is no chance of hydrolysis.
Does it mean that your ghee can last forever? No.
Though your ghee may not get spoiled, it may become rancid if you keep it for a very long time.
- An odd smell may replace its milky-sweet smell.
- Your ghee may taste sour.
- There may be a slight color change, or it may not appear to be good.
- There may be indications of mold growth.
Before you throw it away: When ghee gets that sour smell and taste, it’s because the fats and oils in it have oxidized as the ghee has come into contact with the air. This is called rancidity, and rancid ghee isn’t dangerous.
Therefore, if your ghee has gone slightly rancid, then use it sparingly in a dish, and, likely, you won’t notice the difference!
How To Store Ghee
It is cent per cent pure fat and has a stable shelf life. There is no harm in keeping it along with the other oils in your pantry.
You may find a lot of contradictory suggestions on how to store ghee on the internet.
No worries. Just do what the grocery store did. Was it kept on the shelf or in the fridge in the store? Put your ghee in a similar place when you bring it home.
Still not sure how to keep your ghee? Go ahead and keep it in a cool, dark place where there is no direct sunlight. That’s the sure-shot way to retain its quality!
Homemade ghee: Want to use your culinary skills and make ghee at home? Remember to put it in a heatproof glass jar. Allow it to cool before sealing the lid tightly.
Tip: Note the date on the jar before shoving it into your refrigerator.
Wonder if you can freeze ghee? Yes! If you use very little ghee at a time and want to keep it for a long time.
Divide your ghee and put it in several freezer bags or airtight containers. You can double bag the ghee to avoid freezer burn. You can label them if you like. Keeping your ghee in separate bags will make portioning and thawing easy.
How Long Ghee Lasts
Look for the best before date on the container. It will give you an idea of how long you can expect to enjoy the best quality ghee. The date does not imply that your ghee will go bad soon after that.
Its quality degrades very slowly. You may use your ghee for several months past that date. That implies that you can relish good quality ghee for a year after the production date.
The best part is that if you store your ghee in your freezer, it may last indefinitely.
Before continuing:
Always close the lid of your ghee container tightly, don’t double dip, and make sure no moisture enters the jar.
Your ghee will stay fresh for a longer time in your refrigerator than in your pantry. Opened or unopened ghee remains fresh until the best-before date in the pantry.
Opened or unopened ghee retains its quality for 3-6 months after the best-before date in the refrigerator.
The Bottom Line On Ghee
Here are the key takeaways:
- Ghee or clarified butter is very popular because of its culinary versatility and health benefits.
- Depending on the way you store your ghee, it can last for at least a year.
- To prevent spoilage, do not allow moisture or any other contaminants to enter your jar of ghee.
