Difference between Ghee and Butter, what’s the catch? Can you use both in the same way? Yes, you absolutely can. Are they both suitable for cooking? Yes. Which one tastes better? Pure choice of your taste buds. Let’s investigate them separately, to see what’s really going on here. Ghee vs Butter choose your fighter!
What is Ghee?
Ghee is a type of clarified butter that originated from India. It’s commonly used in Asian and Indian cousins. So what’s so special about Ghee? The whole process of making it!
You take your regular butter (higher quality,grass-fed) and melt it, wait for all the milk solids to turn brown and after all the water evaporates, all you have left is butterfat. Voila, and you got Ghee! Its darker color (brownish) makes it richer and it gives it a nutty savor.
Ghee is very suitable for cooking as well because it has a higher smoke point of 250 °C. Another reason why you should consider using a higher quality butter, even if you cook it at slightly a higher temperature it prevents overheating.
Is Ghee good for you?
Ghee is almost completely pure fat. It contains a small amount of vitamin A and E. Some people use Ghee to soothe and heal wounds or rashes since it contains antioxidants and antimicrobials.
Since this is a dairy-based product, it can cause an allergic reaction within groups who are lactose intolerant or sensitive to lactose. But studies have shown that during the making process of Ghee, most of the lactose and casein gets removed- elements that typically cause reactions. It could be a safe option, but it’s best to consult a professional before incorporating it into your diet if you are in this group.
Studies have shown that Ghee is considered as one of the healthy fats. When consumed it boosts vitamin intake. Of course, since this is still fat, it should be consumed as a meal enhancer and not the center of the meal.
What is Butter?
Butter is a product based on dairy. Most often butter is made from cow’s milk, but it can also be made from goats, sheep, buffalos and even yaks. How do you get butter from milk? Churning the milk makes the fat solids separate from buttermilk and that’s how you get butter. Sometimes manufacturers add salt, other flavours or colourings during this process.
Butter isn’t the best choice when it comes to heat, as it has the lowest smoke point of 150 C and it’s not suitable for overheating. It is good for most of the meals, cause it makes everything taste better. From meat to simple pastries butter is a great choice, just be careful how high you heat it.
Is Butter healthy?
Butter consists of fat 80%, saturated, monounsaturated fats, and dairy trans fats. It also has some vitamins like vitamin A, D, E, B12, and K2 but sadly not in big amounts. So it doesn’t really contribute much to your daily vitamin intake.
However it does affect your weight, if taken in excess it could cause weight gain. It is also not recommended for people who have heart disease, cause it raises cholesterol levels. Because saturated fats are linked to the rise of (bad) LDL cholesterol. So people who have issues with their cholesterol levels should definitely avoid butter.
Lactose intolerant people could have digestive problems after consuming butter. Since butter was made from milk protein, it can cause bloating and other stomach issues to people allergic to milk. A much better option would be ghee or clarified butter, but only if you consult a professional before intake.
Ghee vs Butter
| per 100gr | Calories | Fats | Saturated fats | Carbohydrates | Protein |
| Ghee | 849 | 96.42 | 60.16 | 0.01 | 0.38 |
| Butter | 717 | 81 | 51 | 0.1 | 0.8 |
Ghee and Butter have very similar nutritional value. They are both used for cooking in very similar ways.
Here are their main differences :
- Smoke point:
- Ghee – 250 C
- Butter-150C
- Lactose content:
- Ghee – less milk protein
- Butter – more milk protein
Ghee vs butter for Keto diet?
The Keto diet is a low-carb high-fat diet, that drastically reduces intake of carbs and replaces them with high-fat foods. This should increase your metabolism and put you in a state called ketosis. Both Ghee and Butter can be used while being on this diet. Differences are really minor. Ghee contains a few more vitamins and a slightly higher amount of fat but it’s not that significant. The only thing that could make a serious difference is the taste since Ghee has a more flavorful, nutty taste. So you can use both depending on what kind of dish you are preparing.
Ghee vs Butter for baking?
When it comes to baking Ghee loses this round. Because of its thicker texture and different tastes, it changes most dessert recipes but not in a good way. Butter has a more creamy texture so it’s more suitable for dessert making. If you suddenly run out of butter it’s better to use margarine instead, cause Ghee will most definitely do you more harm than good.
Is Ghee good for babies?
Ghee is very baby beneficial. It helps in brain development, digestion and it provides energy. It will boost your baby’s metabolism and it’s also great for bone development. If your baby is slacking off food Ghee is perfect for weight gain in a healthy way. If your baby has dry skin Ghee can help you with that, it reduces the rash and itching of the skin. Since Ghee is a by-product of milk it can be easier for babies to digest it. Lactose intolerant babies could give it a chance as well.
