There is clarified butter, and then there is ghe or ghee. They are not the same. Clarified butter, or 'drawn butter', as it was called in times past, is the simpler to prepare of the two. It can be used many ways, including sauteeing steaks, as a dip or dressing for lobster, and as I have recently learned, as an excellent oil for popping corn. Essentially, it is regular butter with the milk solids and water removed.
Ghee, from the Sanskrit word 'ghri' (meaning to sprinkle), takes longer to prepare, involves more steps in the making, and the resulting product is far more stable, both on the shelf and refrigerated. Ghee has more concentrated flavors which are often described as 'nutty'. These nutty flavors are brought about by the browning of the milk solids before they are removed from the butter fat. Ghee is most often used in the preparation of Indian and Southern Asian cuisine.
Since I discovered how much better popcorn tastes when popped in clarified butter, I have done some experimenting to find the easiest way to prepare the butter. Some people who fry with butter, add an amount of Crisco or other fat to increase the butter's smoking point. When they see how easy it is to clarify butter, I think they will use that and not adulterate their butter's taste with other fats.
Clarified butter can be made in any amount. For the purpose of popping enough corn for one or two servings, I use one stick. This yields enough butter for popping the corn, drizzling a good amount over the popped corn, and unless you like your corn heavy with butter, there will be a tablespoon or two left for some other purpose.
When butter is melted, it separates into three layers. The top layer is milk solids. It is these solids that burn when heated to over 350 degrees. The bottom layer is water, whitish in color. This water must be removed also before using the butter for high temperature sauteeing or popping corn.
I think a lot of people would like to try clarified butter but think it too much trouble to make. That is why I experimented to find the easiest way for me, and I hope for you.
Steps:
I do hope these little tips will encourage someone who thought clarifying butter too time consuming, to give it a try. Your popcorn will thank you. And your omelette. And your pan fried steak. And so on.
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I'm going to be the first to comment on my own article.
I like how easy this method is and am finding more uses for clarified butter. My next step is to buy a 2 cup Pyrex measuring cup so that I can clarify twice as much at one time.
I'm continuing to experiment with clarifying butter. Anything I find noteworthy, I will pass along. I did find something, today. I was skimming the butter at the same time I was cooking apples. It occurred to me how foolish it was of me to say 'discard the foam skimmed from the top'. I put butter in my apples, along with brown sugar and a speck of allspice. That foam is butter, too. No need wasting it. Into the apples it went. I loath wasting food. I feel better now knowing I wont be throwing away the foam, anymore.
Doug, I can't wait to try making my own, especially for popcorn. It always seems a waste to add butter after you cooked it in oil.
Have you looked into brown or browned butter yet?
Thanks, Jess,
I will look into the browned butter. I just learned, a two cup Pyrex measuring cup will hold all four sticks of a pound of butter. Might as well do enough to last a while. I did two sticks last time. I really like how the water separates from the refrigerated butter. There's nothing to do but rinse off what adheres to the bottom of the butter.
Jess, Something just occurred to me. All accounts I've read say browning the butter gives it a nutty taste. With pound cake requiring so much butter, to use browned butter in the recipe should give you an exact idea of what using browned butter does for a recipe. Who ever tries this may have a recipe, or at least a tip, worth publishing.
Can't wait for my ghee AND my popcorn. Thank you!
I missed this posting so I am glad Thriftyfun made it available again.
For the sake of convenience, my daughter has been buying microwave popcorn but we have recently decided to go with "real" popcorn so this is a really good tip for us.
Thanks for the first tip and all the addendums.
CyberGrannie,
You know something? I have great, great nieces and nephews. For me to call someone 'Grannie', it would seem as if the person must be older than dirt. And we know you are a mere 82 years young. So, maybe in time you will share with us, your given name.
Now about the butter. I had to get off the popcorn kick. Since I started, I have gained almost twenty pounds. And as popcorn is very low in fat, I blame the weight gain on the butter.
There's another reason I'm lessening my intake of butter. I'll share that reason with you, but please don't tell the others. Some will think me crazier than I actually am.
My aunt and uncle were real live cowgirl and cowboy. When they became older, they worked on a dairy farm. I used to visit them and I would go with them to the milking parlor. The minute you entered the milking parlor, you were greeted with the heavy, and I mean heavy, scent of milk.
Well, young lady, I was eating so much butter, I could smell myself. I smelled just like a milking parlor. So, I lightened up on the popcorn swimming in butter. I was afraid if I stood too close to someone, they might say, 'Dang Doug, you smell like an old cow'!
Thanks for your nice comment.
Thanks for your comments - again!
I am still laughing and I have a new story to tell to my friends (mostly grannies but some grandies too). We are a neighborhood volunteer group that helps our less fortunate neighbors - mostly with loving companionship, but anything else they may need also.
My name is pretty common - Betty - of course it is "short" for Elizabeth - a hangover routine from the old days. i like my name because youngsters can call me "Miss Betty" and not feel odd about how to address me.
There is an unusual story about my name and I'll bet there may be one about your name (and your Thriftyfun handle?) that you will tell us sometime - maybe?
Hey, Betty
Fancy that. I have a sister who lives in Florida. She is about your age, and her name is 'Betty'. I'll tell you about my name and handle in a PM, so check your in box in a day or two.
Doug
waiting - patiently!
Thanks for the great instructions. I pop my own popcorn; this is a great addition.
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