Frequently Asked Questions

What is ghee and how is it made?

Ghee is the pure butterfat distilled from butter. It is made by cooking butter for hours at a time until all of the lactose (which is a milk sugar) caramelizes, which is then is able to be filtered out. During the cooking process, all of the moisture is evaporated which is how it is able to be stored at room temperature after opening.


Why use ghee instead of butter?

  • Shelf-stable with a longer shelf life (sealed for years, once opened use within 6 months if stored at room temperature)
  • Lactose-free which means it won’t burn at higher temperatures and most folks who are lactose-intolerant can eat it
  • Pure butterfat free of moisture and lactose/casein so you can use less when cooking than you would regular butter (the butter we use is 85% butterfat, but most butter ranges between 80-85% butterfat)


Do I need to store my ghee in the fridge once I’ve opened it?

Nope! As long as you use it within 6 months of opening and are careful to use a clean, dry utensil each time you get some out of the jar, it is fine to live on your counter just like other cooking oils. Exposure to light, air & moisture will cause it to spoil faster, so it is best to keep the lid closed when not in use and store it away from direct sunlight. If you live in a very warm climate, it may be a thinner, more liquid consistency.


My ghee got warm and melted, now it’s a different consistency — why did it do that and how do I “fix” it?

When ghee gets warm enough to melt and then cools back down slowly, sometimes it gets a “grainy” or “slushy” appearance/texture from the fat molecules. It’s still perfectly fine to use it as is, but if you would like it to me a smoother and more solid consistency you can try the following:

  1. Set your oven to the “warm” setting — if it doesn’t have one, just set it to 200F (95C)
  2. Put your ghee on a metal baking sheet to ensure it doesn’t slide off the wire rack and place it in the center of the oven
  3. Let the ghee melt completely (make sure you don’t leave it in the oven too long, check on it every 5-10 minutes)
  4. Carefully take the ghee out of the oven as soon as it has melted and place it on the counter to come to room temperature before putting it in the fridge
  5. Place the room temperature ghee in the fridge until it fully solidifies (should take about an hour or so)

Note that you can still store the ghee at room temperature if you go through this process, but if your house is warm then it may melt again. I wouldn't recommend repeating the above process more than a few times as it may affect the shelf life of your ghee.


Can I use ghee on my skin or in my hair?

Some folks do, in fact people have been doing it for centuries, especially in Ayurvedic traditions. I would probably recommend using either Plain, Vanilla Calendula or Vanilla Lavender ghee for this purpose. Ghee is rich in fatty acids plus fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K which makes it deeply moisturizing. Grass-fed butter is particularly rich in retinol, the active form of vitamin A, which supports collagen production and cell turnover. I find that less is more when using ghee on the skin and it’s better to apply at night than in the morning. Here are a few different ways you can use it topically:

  1. As a moisturizer — warm a small amount in your hands and massage into clean skin (you can also apply to rough/dry patches like elbows or heels)
  2. As a lip balm — if you drink a warm beverage with ghee in it you probably get a little “lip gloss” effect already, but you can apply a little directly on dry lips
  3. As an under-eye treatment — gently dab a small amount under the eyes before bed
  4. As a facial mask — mix 1 tsp warm (not completely melted) ghee with 1 tsp raw honey and a pinch of turmeric powder into a smooth paste; apply a thin layer over face avoiding the eyes, leave on for 10-15 and rinse with warm water
  5. As a split-end treatment — warm a small amount in your hands and apply to ends of hair to reduce dryness
  6. As a deep-conditioning mask — warm 1-2 tablespoons, massage into scalp/hair and leave on for about 30 minutes before washing out with shampoo (note that you may need 2 rounds of shampoo to thoroughly wash out)

 

If you have any other questions not answered above, feel free to shoot me an email (holly@gheewell.com) and I am happy to answer!