How to make clarified butter: a couple of cooks

Clarified butter has a high smoke point and is great for browning and sautéing! Here’s how to make clarified butter.

What about clarified butter? This light butter version may sound fancy, but it’s something you can make in just 10 minutes in your kitchen. It’s perfect to use as a sauce on its own or store for high heat cooking. Here’s what you should know about this kitchen essential!

What is clarified butter?

Clarified butter is butter that has had the milk solids and water removed. This gives it a higher smoke point, which allows it to be used for searing and cooking at higher temperatures. The smoke point of clarified butter is 450 to 480°F, compared to 350°F for standard butter. It is ideal for sautéing and browning foods such as fish, chicken and steak, and adds additional flavor to the dish. Clarified butter tastes richer and has a more intense butter flavor.

What is the difference between clarified butter and ghee? Ghee is used in Indian cooking and is very similar to clarified butter: it is simply cooked longer until the milk solids are toasted and golden brown, giving it a slightly darker color and toastier flavor.

How to make clarified butter

It is simple to make clarified butter at home. You will simply place the butter in a saucepan and skim off the foam that rises to the top (water) and filter out the milk solids. This is what you should do:

1. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Reduce the heat so that the butter just barely bubbles.
2. Simmer 10 to 15 minutes, skimming off the foam with a slotted spoon as it appears (foam forms as water evaporates from butter). Cook until no more foam appears, the bubbling stops, and the milk solids have settled to the bottom of the pan and are golden brown.
3. Strain the butter through a coffee filter or cheesecloth. Use immediately or store refrigerated in a sealed jar or container.

Ways to use it

There are many ways to use clarified butter, the most important being to cook with a high smoke point! Use it to brown or sauté meat, fish, chicken and more. You can also use it as a butter sauce for dipping, making it perfectly clear. Try it for:

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