Making Clarified Butter
This is the workhorse of a professional kitchen. Once you strip away the milk proteins, you are left with pure butterfat that keeps for weeks and provides a clean, rich foundation for searing fish, frying eggs, or mounting sauces.
Use only unsalted butter.
Salt becomes concentrated as the water evaporates, leading to an unusable, brine-like result if you start with salted blocks.
- small heavy-bottomed saucepan
- skimming spoon
- fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth or a clean coffee filter
- heat-proof glass jar
What goes in.
- 1 lbunsalted butter, cubed
Don't stir the foam
Let the butter melt undisturbed over low heat. The separation happens naturally; stirring re-incorporates the solids you are trying to remove.
The method.
Melt the butter
Place the butter in a heavy-bottomed pan over the lowest heat setting. Let it melt completely without letting it bubble aggressively.
Observe the layers
As the butter melts, it will divide. A white foam will form on top, a clear yellow layer sits in the middle, and the milky white solids will sink to the bottom.
Skim and pour
Use a spoon to gently lift off the white foam from the surface. Once the top is clear, slowly pour the golden liquid through your lined sieve into the jar, leaving the white solids at the bottom of the pan.
When it doesn't go to plan.
If the butter starts to smell like toasted hazelnuts, you have moved past clarification into brown butter; take it off the heat immediately.
The white solids left in the pan can be saved and stirred into oatmeal or mashed potatoes for a boost of flavor.
Store the clarified butter at room temperature if you use it daily, or in the refrigerator for long-term storage.
The ones that keep coming up.
How do I know when it's done?
It is done when the liquid is transparent like oil and the milky particles have fully settled at the bottom of the pan.
Can I use a microwave?
It is difficult to control the temperature in a microwave, often leading to the butter boiling over or popping. Stick to the stovetop for a clean separation.
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