How Different Cooking Methods Change the Nutritional Value of Ghee

For centuries ghee has been a golden delight in the kitchens of Indians which is also used in Ayurveda and is well cherished for its versatility. It has received global recognition because of its several health benefits. But did you different cooking methods can impact the nutritional value of ghee.

In this article, we will explore the different methods of cooking so you can make informed choices for your meals that will directly impact the nutritional value of ghee cooking methods whether you are sautéing vegetables or drizzling the superfood on warm rice ghee will suit all meals.

At Shahji ghee, we use the old-age bilona method, to prepare our A2 Gir Cow Ghee, A2 Sahiwal Cow Ghee, and Murrah Buffalo Ghee, Shahji Ghee takes pride is keeping the purity and health benefits intact. Let’s explore what makes ghee special before we dive deeper.

What Makes Ghee Nutritionally Unique

Ghee is produced by slow-simmering butter, allowing for the elimination of all milk solids and water, resulting in pure, golden fat. Ghee’s nutritional profile includes:

• Fatty Acids: Ghee is made up of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which can give you energy and help with weight management.
• Vitamins: Ghee is loaded with fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K which support aspects of health such as vision, immunity, and bone density.
• Butyric Acid: Butyric acid is an unusual nutrient that can improve gut health and reduce inflammation.

How Cooking Methods Affect the Nutritional Value of Ghee

1. Frying

Frying is one of the most common uses of ghee in India. The reason it is a preferred form of cooking in India is that ghee has a high smoke point of 485ºF (250ºC) and ghee is less likely to break down into harmful compounds than other oils when frying.

Effects on Nutritional Value:

• Retention of Healthy Fats: Ghee will maintain its medium-chain fatty acids even after frying. This makes it a more healthy choice than refined oils.

• Loss of heat sensitive vitamins: Some heat-sensitive vitamins like A and E break down after prolonged heating, which will lead to a slight decline of nutritional value.

Best Practice: Use minimal ghee for frying, and avoid overheating to preserve its nutrients.

2. Sautéing or Stir-Frying

Ghee is perfect when sautéing vegetables or stir-frying your favorite foods as it complements flavors and creates a nice even cooking experience.

Effects on Nutritional Value:

• No Nutrient Loss: Stir-frying with ghee is done at moderate heat, which retains most nutrients while enhancing the overall flavor profile.
• Better Nutrient Absorption: Ghee’s fat content helps your body absorb fat-soluble vitamins from the vegetables you cook.

Best Practice: Stir-frying with ghee is an excellent choice when you want to retain maximum nutrition. Opt for quick, low-to-medium heat cooking.

3. Baking

Ghee is rising in popularity in recipes for baked goods not just because of its nutty aroma, but also its distinctiveness in providing moisture.  

Effects on nutritional value:

• No loss of nutrients: Baking is often done at much lower temps than frying, which means nutrients like CLA and butyric acid remain intact.
• Improved texture: Unlike oils or butter, ghee penetrates much deeper into baked goods, creating improved texture without added additives.

Best practice: It’s a good idea to use ghee in place of butter at a 1:1 ratio in recipes so that you can reap the health benefits, while continuing to have something that tastes good.

4. Drizzling or Topping

One of the simplest ways to enjoy ghee is to drizzle it over rice or dal, or spread it over warm, fresh roti. 

Effects on Nutritional Value:

• Maintains Nutritional Integrity: Since this method does not involve heat, you will maintain all the nutritional components intact.

• Enhances Taste and Nutritional Value: The unique taste of ghee and the nutritional components present in ghee will be added without eliminating anything.

Best Practice: Always use pure organic sources of ghee that is made using traditional bilona method.

5. High-Heat Roasting

Ghee is a favorite for many when it comes to roasting vegetables or nuts. Ghee tolerates high heat, making it great fat for roasting.

Effects on Nutritional Value:

• Stable Fat: Ghee can remain stable during high heat and won’t get oxidize as significantly as less stable fats. Therefore, you can rest assured that your fatty acids are protected.

• Slight Loss of Vitamin: Long and high exposure to heat can slightly degrade the stability of vitamins A and E.

Best Practice: Opt for moderate roasting temperatures to balance the flavor of vegetables or nuts and keep the nutrition relatively intact.

Why Shahji Ghee is Ideal For Cooking

Shahji ghee is produced from the highest quality ingredients and using the traditional bilona method, which helps to keep the nutritional value of ghee intact during the preparation process. Here is what makes Shahji Ghee a better choice:

Source:

Shahji Ghee ghee is made from the milk of A2 Gir, A2 Sahiwal cow and Murrah Buffalo, which contributes to the best nutritional benefits.

Authentic Preparation Method:

The traditional bilona method involves hand churning of curd to extract butter, then this butter is slowly heated until the ghee is formed. This preserves the fatty acids and natural vitamins present in ghee.

Purity Guaranteed:

The Shahji Ghee ghee does not contain any additives or preservatives and is totally wholesome, pure and full of nutrients.

Tips For Getting Most Nutritional Value From Ghee

• Cook over moderate heat to prevent the lose of nutrients.

• Store the ghee in cool and dry place in an air tight container to preserve its quality and freshness.

• Incorporate ghee with nutrition rich foods like vegetables, grains and lentils for a balanced diet.

Conclusion: Experience the Authentic Goodness With Shahji Ghee

Understanding ghee cooking methods help in making better culinary choices which also help in making the simple food more delicious and healthy. Using ghee aptly makes it possible to prepare delicious meals because the goodness of ghee adds plenty of nutrition.  it can be the star of nourishing the food.

Check out our A2 Gir Cow Ghee, A2 Sahiwal Cow Ghee and Murrah Buffalo Ghee available on the Shahji Ghee website.