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How do you make clarified butter?

Clarified butter is made by heating unsalted butter over low heat. As the butter melts, most of the water evaporates and the milk solids separate and sink to the bottom. After skimming off the foam that rises to the top, the clear (or clarified) liquid below is poured off. That clear liquid is the clarified butter. One-half cup of butter yields about six tablespoons of clarified butter.

Because the milk solids have been removed, clarified butter does not burn as easily as regular butter. For that reason, clarified butter can be used in cooking or baking at high temperatures.

Sources: Herbst, Sharon T. The New Food Lover's Companion: Comprehensive Definitions of Over Food, Wine, and Culinary Terms, p. 133; How to Do Just About Anything, p. 94.

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