Ghee is the name given to a number of fat milk products derived mostly from cow or buffalo milk in India. Ghee is the purest form of butter oil available.
Its origins can be traced back hundreds of years to India. Due to the high temperatures and absence of refrigeration, ghee was an ideal way to keep butter fresh. Dalda ghee is a saturated fat-based version of vanaspati ghee.
Key Takeaways
- Ghee is clarified butter made from animal fat, a cow or buffalo milk, while Dalda is a hydrogenated vegetable oil known as vanaspati ghee.
- Ghee contains more healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals than Dalda, which may contain harmful trans fats due to hydrogenation.
- Ghee has a distinct, rich flavor and is widely used in traditional Indian cooking, while Dalda is a cheaper alternative with a more neutral taste.
Ghee and Dalda
Ghee is a type of clarified butter that is made by simmering butter and removing the milk solids, leaving behind a golden-yellow liquid that has a nutty and rich flavor. Dalda is a brand name used to describe a type of vegetable shortening that is commonly used in Indian cooking.
Ghee is a form of butter that comes from the Sanskrit word ghrita. To manufacture Ghee, we must first cook typical butter until all of the liquid has evaporated and the milk solids have settled to the bottom.
The liquid is then roasted until the solids turn from golden to dark brown and then allowed to cool slightly until it is mildly warm. It will now be placed in a container and stored at room temperature.
Dalda ghee is a popular item in Indian households. This Vanaspati ghee is a healthier alternative to typical milk-based ghee. The name “Vanaspati” refers to the use of vegetable oils in the production of ghee.
Vanaspati is manufactured from palm or palm olein oil in all of its varieties. Dalda is a renowned South Asian brand of vegetable ghee (hydrogenated vegetable cooking oil).
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Ghee | Dalda |
|---|---|---|
| Main Ingredient | Saturated fats | Hydrogenated refined oil |
| Trans-fat | Very little to none | In high amounts |
| Smoke Point | 250 degrees centigrade | 200 degrees centigrade |
| Storage | It can be stored for up to 18 months. | It can be stored for up to 6 to 8 months. |
| Butyrate | Included | Not included |
| Weight Loss | It helps in weight loss. | Not helpful |
What is Ghee?
Ghee refers to pure, unadulterated cow ghee made through a traditional churning procedure with unsalted milk butter.
Desi pure cow ghee contains animal fat and is fully free of vegetable or synthetic fat, unlike Vanaspati ghee, which is beneficial to one’s health.
Ghee is made by boiling butter until all of the liquid has evaporated and the milk particles have settled down and turned dark brown.
After cooling, the leftover liquid is filtered into a container. Ghee is soft and fluid at room temperature, unlike regular butter, which extends its shelf life.
Ghee was traditionally utilized in Ayurveda and Indian cuisines. Because all of the liquid has been evaporated, it does not begin to burn when exposed to higher temperatures.
That is why it has such a high smoke point. Ghee does not harden at room temperature due to the low water content, although it does lose its fluid form when kept in the refrigerator.
Vitamins A, E, and K are all found in ghee. Aside from that, it contains saturated and unsaturated fat, protein, carbs, and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.
Omega 3 and 6 are proven to be beneficial to brain and heart health, and the fact that Ghee contains both makes it a nutritious food. The principal flavor components are carbonyls, lactones, free fatty acids, and alcohol.
The flavor of ghee is also affected by the temperature of its clarity and the ripening of the butter. Ghee is made completely of fat, particularly saturated fats.
What is Dalda?
Dalda ghee was a sort of vegetable shortening that was intended to look like desi ghee and was created from hydrogenated or highly saturated vegetable oil. Dalda ghee is significantly less expensive than desi ghee.
Dalda is a less expensive alternative to desi ghee and is a familiar name for hydrogenated vegetable oil. It isn’t manufactured with cow’s milk.
Vanaspati ghee, which is widely accessible in the market, has a creamier appearance and resembles cow ghee, leading to consumer confusion. Many people, however, are considering it because of its cheaper cost.
Dalda ghee, unlike conventional ghee, includes trans fat. This trans fat is derived from the hydrogenated vegetable oil used in the production of ghee.
Traditional or Desi ghee is made from cow milk, whereas Dadla ghee is made with palm oil. This vegetable oil has been hydrogenated.
The oils are then chilled in refrigerators to crystallize the oil into a granular structure that resembles ghee in structure. Companies prefer to use cheaper oils since it lowers their production costs.
The delicate oils used to make Dalda ghee are hardened through the hydrogenation process. Trans fatty acids are not found in most vegetable oils, but they are created during the hydrogenation process.
Trans-fatty acids are produced during the partial hydrogenation process, and they disappear once the process is completed. These trans-fatty acids are not healthy or safe.
It can also cause elevated cholesterol in persons who consume this sort of ghee on a daily basis without exercising or watching their diet.
Main Differences Between Ghee and Dalda
- Ghee is made with saturated fats, and Dalda is made with the help of refined hydrogenated oil.
- Ghee is very little to no trans-fat, whereas large amounts of trans-fat are found in Dalda, which can be harmful to your health.
- Ghee has a higher smoke point of 250 degrees centigrade, and Dalda has a smoke point of 200 degrees centigrade.
- Ghee is storage-friendly and can be stored for up to 19 months, whereas Dalda can only be stored for up to 6 to 8 months.
- Ghee contains Butyrate, which helps relieve stress and helps with constipation and IBS. However, Dalda contains no butyrate.
- Ghee can help in weight loss while Dalda cannot.
References
- https://www.banglajol.info/index.php/AJMBR/article/view/38258
- https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/19621405620
Last Updated : 16 July, 2023
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
