FAQ
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Table of Contents
- Ghee
- General
- Orders

Ghee
How is ghee made?
Ghee is prepared by melting and simmering butter until all the water evaporates and the milk solids settle at the bottom. The remaining butter oil is very stable, giving it a high smoke point, which makes it an excellent choice to use for frying and sautéing. It can be stored without refrigeration for up to a year.
Is my ghee texture normal?
Ghee Texture videos:
Why My Ghee is Liquid or Grainy
Traditional Ghee Texture - What's Normal?
Is my ghee texture normal? How do I change the texture?
Ghee contains many fatty acids with different melting points, which allows it to exist at many different textures, even at the same temperature. Grainy/Gritty, Solid, Creamy, and Liquid are all normal textures of traditionally made ghee.
When we make small batches, we pour the ghee into the jars when it is still liquid, close the lids, and then leave the jars to cool on a flat surface. Due to the variety of fatty acids in ghee, ghee that cools more rapidly, becomes more solid texture. Ghee that is cooled more slowly retains a softer or even completely liquid texture. What this means in practice is that the ghee at the edges of a batch are more solid, and the ghee jars in the center are more liquid. This only affects texture, but there is no effect whatsoever on the taste, quality and shelf-life of the ghee.
Ghee is primarily used either as a cooking fat or as a spread on warm foods. In both of these cases, this grainy, runny or separated texture disappears in a matter of seconds. For example, someone who has never seen crystallization of honey in the winter may consider it as a product defect. Upon further investigation we will find that it is perfectly normal.
It is a simple matter to alter the texture of your traditional ghee to something more your preference. We provide a tutorial on how to do this, since many of our customers prefer one texture over another.
Is ghee considered dairy?
Ghee is made from milk and hence it is a dairy-product. However, people who have dairy intolerance can generally consume ghee since ghee has only traces of casein (a type of milk protein) and lactose (milk sugar) which some people find difficult to digest. Unless a person is very sensitive, consuming ghee is safe for those with dairy issues, unlike butter.
For our customers with true dairy allergies, we go one step further - we batch test our Cultured Ghee (and products using cultured ghee). We are happy to report that our Cultured Ghee is batch-tested gluten-free, lactose batch-tested to contain no more than 0.25%, and casein and whey batch-tested to be 2.5 ppm or less.
How much ghee can I have daily?
The amount of ghee you consume daily must be based on personal preference. We believe our ghee to be completely safe and health promoting. However, if you are concerned about adding fats to your daily menu, please consult a qualified health care practitioner or nutritionist to help you decide the appropriate amount for your individual needs. In general, eating a well-balanced diet including a wide variety of foods, both local and seasonal is a time-honored, health-building practice. Our ghee is very flavorful; adding a small amount to your food goes a long way in making your meals more delicious and deeply satisfying.
What is the shelf life of ghee?
Unopened jar: One year, with or without refrigeration.
Opened jar: 3 months without refrigeration and one year in the fridge.
Always use a clean, dry spoon to scoop out ghee. Do not expose ghee to moisture.
Ghee does not stay completely fresh much longer than one year without the use of preservatives. We don’t use any preservatives in our ghee.
Does ghee need to be refrigerated? Can it be frozen?
UNOPENED JARS: Store in a preferably dark and cool place. There is no need to refrigerate them. Use them by the “Best By Date” (about 9-12 months from the date of purchase) on the jar.
OPENED JARS: Store in your kitchen cabinet (away from light and moisture) for up to 3 months. After that you can refrigerate it for up to a year. Ghee will become hard in the refrigerator. However, it will become soft again once you take it out of the refrigerator and leave it at room temperature for some time.
If you buy a large jar of ghee and cannot finish it in 3 months, transfer some ghee from the large jar into an empty small glass jar. The small jar and the spoon used to transfer ghee should be clean and dry. The small jar should also be free of any odors. Keep this small jar of ghee in your kitchen cabinet for your daily use. Place the large jar (lid tightly closed) into the refrigerator and use it to refill the small jar when needed.
Ghee (just like butter) can be stored in the freezer if needed to extend the shelf life even further.
My ghee was delivered and sat outside in the heat. Is it still safe to use?
Your ghee is absolutely safe to use. Like any other oil (e.g. coconut oil or olive oil) or fat (e.g. lard), ghee is not required to be kept cool. It doesn’t get damaged by the heat during shipping in the summer months. Please use it with confidence the way people in India have used it for thousands of years with no electricity, refrigeration and very warm temperatures.
What do I do after opening?
Use a clean and dry spoon. Close the lid as soon as possible. Do not let any moisture get into your ghee jar. It can promote bacteria and spoil the ghee. No need to refrigerate.
My ghee smell strong and/or kind of cheesy. Is it bad?
Not necessarily. Check the Best By date on the bottom of the jar. If it's still inside of the Best By date, try heating a small amount of ghee and see if the smell changes. The smell of ghee may be stronger during the summer months when the cows are grazing on greener grasses. The flavor of the grass consumed by the cow affects the color and taste of the ghee. If you are still dissatisfied, you may contact us.
How do I change the texture of my ghee?
Watch Video
First you will need to melt the ghee. You may do so by removing it from the jar, melting in a small pan and then pouring back in the jar. Alternatively, you can fill a pot with hot water and submerge tightly closed ghee jar in it to melt the ghee. Keep the water level below the lid. The idea is to melt the ghee completely until it is liquid.
To make a solid or creamy ghee—after the ghee is melted, immediately place the jar in the refrigerator to rapidly cool, and leave overnight. (Do not freeze.) Take the jar out of the refrigerator the next day and leave it on the counter-top. Depending on the ambient temperature of the room, the ghee may be more solid or more creamy at room temperature.
To make a grainy ghee—instead of refrigeration, cool your ghee more slowly by placing the melted ghee on the countertop and covering with a kitchen towel to cool overnight. The result should be a ghee with a more grainy texture, which you can then close with a lid and leave at room temperature.
Where do you source your milk?
Milk for our ghee products comes from small family farms in the Northeast USA, California and New Zealand. Our preference is to source it closer to New Jersey as much as possible. When high-quality local supply is insufficient, we then source it from the other locations.
Why do you use grass-fed milk?
Grass-fed cows produce milk that is high in naturally occurring Vitamins A, D & K, as well as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), an antioxidant and essential fatty acid. In addition, grass-fed ghee contains a balanced ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats. (This ratio is around 3:1 for grass-fed animals compared to over 20:1 for grain-fed animals!)
Do you use A2 milk?
Our ghee products are made with grass-fed cow’s milk, sourced from family farms which do not segregate by breed to get different milk. The milk may be either A1 or A2, but this doesn’t matter when it comes to ghee. We do not test for A2. However, we do have a Cultured Ghee product which undergoes testing for casein. Read more about A1/A2 on our blog.
Why is my ghee this color?
The color of ghee can vary depending on various factors, including the type of milk used, the breed of cow, and the season. For example, our ghee tends to be more deep yellow in the spring when the cows are grazing on the rapidly growing spring pastures.
In general, the color of ghee can range from pale yellow to deep orange, and it is not necessarily an indicator of its nutritional value. The color of ghee is primarily influenced by the presence of beta-carotene, which is a natural pigment found in milk from grass-fed cows. When cows graze on fresh green grass, their milk can contain higher levels of beta-carotene, which gives ghee a more yellow to orange color.
Ghee with a darker color is not necessarily less nutritious due to being cooked longer or subjected to more heat. The cooking process of ghee involves simmering butter to remove the water content and milk solids, leaving behind the pure fat. The duration and temperature of the cooking process can vary depending on the manufacturer's process, but it is not necessarily related to the color of ghee.
Some manufacturers intentionally overcook ghee to make "brown butter ghee," but this is not traditional, and we do not recommend this process.
At Pure Indian Foods, we take great care in producing our ghee using traditional methods and sourcing high-quality ingredients to ensure the best quality and nutrition. Our ghee is made from grass-fed cow's milk and is USDA certified organic, and our farmers do not segregate their cows based on breed. The color of our ghee can vary from batch to batch, but it does not affect its nutritional value or quality. Regarding color, simply avoid brown ghee from other companies, and you should be fine.
General
Who are we?
Pure Indian Foods is a 5th generation family business. We are passionate about sourcing and producing high-quality organic products that nourish, as well as taste delicious! We work with small farmers in both the United States and India. Since 1889, our family has been in the ghee business in India, and since 2008 we’ve been making grass-fed, organic ghee in the United States. We handcraft many spiced ghees and ayurvedic herbal ghees. We love making ghee the traditional way, and we have also introduced many new and innovative high-quality products. Thank you for stopping by!
Where do your products come from?
Pure Indian Foods products are sourced from all over the world. We prize the relationships we have with our suppliers. Many of our suppliers are small independent farmers and we work hard to develop and maintain those relationships.
What allergens are present in your facility?
We process ghee (milk), almonds, almond oil, coconut oil, sesame seeds, sesame oil, mustard seeds, and mustard oil in our facility. All of the processing equipment is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after each product to prevent any cross contamination. Our non-ghee products don't share the same production/packaging lines as ghee. We don’t process any other allergen.
This covers only those products that have Pure Indian Foods logo. We resell products made by other companies also. We have posted complete labels of each product on product pages. Please read the labels before making a purchase.
We pack and bottle our spices at our facility here in New Jersey, which is gluten free. None of the spices contain gluten ingredients. However, our spice products are not tested for gluten unless stated on the product page.
Is your facility gluten-free?
While many of our products are naturally gluten-free, we do not test for gluten unless explicitly stated on the product label. We do not make gluten-free claims because even tiny amounts of gluten can be a problem for those with Celiac’s disease or severe gluten intolerance, and these may be present in our facility or the facilities of our suppliers.
Do your products contain any genetically modified organisms (GMOs)?
None of our products contain GMOs.
Are any of your products irradiated?
We oppose using irradiation for sterilization of spices, herbs and foods, and we do not use any ingredients or carry any products that are irradiated.
Do you use sustainable packaging?
Like us, many of our customers feel concern for the environment and sustainable packaging is very important to them.
We do our best to use sustainable packaging material, while keeping products safe during transit. We don’t use any styrofoam, unless we are simply reusing it after having received it from a supplier. We have invested in getting beautiful and rugged custom cardboard boxes made for our various products packed in glass jars. The bubble bags are sometimes needed to prevent breakage of glass jars, and we haven’t been able to find any other solutions that provides same protection. We use recyclable or compostable paper products as much as possible, as we try to balance cost savings with sustainability.
These days, carriers can be very rough with parcels, and we want to do our best to prevent breakage, especially since so many of our products are packed in glass. We appreciate your concern for the environment, and we feel the same way. We are always looking for ways to improve how we pack and ship to make sure products get to you safely!
Orders
Do you have free shipping?
We do not offer free shipping. However, we offer two discount shipping rates. You will be given the applicable options at checkout.
Orders over $125 qualify for a flat rate of $9.99. This applies to the Continental USA outside of Northeast region. This does not include Alaska or Hawaii.
Orders over $75 qualify for a flat rate of $5.99. This applies ONLY to the Northeastern part of the United States, including CT, DE, DC, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, VA.
Do you use sustainable packaging?
Like us, many of our customers feel concern for the environment and sustainable packaging is very important to them.
We do our best to use sustainable packaging material, while keeping products safe during transit. We don’t use any styrofoam, unless we are simply reusing it after having received it from a supplier. We have invested in getting beautiful and rugged custom cardboard boxes made for our various products packed in glass jars. The bubble bags are sometimes needed to prevent breakage of glass jars, and we haven’t been able to find any other solutions that provides same protection. We use recyclable or compostable paper products as much as possible, as we try to balance cost savings with sustainability.
These days, carriers can be very rough with parcels, and we want to do our best to prevent breakage, especially since so many of our products are packed in glass. We appreciate your concern for the environment, and we feel the same way. We are always looking for ways to improve how we pack and ship to make sure products get to you safely!
Do you offer local pick up?
We do not offer a local pickup option. We are an online-only retailer and are not setup for retail sale.
Do you offer any discounts?
We believe in offering products at the best possible prices, and therefore we do not have any standing promo codes. We do occasionally issue promo codes through our newsletter.
You can also earn Gheek Points with each order, which can be redeemed for order discounts. Additionally, you can refer a friend and earn rewards. Click here to learn more about our Rewards & Referral Program.
Why are there order limits?
We have a $620 maximum for retail orders in order to minimize fraud. We also have quantity limits on some products due to low stock. If you wish to place an order which exceeds a limit, please contact us.
Do you ship to Canada?
Yes. We do ship to Canada. There are a few things to consider:
DUTIES & TAXES
International orders outside the USA may attract additional customs, taxes and duties upon entry to your country; this is the responsibility of the customer. Canada taxes ghee as "dairy" ~ 200%. We really wish this was different, as we would love to be able to ship more ghee into Canada. Unfortunately, it is very expensive. Non-dairy items have lower duties & taxes.
IF YOUR PACKAGE IS RETURNED
Canada will not release your package without paying duties & taxes. Other times, they may return the package for other reasons. If the package is refused by your country's customs department and it is sent back to us, the shipping cost will be non-refundable.
DELIVERY TIME
We do not guarantee a time table for delivery. Usually, delivery is within a week or two since we are located in New Jersey, pretty close to Canada. However, sometimes there are unexpected delays.
SHIPPING RATES
We USPS Priority International to ship packages. We do not control the rates. At checkout, you can put in your address, and you will see the USPS live rate. We understand shipping is expensive, but, again, we do not control the rates. We wish it was cheaper too!
We do have a suggestion for those customers who are close to the border or plan to cross the border. Many of our Canadian customers have us ship parcels to a UPS store and have them hold the package for pick-up.
Generally UPS will hold a package for 5 days before returning to sender. However, YOU MUST CONTACT THE SPECIFIC STORE if you are planning to do this and speak with some one to let them know what date you plan to pick it up.
UPS Stores are franchises so each store might have a slightly different policy and might be more flexible if you ask them to hold it for longer than 5 days.
This has been a good option for a lot of our Canadian customers in the past.
Are your products processed with allergens?
We process ghee (milk), almonds, almond oil, coconut oil, sesame seeds, sesame oil, mustard seeds, and mustard oil in our facility. All of the processing equipment is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after each product to prevent any cross contamination. Our non-ghee products don't share the same production/packaging lines as ghee. We don’t process any other allergen.
This covers only those products that have Pure Indian Foods logo. We resell products made by other companies also. We have posted complete labels of each product on product pages. Please read the labels before making a purchase.
We pack and bottle our spices at our facility here in New Jersey, which is gluten free. None of the spices contain gluten ingredients. However, our spice products are not tested for gluten unless stated on the product page.
I need to edit or cancel my order.
In your order confirmation email, there is a button to "Edit or Cancel Order." You can also edit or cancel an order while logged in from your customer account.
Where is my order?
We provide a tracking number for every package. The first thing you should do is check the tracking number provided by email. If the tracking indicates "Shipment Ready," "Processing," or "Label Created," it has not yet shipped.
I want to return a product.
I received an item past its best by date.
We offer a minimum of 6 months of remaining shelf life on all the products that we sell, unless mentioned otherwise on a product's page or on clearance products. Please double check your order confirmation to see if you purchased a clearance item before requesting a return.
Prior to purchase, if you prefer a longer shelf life then you must contact us before placing an order.
Please note: A Best By Date is NOT an expiration date. A Best By Date serves as a "suggestion" for when a product will be of best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date. We sell products past their Best By date on clearance for a minimal discount. This offers you savings on a product which is still safe and usable for a long time.
Use the Food Keeper App on FoodSafety.gov to determine approximately how soon you should consume something after Best By Date.