Clarified Butter Recipe for Crab and Lobster
Doesn’t the butter served with shellfish at a restaurant taste better than it does at home? That’s because it’s not just melted butter, it’s clarified butter. Our clarified butter recipe is super easy to make so when you buy your Costco King Crab Legs you can have that delicious restaurant style butter too! The richness of clarified butter really complements the sweetness of lobster and crab. Clarified butter is also sometimes referred to as drawn butter or ghee.
Read Next: King Crab Legs or Lobster Claws
Clarified butter is made from regular butter. When traditional butter is heated it separates the milk solids and water from the butterfat. By melting the butter slowly, we allow the components to separate by density, the butterfat can be removed and when served on it’s own boasts a much richer and more intense butter flavor than if you were to just use melted butter. Sounds complicated but it’s really actually easy to make – see our clarified butter recipe below!
In our clarified butter recipe, we use garlic and Kerrygold grass-fed butter from Costco. But if Garlic isn’t your thing, you can simply omit the garlic. And of course you can use any type of butter you prefer like the Kirkland Grass Fed Butter.
TIP: There is some debate whether “drawn” butter is made from clarified butter or is just melted traditional butter. More often than not it’s referring to clarified. But FWIW, you may hear it used to refer to both, so better to double check when it’s a key question 🙂
Don’t have time to make your own clarified butter at home? We recommend these:
Clarified Butter Vs. Ghee
Although Clarified butter and ghee are very similar, Ghee and clarified butter are not exactly the same. Ghee is clarified butter which has been cooked at a lower temperature for a longer period of time in order to remove all of the moisture. During this process the milk solids are browned (caramelized) in the fat and then strained out. Because the milk solids caramelize, Ghee tends to have a nuttier flavor. They are very similar thought and often substituted. Ghee also tends to have a longer shelf life.
Clarified Butter Recipe for Crab and Lobster
Clarified Butter tastes great with seafood, and it's super easy to make at home! It's richer, creamier taste complements lobster and crab perfectly!
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Unsalted Butter
- 2 Cloves of Garlic, Minced
Instructions
- Add butter and garlic to small saucepan, and heat over low heat until melted. Do not stir.
- Allow to cook for 10-15 minutes or until solids separate from the butterfat
- Remove from heat, and let stand for 5 minutes
- Skim off any foam
- Pour clear yellow top latery of liquid off, leaving the solids from the bottom behind
- Discard solids
- Pour liquid clarified butter into a pre-warmed ramekin and serve with your crab or lobster (or whatever else you want to use it for!)
- Store in covered glass jar
Notes
You may omit the garlic if you wish. No changes to instructions when omitting garlic.
FAQs
Can I make clarified butter in the microwave?
Yes, it’s possible, though stovetop is recommended. To make in microwave, quarter two sticks of butter and microwave in a small glass container for 2 minutes. Allow to stand 1 minute, then spoon off the white foamy pieces that rise to the top. Discard them and you are left with clarified butter in under 3.5 minutes!
Is clarified butter easy to make?
Yes, it’s very easy to make clarified butter. It can be made stovetop or in the microwave.
Can you buy clarified butter on Amazon?
Yes, Amazon sells a number of varieties of clarified butter including Grass-Fed Ghee, Organic Ghee, and Pink Himalayan Salted Ghee.
Can I buy clarified butter at Walmart?
Walmart does not carry clarified butter in-store. Ghee is available for shipping online at Walmart.com.
Do I need to refrigerate clarified butter, drawn butter and ghee?
They can both be stored, covered, with or without refrigeration in a glass or earthen jar for up to several months. At room temperature, they become semi-solid, and harden when refrigerated.
Are drawn butter and melted butter the same?
No. Drawn butter is not the same as melted butter. Drawn butter is clarified butter, which has been heated to isolate the butterfat.
Does clarified butter have a higher smoking point?
Yes, clarified butter has a higher smoking point than regular butter, and thus is often preferred for cooking.
Does Costco sell clarified butter?
Yes, Costco sells Organic Grass-Fed Ghee in-store.
Clarified Butter Vs. Ghee
Although quite similar, clarified butter and ghee are not exactly the same thing. Ghee is clarified butter that has been cooked longer,