Ghee lasts for at least 1 to 2 years, but it goes bad if you store it for too long or in poor conditions. When scooping, always use clean utensils and never double dip. This way, you don’t introduce any food particles into the fat, making it much more vulnerable to spoilage. There’s mold or any other nasty “stuff” on the surface.Mold doesn’t typically grow on fats, but if your ghee got contaminated with food particles somewhere along the way, you might find some growth on the surface. You might consider removing the spoiled bit if it’s small, but tossing the whole thing is much safer. That said, ghee stays good for months even without refrigeration because it consists mostly of saturated and monounsaturated fats, both more stable than polyunsaturated fats.

It gives off a funny smell.If it tastes like old paint, putty, or something similar, the fat is rancid. If there’s anything else off about the aroma, assume that the fat is spoiled too. But then again, one should only consume it in limited amount! An average (healthy) person should not consume more than 3 teaspoons (45g) of ghee per day. Vegetable ghee or Vanaspati is high in trans fat which makes it not at all healthy! So, just cross it off your shopping list!If you're not sure what ghee is then it's essentially just butterfat which is made by simmering butter to remove water content and milk solids. The butter used to make ghee typically has to be grass fed ( read our guide about grass-fed butter here), as this is what helps to make it so nutritious. If you take good care of the fat, meaning you store it properly, it’ll most likely last beyond the printed date and the mentioned storage periods. Rancidity isn’t the only possible sign that your ghee is spoiled. Let’s talk about others. How to Tell if Ghee is Spoiled? The most common way ghee spoils is by going rancid, which causes the fat to taste harsh and bitter, and sometimes alters the smell to one that might remind you of old paint or nail polish remover. Our grandmothers and mothers always served food with Ghee and always believed that is the way to keep healthy. That indeed is true! Ghee is actually healthy but only when consumed in small amount. So, don’t go overboard in too much excitement!

Refrigerating ghee isn’t necessary, but it helps the fat retain quality for longer, especially after opening. Open ghee keeps quality for about 3 to 6 months at room temperature and a year or more in the fridge. So transferring ghee to the refrigerator means you more than double the storage time. That’s a long way to say that ghee lasts for months and doesn’t go rancid easily, but it goes bad sooner or later. That said, let’s talk about two things that are normal for ghee and nothing to worry about. Melting Graininess is caused by melting and re-solidifying of the fatand is expected if you store your ghee at room temperature during a hot summer. If you’re no longer comfortable using your ghee for cooking because it’s, say, too old or has taken on a bad taste, you can move it to your bathroom and use it as an eye makeup remover, skin moisturizer, or hair oil.Of course, if your ghee smells bad, toss it. You definitely don’t want to use smelly ghee as a skin care product. Ghee Shelf Life and Spoilage Summary If you’re like me and think of ghee as a dairy product, not fat that’s more similar to oil than butter, the fridge might seem the natural storage spot. If that’s the case, good for you. Not only can ghee be used in cooking to add a very distinct and rich flavour, but it can also be consumed straight from the jar, and often that is how people who want the health benefits of ghee will consume it. Because ghee is usually made using high-quality, grass-fed butter, it tends to be high in vitamins including Vitamin A and Vitamin K. That said, some brands recommend storing ghee in the pantry even after opening, so there’s no right or wrong way of going about this. Unfortunately, there’s no way of telling exactly how long past the printed date ghee can last. Because of that, instead of going with the printed date or any other storage time estimate, it’s better to use your ghee for as long as it doesn’t show any signs of spoilage.

Melting ghee is normalif you store it at a warm enough temperature. Other fats like coconut oil or bacon grease behave the same way. Graininess If you find anything else that seems off about the ghee, err on the side of caution. Better safe than sorry. Many brands recommend keeping their ghee in the fridge, especially after opening the jar. Stored this way, open ghee should keep quality for about a yearinstead of about 3 to 6 months if you leave it unrefrigerated. That date is a best-by or use-by date, and it’s only a rough estimate of how long the fat should stay good. It’s not an expiration date by any means.Store ghee sealed tight in a cool and dry place away from direct sunlightand heat sources. Choose whether you refrigerate it or not based on how long you need it to last, and make sure you seal the jar tight after every use. The impressive benefits of ghee include its ability to protect your gastrointestinal system, balance the cholesterol levels, provide additional energy, reduce inflammation in the joints, eliminate certain allergy concerns, protect you from various chronic disease, improve your eye health, strengthen your immune system. Ghee goes bad if you store it for too long or in poor conditions. It typically spoils by going rancid, which results in the fat tasting harsh and bitter. Ghee can also grow mold or “nasties” on the surface if contaminated.

One thing is for sure: if you expect that it’ll take you more than a few months to go through your ghee jar, it’s probably best to store it in the refrigerator. Unopened ghee lasts about two years, no matter if you refrigerate it or not. After opening, ghee keeps unrefrigerated for about 3 to 6 months, and approximately a year if stored in the fridge.