Yes, You Can Buy Clarified Butter at Whole Foods: A Guide to Ghee and Pure Butterfat

October 25, 2025 •

4 min read

Did you know that ghee, a type of clarified butter, has been a staple in South Asian cultures for millennia and is lauded in traditional medicine? This pure, golden butterfat has gained popularity in modern nutrition, and many people are asking, 'Can you buy clarified butter at Whole Foods?'

Quick Summary

Clarified butter, often sold as ghee, is widely available at Whole Foods Market, including their 365 private label brand. This high-smoke-point cooking fat is an excellent choice for sautéing and frying due to its stability. Find brands and location information to guide your next grocery trip.

Key Points

Availability at Whole Foods: Yes, you can buy clarified butter at Whole Foods, typically sold as ghee, with options including their 365 brand and others like Organic Valley.
Ghee vs. Clarified Butter: Ghee is a type of clarified butter cooked for a longer period, which results in a nuttier flavor and a higher smoke point.
High Smoke Point: Due to the removal of milk solids, clarified butter and ghee can withstand higher temperatures than regular butter, making them ideal for frying and sautéing.
Lactose and Casein-Free: As the dairy proteins are removed during processing, clarified butter is suitable for most people with lactose and casein sensitivities.
Nutrient-Rich: Ghee contains healthy fats like CLA, butyrate, and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), offering potential health benefits when consumed in moderation.
Versatile Culinary Uses: This pure butterfat is excellent for high-heat cooking, baking, making sauces, or as a flavorful finishing touch.
Long Shelf Life: With the water and milk solids removed, ghee has a much longer shelf life than regular butter and can often be stored in a cool, dark pantry.

Your Grocery Guide: Finding Clarified Butter at Whole Foods

For those who follow a nutrition-conscious diet, clarified butter and its more robustly flavored cousin, ghee, have become kitchen essentials. Both offer the rich, nutty flavor of butter with a higher smoke point, making them ideal for high-heat cooking. The good news for shoppers is that yes, you can buy clarified butter at Whole Foods, primarily in the form of ghee. The store carries its own 365 brand and other popular brands, ensuring you can find this versatile ingredient easily.

What to Expect When Shopping

At Whole Foods, you will typically find clarified butter and ghee in the oil and vinegar aisle, sometimes near the specialty butters or international foods section. You'll likely see a variety of reputable brands, many of which are certified organic or grass-fed, aligning with the store's focus on quality products. Common products include Organic Valley Organic Ghee Clarified Butter and 4th & Heart Original Ghee, along with the store’s own 365 by Whole Foods Market ghee. Be sure to check product labels, as some ghee varieties may offer different flavor profiles due to the length of the cooking process.

Clarified Butter vs. Ghee: What’s the Difference?

While often used interchangeably, there is a subtle but important distinction between clarified butter and ghee. All ghee is clarified butter, but not all clarified butter is ghee. The primary difference lies in the cooking time, which affects the flavor and smoke point.

Comparison Table: Clarified Butter vs. Ghee


Feature	Clarified Butter	Ghee
Preparation	Butter is melted and milk solids are skimmed off as soon as they separate.	Cooked slightly longer, allowing the milk solids to brown and sink to the bottom.
Flavor	Mild, clean, and buttery.	Rich, nutty, and more intense flavor due to browned milk solids.
Smoke Point	Approx. 450°F (230°C).	Up to 485°F (250°C), slightly higher than basic clarified butter.
Shelf Life	Needs refrigeration, lasts up to 6 months.	Shelf-stable and can last for several months in the pantry.
Appearance	Clear golden liquid, solidifies to a smooth texture.	Deep golden color, solidifies to a grainy texture.

Nutritional Benefits of Pure Butterfat

For those on specific diets like Paleo or Keto, clarified butter and ghee are excellent options because they are almost pure butterfat, with the milk solids (including lactose and casein) removed. This makes them suitable for most people with dairy sensitivities. The nutritional value is significant:

Rich in healthy fats: Ghee contains beneficial fatty acids such as Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), which is linked to reduced body fat and improved immune function, especially when sourced from grass-fed cows.
High in fat-soluble vitamins: It is a good source of vitamins A, D, E, and K, which are essential for skin, eye, bone, and immune health.
Contains butyrate: This short-chain fatty acid found in ghee is known to support gut health and reduce inflammation.
High smoke point: The absence of milk solids allows for safe cooking at higher temperatures without the butter burning, which preserves its nutritional integrity and flavor.

Versatile Uses in Your Kitchen

Clarified butter and ghee are incredibly versatile. You can use them in the kitchen for various applications:

Sautéing and frying: Their high smoke point makes them perfect for searing meats, frying eggs, or cooking vegetables without burning.
Baking: Clarified butter adds a rich, delicate flavor to baked goods, especially where a tender crumb or flaky crust is desired.
Sauces: It is the classic choice for creating delicate emulsions like hollandaise and béarnaise sauce, which require a stable fat.
Dipping: Use it as a decadent dip for seafood like lobster or crab, just as you would melted butter.
Flavoring: Drizzle it over popcorn or add a spoonful to your coffee for a rich, flavorful boost.

Making Clarified Butter at Home

For those who prefer a DIY approach, making clarified butter is a straightforward process:

Melt: Gently melt a block of unsalted butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over low heat.
Separate: As the butter melts, it will separate into three layers: a foamy white top, a clear yellow middle (the butterfat), and milk solids at the bottom.
Simmer: Continue to simmer gently, allowing the water to evaporate and the milk solids to sink.
Strain: Carefully skim the foam from the surface, then pour the clear butterfat into a heatproof container, leaving the milky solids behind.

To make ghee, simply continue heating until the milk solids at the bottom begin to brown, creating that signature nutty flavor, before straining. For additional tips on high-heat cooking with these fats, check out Serious Eats' guide.

Conclusion

So, can you buy clarified butter at Whole Foods? The answer is a clear yes. You can find both clarified butter and, more commonly, ghee in their well-stocked aisles. Whether you opt for a store-bought version for convenience or make your own for a personal touch, this versatile ingredient is a nutrient-dense and flavorful addition to any kitchen. Its high smoke point and pure composition make it a favorite for many high-heat cooking applications and specialized diets, offering a simple way to elevate your cooking while prioritizing nutrition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Whole Foods Market sells clarified butter. It is most commonly found as ghee, a type of clarified butter, and is available from various brands, including their own 365 label.

Ghee is a type of clarified butter, but not all clarified butter is ghee. Ghee is cooked for a longer period, which toasts the milk solids and gives it a nuttier flavor and a higher smoke point compared to standard clarified butter.

Clarified butter has a higher smoke point than regular butter, typically around 450°F (230°C). Ghee, which is cooked longer, can have a smoke point closer to 485°F (250°C), making it excellent for high-heat cooking.

Yes, because the process of clarifying butter involves simmering and straining to remove the water and milk solids, the final product is free of lactose and casein, making it suitable for most people with dairy sensitivities.

At Whole Foods, you can find a variety of ghee and clarified butter brands. These include the store's own 365 brand, Organic Valley Organic Ghee Clarified Butter, and 4th & Heart Ghee, among others.

You can typically find clarified butter and ghee in the cooking oils and condiments aisle at Whole Foods. Sometimes it is also placed near other specialty butters or international cooking ingredients.

Clarified butter and ghee have a much longer shelf life than regular butter. When properly stored in a sealed container, ghee is shelf-stable and can last for months in a cool pantry, or up to a year in the refrigerator.