Ghee 101 · Milk
Which Milk Is Best for Making Ghee: Buffalo or Cow?
Buffalo milk is best for ghee yield: at about 7% fat, roughly 14 kg of buffalo milk holds a kilo of milk fat, against about 25 kg of 4% cow milk — nearly half as much milk. Buffalo ghee is white, grainy and mild; cow ghee is golden and more aromatic. Both are pure ghee; buffalo milk is A2 by nature, while cow milk depends on breed. For making ghee at home economically, buffalo milk wins.
Quick take
- Buffalo: ~14 kg milk per kg of fat (7% fat).
- Cow: ~25 kg milk per kg of fat (4% fat).
- Buffalo ghee: white, grainy, mild; cow: golden, aromatic.
- Bilona needs more milk than cream methods for both.
If you make ghee at home or are curious why ghee prices vary, the milk you start with is the biggest factor.
We make A2 buffalo bilona ghee, so we have an interest here; figures are from our lab report and the cited sources.
Yield: fat decides everything
| Milk | Typical fat | Milk holding 1 kg fat |
|---|---|---|
| Murrah buffalo | ~7% | ~14 kg |
| Desi cow (Gir, Sahiwal) | ~4–5% | ~20–25 kg |
| Crossbred cow / packet toned milk | ~3–4% | ~25–33 kg |
Real yields are lower because some fat stays in buttermilk, especially with bilona. Our hand-churned process takes about 25–30 litres of buffalo milk per kilo of ghee (how much milk makes 1 kg ghee).
Taste, colour and texture
- Buffalo ghee: white, grainy, rich and mild (taste and smell).
- Cow ghee: golden, softer, more aromatic (buffalo vs cow ghee).
A2
Buffalo milk is A2 by nature; cow milk is A2 only if it comes from A2 desi cows (is buffalo milk A2?).
Making ghee at home from buffalo milk
- Boil milk and collect the thick malai daily for a week, or set the whole milk to curd.
- Churn malai or curd into makhan (buffalo milk curd).
- Cook the makhan on low heat until the solids turn golden and the ghee is clear.
- Strain into a dry glass jar.
Full method: how to make ghee at home. Leftover residue and buttermilk: ghee residue uses, bilona chaas.
Sources & references
- USDA FoodData Central — Milk, Indian buffalo, fluid (SR Legacy 171280)
- USDA FoodData Central — Milk, whole, 3.25% milkfat (SR Legacy 172217)
- TNAU Agritech Portal — Breeds of buffaloes
- Kathiravan P et al. A study on β-casein gene polymorphism in crossbred cattle and Murrah / graded Murrah buffalo in Tamil Nadu. Indian Journal of Animal Research, 2023; 57(7)
Frequently asked questions
Which milk gives more ghee, buffalo or cow?
Buffalo milk, because it has about 7% fat versus about 4% in cow milk.
How much buffalo milk is needed for 1 kg ghee?
About 14 kg holds a kilo of fat; real yields need more, about 25 to 30 litres by hand-churned bilona in our process.
Is ghee from buffalo milk good?
Yes. It is white, grainy and rich, and A2 by nature.
Can I make ghee from packet milk?
Yes, by collecting malai, but toned milk gives very little fat per litre.
The milk that makes the most ghee
A2 Farmer Buffalo Bilona Ghee — A2A2 confirmed by PCR, 99.76% milk fat, hand-churned and glass-packed. From ₹799.
Shop A2 Ghee →