How to Make Drawn Butter (Easy & Delicious with Crab & Lobster)

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Ever wonder how to make drawn butter? This homemade drawn butter recipe makes the easiest and most delicious dip for crab or lobster tails. All you need is 1 ingredient: unsalted butter!

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What is Drawn Butter?

Drawn butter is the melted butter that is often paired alongside steamed seafood, like crab and lobster. This simple dip can be served on its own, but people often add lemon juice to drawn butter sauce for the ultimate seafood eating experience.

Is Drawn Butter the Same As Clarified Butter?

Regular butter is a dairy product made by churning fresh or fermented cream or milk to separate the butterfat from the buttermilk.

Drawn butter, on the other hand, is often referred to as clarified butter (aka ghee). It is a type of butter, usually unsalted, that has had almost all the water and milk protein removed, leaving only the fat.

Through this skimming process, clarified butter has negligible amounts of lactose casein and is often a recommended substitute for regular butter for those with lactose intolerance or casein sensitivity.

What You Need to Make Drawn Butter

• 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter
• lemon juice, to serve (optional, but recommended)

How to Make Drawn Butter

1. In a medium saucepan, melt butter on medium-low heat.
2. Once melted, you should notice a foamy white layer on top of the butter mixture. This is the butter’s milk solids. Use a heat-proof spoon to skim off and discard the foam.
3. When most of the foam has been removed, turn off the heat and remove the saucepan away from hot burner. At this point, the butter left over in the pan should look golden and not foamy – this is the butterfat.
4. Line a wire mesh strainer with cheesecloth, or a large coffee filter. Place the strainer over a large bowl. Carefully pour the butterfat through the strainer. You might discover more milk solids as you get to the bottom of the butter mixture. Leave the milk solids in the pan and don’t pour it through the strainer.
5. Pour the drawn butter (aka clarified butter) into an air-tight jar to use for later, or pour into a dipping bowl if serving immediately. Just before serving, squeeze some lemon juice and pair with freshly steamed seafood (especially crabs and lobster tail!)

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.