What Is Vegetable shortening and How Can I Use It?
Vegetable shortening rewards a little know-how: how to choose it, cook it, store it, and substitute in a pinch. Browse 2,019 recipes to cook with it.
What is vegetable shortening?
Vegetable shortening similar to animal derived shortening such as butter or lard, it is cheaper to produce; originally, lard was far cheaper and edible oils came at a higher cost.
Shortening also needs no refrigeration, which further lowers its costs and increases its convenience, especially for people who live in countries without refrigeration.
As a substitute for butter, it can lengthen the shelf life of baked goods and other foods. With these advantages, vegetable shortening gained popularity, as food production became increasingly industrialized and manufacturers sought low-cost raw materials. Vast government-financed surpluses of cottonseed oil,corn oil, and soy beans helped found a market in low-cost vegetable shortening.
Health concerns
Vegetable shortening has become the subject of some health concerns due to its traditional formulation from partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, which contain trans fat.
Trans fats have been linked to a number of adverse health effects. Usage of shortening lacking trans fats has grown.
Substitution
1 cup + 2 tablespoons of butter may be a substitution for 1 cup of vegetable shortening; butter has extra water content when compared to shortening.
Coconut butter may also be used and is viewed as a healthier substitution for vegetable shortening
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 tablespoon (1 NLEA serving) (12g)Where found
Vegetable shortening is usually found in the baking supplies section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.
Food group
Vegetable shortening is a member of the Fats and Oils US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.
How much does vegetable shortening weigh?
| Amount | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 tablespoon (1 NLEA serving) | 12 grams |
| 1 stick | 185 grams |
Related
Fats and Oils
| In Chinese: | 植物起酥油 | |
| British (UK) term: | ||
| en français: | la matière grasse | |
| en español: | la materia grasa |
Recipes using vegetable shortening
There are 2019 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Zwiebelkuchen (Onion Pie)
A savory German onion pie featuring a yeasted crust topped with caramelized onions, crispy bacon, and a creamy sour cream custard. Perfect as an appetizer or main dish, especially during autumn or Oktoberfest celebrations.
Josh's Chocolate Chiperoo Cookies
Chocolate chip cookies made with butter and shortening for soft centers and crisp golden edges. Loaded with semi-sweet chips and chopped nuts. Big-batch classic.
Cocoa Layer Cake
A simple, one-bowl cocoa layer cake that comes together in minutes and bakes into two tender 9-inch layers. Rich chocolate flavor without fuss—perfect for beginners.
Miss Lulu's Chocolate Waffles
Vintage chocolate waffles made with melted semisweet chocolate and folded egg whites for a tender, cake-like texture. Serve hot with syrup, whipped cream, or a scoop of ice cream for brunch or dessert.
Charlies Delicious Brownies
Charlie's brownies are one-bowl easy: dump, beat for a minute, and bake, then top with a glossy chocolate fudge icing. Brown sugar and melted unsweetened chocolate make them rich, and the icing seals the deal.
Super Fudge Cupcakes
Super fudge cupcakes soak chopped dates in boiling water before folding into a chocolate batter studded with chips and nuts. Date-sweetened, intensely fudgy cupcakes with a tender crumb.
Peanut Butter Snack Cookies
Classic peanut butter snack cookies with the signature fork-pressed crisscross pattern. Crisp edges, soft middles, and a deep peanut flavor. Makes three dozen for the cookie jar.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies
Peanut butter chocolate cookies blend melted chocolate into the dough for double chocolate-peanut flavor in every bite. Cross-hatched and baked into thick, chewy 3-inch rounds.
Favorite Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Chewy chocolate chip oatmeal cookies combine the best of both classics. Quick oats and butter-flavored shortening make 40 soft, hearty cookies perfect for lunchboxes or after-school snacks.
Perfection Pecan Pie
Old-school pecan pie with a flaky shortening crust and a creamed butter base for the filling. Christmas and Thanksgiving classic from below the Mason-Dixon line.
Light Pancakes
Light pancakes from scratch with a tall, fluffy crumb and tender bite. A fast pantry breakfast built on flour, milk, and a generous double-sift for height.
Super Chocolate Chip Cookies
Giant chocolate chip cookies baked in foil pans to hold their extra-thick shape. Butter and shortening blend creates crispy edges and soft, melty centers loaded with chocolate.
Buttermilk Pepper Biscuits
Buttermilk pepper biscuits with a generous hit of cracked black pepper, tangy buttermilk, and shortening for a soft, flaky pull-apart crumb. Hand-shaped, baked tight together, ready in under 30 minutes.
Classic Breakfast Buttermilk Pancakes
Fluffy buttermilk pancakes from scratch with tangy buttermilk, melted shortening, and classic diner texture. Perfect breakfast pancakes in 20 minutes.
Tea Biscuits
Fluffy homemade tea biscuits from five pantry staples: flour, baking powder, and shortening cut into a tender dough. Tall, light biscuits ready for butter and jam.
Chocolate Chip - Pop'T Wheat Cookies
Chocolate chip pop't wheat cookies fold puffed wheat cereal and quick oats into a honey-sweetened batter loaded with chocolate chips. Light, crackly edges with a chewy oatmeal center.
Mom's Favorite Brownies
Dark chocolate, corn syrup, and crunchy walnuts bake into fudgy brownies with crackly tops that taste like Mom's kitchen in every bite.
Ozne Haman (Hamantaschen)
Hamantaschen for Purim with a tender carrot-flecked dough and a tangy apricot-pineapple filling spiked with cardamom and poppy seed. The classic triangle cookie with real character.
Queen's Biscuits (Biscotti Di Regina) *
Italian Queen's biscuits (biscotti di regina) coated in toasted sesame seeds. Sicilian Christmas and wedding cookies with a tender, crumbly texture under the nutty sesame crust.
Almost Whole Wheat Choco Banana Peanut Cookies
Almost Whole Wheat Choco Banana Peanut Cookies recipe
Cinnamon Nut/Raisin Biscuits
Cinnamon nut or raisin biscuits with a brown sugar cinnamon filling tucked inside layered biscuit dough. The pocket of sweet spice goes molten as the biscuit bakes, giving you breakfast pastry without the yeast wait.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Whole wheat oatmeal chocolate chunk cookies pack quick oats, hearty whole wheat flour, chocolate chunks, and nuts into a chewy lunchbox cookie. Wholesome enough for breakfast, sweet enough for dessert.
Peanut-Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies loaded with chopped pecans and semisweet chocolate. Butter and shortening create a crisp edge with a soft, nutty center.
Roni's Chocolate Chip Cookies
Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies you can bake chewy or crunchy just by watching the clock. Two cups of rolled oats give them real heft while shortening keeps them tender. Pull them early for chew, longer for crunch.
Delicious Peanut Cookies
Old-school peanut cookies packed with chopped peanuts, brown sugar, and vanilla. Crisp-edged, chewy-centered cookies that taste like a peanut butter cookie's nuttier cousin.
