For all the bad rap it has in our "all natural food" world today, I still find a tiny bitty corner for this pantry item. In the 1950s when my husband's grandmother, Rhea, whipped out pies like no one's business- she used this tried and true Crisco pie crust recipe. Until recently, it was also thought to be healthier because it contains less saturated fat than butter and lard. However, we now know that highly processed shortening offers no health advantages over butter or lard and may in fact be a less nutritious choice ( 5, 6). Unlike shortening that is 100% fat, butter is only about 80% fat and 20% moisture. This 20% is a result is due to the dairy that butter is made from. The 20% moisture from butter activates the gluten that gives you a moister or bread-like texture in many recipes.

A little history about vegetable shortening and why I use it occasionally (actually, ONLY for this pie crust). Crisco brand started in 1911 its' claim to fame from other brands was it contained 100% vegetable and plant-based fat and nothing else. Frosting all comes down to taste and texture. If the goal is a delicious tasting frosting, use butter. Butter will give you a creamy and delicious buttercream frosting. Unfortunately, though, many vegetable oils are rich in omega-6 fatty acids, which may contribute to inflammation in people who aren’t also getting enough omega-3 fatty acids (found in foods like fatty fish, chia seeds, and flaxseed) ( 24).It is arguably a better choice than US Crisco as it is made without any partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, thus is healthier for you and won’t upset the balance between good and bad cholesterol in the body. In contrast, Crisco marketers offered only evasion and euphemism. Crisco was made from “100% shortening,” its marketing materials asserted, and “Crisco is Crisco, and nothing else.” Sometimes they gestured towards the plant kingdom: Crisco was “strictly vegetable,” “purely vegetable” or “absolutely all vegetable.” At their most specific, advertisements said it was made from “vegetable oil,” a relatively new phrase that Crisco helped to popularize. Shortening’s main rival was lard. Earlier generations of Americans had produced lard at home after autumn pig slaughters, but by the late 19th century meat processing companies were making lard on an industrial scale. Lard had a noticeable pork taste, but there’s not much evidence that 19th-century Americans objected to it, even in cakes and pies. Instead, its issue was cost. While lard prices stayed relatively high through the early 20th century, cottonseed oil was abundant and cheap.

New Fat, Same Old Problem With An Added Twist? Replacement For Trans Fat Raises Blood Sugar In Humans". Science Daily. January 2007. One popular reason for seeking shortening substitutes is the movement towards healthier eating habits. Traditional shortening often consists of hydrogenated oils, which can contain significant amounts of unhealthy trans fats. By replacing shortening with a suitable substitute, individuals can enjoy their favorite baked goods while potentially reducing their intake of harmful fats. Cookeen is another brand of vegetable shortening available in the United Kingdom. Sold by Princes Limited, this is a true baking fat made from 100% vegetable oils. Pie crusts require a flaky, tender texture, which can be achieved using substitutes like butter or lard. The ratio for these substitutes can be 1:1 for shortening. Ensure to chill the butter or lard before using it in the dough, as it helps achieve the desired flaky consistency. Coconut oil can also work as a shortening substitute in pie crusts while maintaining a tender texture. Cakes Butter is another good UK substitute for vegetable shortening. Unlike margarine, you can use a ratio of 1:1 when using butter in place of shortening.

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Let’s dive into some of the best replacements for Crisco, so you can choose the one that will give you the best result in your baking or cooking. Butter For all butter pie crust: Ultimate All Butter Pie Crust. How to Make Classic Crisco Pie Crust Recipe (flaky)

Crisco flew off the shelves. Unlike lard, Crisco had a neutral taste. Unlike butter, Crisco could last for years on the shelf. Unlike olive oil, it had a high smoking temperature for frying. At the same time, since Crisco was the only solid shortening made entirely from plants, it was prized by Jewish consumers who followed dietary restrictions forbidding the mixing of meat and dairy in a single meal. Besides baking, Crisco can be used in place of oil to fry foods. It can also be used to make buttercream frosting. Pros and Cons of Using Crisco Butter is a suitable alternative to shortening in most recipes. Just be aware that the small amount of water in butter may result in a slightly different texture than shortening would. If you’re planning on freezing Crisco for later use, keep in mind that it can last for up to 6 months in the freezer without losing its quality. Once thawed, make sure to use it within a reasonable amount of time or discard if there are any signs of spoilage. Nonetheless, early cottonseed oil and shortening companies went out of their way to highlight their connection to cotton. They touted the transformation of cottonseed from pesky leftover to useful consumer product as a mark of ingenuity and progress. Brands like Cottolene and Cotosuet drew attention to cotton with their names and by incorporating images of cotton in their advertising. King Crisco

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Coconut oil is like nature’s shortening. It is solid at room temperature and 100% fat. This makes it an easy swap for shortening with a clear 1:1 ratio. However, unlike shortening that has a bland (if any) taste coconut oil has a distinct flavor. In addition to limiting your intake of foods that contain shortening, you can replace shortening with alternatives in recipes. Butter

Avocado oil, olive oil, and coconut oil are some of the best plant oils for cooking and baking. Summary

Shortening

Butter is the most popular substitute for shortening. It is widely available and most people already have butter in their refrigerator, but it is more expensive than Crisco. Trex is a brand of vegetable shortening and the closest UK equivalent to US Crisco. It’s available at most British supermarkets. When it comes time to use the frozen Crisco, avoid microwaving it to speed up the melting process. Instead, let it thaw naturally at room temperature or place the container in warm water until the shortening becomes soft enough to scoop out. Microwaving can cause uneven melting and may negatively affect the texture of your baked goods.