What Is A Good Substitute For Shortening In Pie Crust?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  • Shortening Substitute: Butter. ...
  • Shortening Substitute: Coconut Oil. ...
  • Shortening Substitute: Margarine. ...
  • Shortening Substitute: Lard. ...
  • Shortening Substitute: Vegetable Oil. ...
  • Shortening Substitute: Vegan Butter.

What can I use in place of shortening?

Margarine and butter can both be used as a substitute for shortening, though their moisture contents should be taken into consideration before making the swap. While shortening is 100% fat, margarine and butter contain a small percentage of water (so, shortening adds more fat, thus more richness and tenderness).

What can I use if I don’t have shortening for pie crust?

Butter or margarine can be used instead, adding a couple of extra tablespoons per cup of shortening called for in a recipe. So for every 1 cup of shortening called for in a recipe, use 1 cup butter or margarine plus 2 tablespoons.

Is pie crust better with butter or shortening?

The Pie Crust Takeaways

Butter made a tastier, flakier, sturdier crust by far. This isn’t to say that shortening and lard aren’t useful ingredients. Shortening is a great way to get incredibly tender desserts.

What can I use instead of Crisco shortening?

So, for every cup of Crisco, you should add 1 cup of butter/margarine plus an extra 2 tablespoons. So if you have no Crisco available, both butter and margarine are great substitutes. But you will need to use slightly more in the recipe.

Can I substitute butter or oil for shortening?

Can I substitute butter for shortening or shortening for butter in a recipe? This is a frequently asked question, especially about baking recipes. The answer is yes, butter or shortening can be used interchangeably in baked goods and can be used as a one-to-one swap.

Can I use lard instead of shortening for pie crust?

Lard: If it doesn’t make you squeamish, lard makes an incredible pastry crust. It chills nicely and doesn’t break down under heat as quickly as butter. ... Shortening : The fat of choice for pie baking in the fifties and sixties, shortening has a very high melting point, which makes it very easy to mix into pie crust.

Can you substitute butter for shortening in pie crust?

butter. You shouldn’t have any issue when substituting butter for shortening here. Piecrust made with butter or margarine will not be as flaky as one made with shortening. If you’re a fan of flaky, you may not want to substitute butter for shortening in pie crust.

Is shortening healthier than butter?

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 ).

Is butter or shortening better for cookies?

Which One Should I Use in Cookies? Basically, cookies made with butter spread more and are flatter and crisper if baked long enough. However, they are more flavorful than cookies made with shortening . Cookies made with shortening bake up taller and are more tender, but aren’t as flavorful.

Should I put vinegar in my pie crust?

The basic ingredients in a pie crust are butter, flour, salt and water. ... One ingredient that you can add to a pie crust that is a little more unusual is vinegar. Vinegar helps tenderize pie dough because it slightly inhibits gluten development , leading to a crust that is flakier and easier to work with.

What is the best type of flour to use for pie crust?

Flour: For a tender crust, choose a low-protein flour. Pastry flour , with a protein content of about 8-10%, ranks between all-purpose flour and cake flour. All-purpose flour works just fine for pie crusts, while cake flour might lack enough protein to form a workable, elastic dough.

Why do you put vinegar in pie crust?

But there are two much more important perks to using vinegar: it provides a little insurance against overworking the dough . And, that splash of vinegar will keep your dough from oxidizing and turning gray. Fresh All-Butter Pie Dough with vinegar (right) and without (left).

What are examples of shortening?

Important commercial shortenings include butter, lard, vegetable oils, processed shortenings, and margarine .

How bad is Crisco shortening for you?

Crisco and other partially hydrogenated vegetable shortenings were later found to have their own health issues , most notably trans fats, which were found to contribute as much to heart disease as saturated fats. But lard remained unrehabilitated.

Can Crisco replace butter?

In general, you can substitute Crisco shortening for butter or margarine in equal amounts (1 cup Crisco shortening = 1 cup butter or margarine). Not only does Crisco shortening have 50% less saturated fat than butter and 0g trans fat per serving, it gives you higher, lighter-textured baked goods.

Sophia Kim
Author
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a food writer with a passion for cooking and entertaining. She has worked in various restaurants and catering companies, and has written for several food publications. Sophia's expertise in cooking and entertaining will help you create memorable meals and events.