Commercial shortening
Commercial shortening is a solid fat product, typically made from hydrogenated vegetable oils like soybean, palm, or cottonseed oil. It is designed to be shelf-stable and is a key ingredient in baking for creating flaky pastries, tender cakes, and crisp cookies.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
Commercial shortening is almost 100% fat, containing no carbohydrates, protein, or fiber. A single tablespoon provides about 120 calories, primarily from saturated and trans fats, with negligible vitamins or minerals.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 120 kcal |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Carbs | 0 g |
| Fat | 14 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 0 g |
| Sodium | 0 mg |
| Vitamin E | 0.2 mg |
| Vitamin K | 3 µg |
Per 1 tablespoon (14 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Historically, shortening was a major source of dietary trans fats before labeling laws and reformulations reduced them. Its name comes from its ability to 'shorten' gluten strands in dough, which is what creates a tender, flaky texture in baked goods.
