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Shortening for pie crusts

Shortening for pie crusts
Shortening for pie crusts
Shortening for pie crusts recipe videos

Shortening is a solid fat used to create flaky, tender pie crusts, made from hydrogenated vegetable oils like soybean or palm oil. It's a staple in American baking, valued for its ability to produce a consistent, melt-in-your-mouth texture in pastries.

🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

Shortening is almost entirely fat, providing a dense source of calories with no carbohydrates, protein, or fiber. A typical tablespoon contains about 120 calories and is a significant source of energy.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories120 kcal
Protein0 g
Carbs0 g
Fat14 g
Fiber0 g
Sugar0 g
Sodium0 mg
Vitamin E2 mg
Vitamin K5 µg

Per 1 tablespoon (14 g) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

Unlike butter, shortening is 100% fat with no water content, which allows it to create exceptionally flaky layers in pie dough by inhibiting gluten formation. It was originally developed as a shelf-stable, plant-based alternative to lard.

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