Shortening frying (heavy duty), soybean (hydrogenated), linoleic (less than 1%)
Whole food · Fats and Oils
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a highly refined, solid fat made from hydrogenated soybean oil, designed for high-heat, heavy-duty frying. It has a neutral, clean flavor and a smooth, waxy texture at room temperature that melts into a clear liquid when heated. Nutritionally, it is a pure, calorie-dense source of fat, providing 884 kcal per 100g with no protein, carbs, or fiber.
Calorie split: 0% protein · 0% carbs · 100% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
It is the workhorse of commercial kitchens for its reliability, neutral taste, and ability to produce perfectly crispy fries, donuts, and fried chicken without imparting any off-flavors. Its solid state at room temperature also makes it convenient for certain baking applications like pie crusts.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
As a hydrogenated fat, it is a primary source of industrial trans fats, which are strongly linked to adverse cardiovascular health effects. It offers no beneficial micronutrients and is a source of empty calories. To mitigate, use it sparingly, balance meals with whole foods rich in fiber and antioxidants, and choose non-hydrogenated oils like high-oleic sunflower or avocado oil for home cooking when possible.
Key benefits
- Extremely high smoke point for stable, high-heat frying
- Neutral flavor doesn't alter the taste of fried foods
- Long shelf life and solid form make it easy to store and handle
- Creates a consistent, crispy texture in fried foods
- Cost-effective for commercial and high-volume frying
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The process of hydrogenation, which turns liquid soybean oil into this solid fat, was first commercialized in the early 1900s and was so revolutionary it won its inventor a Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 0.00 g |
| Energy | 884 kcal |
| Energy | 3699 kj |
| Protein | 0.00 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 100 g |
| Ash | 0.00 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 0.00 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.00 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 0.00 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.00 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 0.00 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 0.00 mg |
| Potassium, K | 0.00 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 0.00 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.00 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.00 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.00 mg |
| Niacin | 0.00 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.00 mg |
| Folate, total | 0.00 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 0.00 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 6.1 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, beta | 0.44 mg |
| Tocopherol, gamma | 32.3 mg |
| Tocopherol, delta | 15.4 mg |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 43.0 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 21.1 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 10.9 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 10.2 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 73.7 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 73.7 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.40 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.30 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.10 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
| Phytosterols | 181 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
| Tryptophan | 0.00 g |
| Threonine | 0.00 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.00 g |
| Leucine | 0.00 g |
| Lysine | 0.00 g |
| Methionine | 0.00 g |
| Cystine | 0.00 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.00 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.00 g |
| Valine | 0.00 g |
| Arginine | 0.00 g |
| Histidine | 0.00 g |
| Alanine | 0.00 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.00 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.00 g |
| Glycine | 0.00 g |
| Proline | 0.00 g |
| Serine | 0.00 g |
FAQ
What is the difference between this and regular vegetable oil?
This is a solid, hydrogenated fat with a much higher melting point and smoke point, designed for deep-frying. Regular vegetable oil is typically a liquid blend of unsaturated fats (like canola or soybean oil) used for sautéing and general cooking.
Is it still used in restaurants today?
While many restaurants have shifted to non-hydrogenated oils for health reasons, it is still used in some commercial settings for its low cost, stability, and consistent frying performance, especially for items like french fries and donuts.
Can I use this for baking at home?
Technically, yes, for recipes like pie crusts where a solid fat is needed. However, for home use, it's generally recommended to use butter, lard, or non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening for better flavor and a healthier fat profile.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 8.84 kcal/g · 0% calories from protein · 0.0 g fiber · 0.0 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.