Can I use oil as a substitute for shortening in a recipe?

I want to make blueberry muffins and the America Cook's kitchen or what ever they are called used 4 T of melted butter and 4 T of melted vegetable shortening. I don't want to go back to the store. Can I use oil?

Asked by Clairevoyant 17 months ago Similar questions: oil substitute shortening recipe Food & Drink > Cooking.

Similar questions: oil substitute shortening recipe.

I have and it worked fine. The point of shortening is that it is hydrogenated oil, which hydrogenation makes it solid at room temperature, so your muffins will be moist, but not oily at room temperature. In baking my own stuff, I've not noticed that to be a problem, partly because I don't have it around that long and partly because it's usually refrigerated, anyway.

Then there's all the health problems of consuming hydrogenated oil . ..

1 If it's melted, yes, more or less. The results will be somewhat different, since oil remains liquid once cooled, but the recipe should work well enough. If this recipe were made by the "creaming method" (where you beat together the shortening and sugar to make it airy and fluffy) I'd have said no.

But melted shortening is going to be very similar to oil, and you should be able to get away with the oil.

If it's melted, yes, more or less. The results will be somewhat different, since oil remains liquid once cooled, but the recipe should work well enough. If this recipe were made by the "creaming method" (where you beat together the shortening and sugar to make it airy and fluffy) I'd have said no.

But melted shortening is going to be very similar to oil, and you should be able to get away with the oil.

2 Actually, I need to modify that: if you're talking about America's Test Kitchen... they're pretty, uh, rigorous in their recipes. If they're calling for melted shortening they probably tested it with oil and preferred the results with melted shortening. But they're looking for the "best recipe", and for a recipe with melted shortening, making it with oil should be a "good enough" recipe.

One note: you might want to make sure to eat it quickly. One advantage to using shortening, with all of its trans fats, is that it goes stale more slowly.

Actually, I need to modify that: if you're talking about America's Test Kitchen... they're pretty, uh, rigorous in their recipes. If they're calling for melted shortening they probably tested it with oil and preferred the results with melted shortening. But they're looking for the "best recipe", and for a recipe with melted shortening, making it with oil should be a "good enough" recipe.

One note: you might want to make sure to eat it quickly. One advantage to using shortening, with all of its trans fats, is that it goes stale more slowly.

3 If the recipe calls for a solid shortning then you should use a solid shortning. Oils and other liquid shortnings don't hold air and the muffins will be heavy. The texture will not be as pleasing as using butter.

Butter has milk solids which set up after the muffins cool and support the muffin. Oils do not. If it's a matter of health, then substituting olive oil for vegetable oil is healthier....affects the taste however.

If the recipe calls for a solid shortning then you should use a solid shortning. Oils and other liquid shortnings don't hold air and the muffins will be heavy. The texture will not be as pleasing as using butter.

Butter has milk solids which set up after the muffins cool and support the muffin. Oils do not. If it's a matter of health, then substituting olive oil for vegetable oil is healthier....affects the taste however.

" "what can I substitute for cilantro in a recipe. I don't like the flavor" "Is there something I substitute dry red wine for in a recipe? " "what is this shortening and where do you get it" "I am making banana bread and I do not have any shortening what can I use as a substitute?

" "What can be used as a substitute for eggs in a recipe?" "What can I substitute for Proscuitto when cooking? Would Ham or Bacon be better? " "i need a substitute for presto flour if I can't findit.

Using an old recipe. " "substitute shortening in biscuits.

What can I substitute for cilantro in a recipe. I don't like the flavor.

What is this shortening and where do you get it.

I need a substitute for presto flour if I can't findit. Using an old recipe.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.