Ingredient

All-purpose Shortening

Auto-generated content. This description was generated automatically and is pending editorial review. Inaccuracies are possible. Found a mistake? Contact us.

Source
Not animal-derived
Allergen
No
Role in food
Shortening provides tenderness, a smooth texture, and a longer shelf life to baked goods. …

What it is

All-purpose shortening is a solid fat made from vegetable oils, such as soybean, cottonseed, or palm oil. It is processed to be solid at room temperature, often through hydrogenation, which changes the oil's structure. This process makes it a versatile ingredient for baking.

Why it's used

Shortening provides tenderness, a smooth texture, and a longer shelf life to baked goods. It is used as a fat in doughs and batters, helping to create flaky layers in pastries and a tender crumb in cakes. It is commonly found in cookies, cakes, biscuits, and pie crusts.

Health notes

In the US, shortening made from vegetable oils is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA. Some shortenings contain trans fats, which are linked to negative health effects. However, manufacturers have largely removed trans fats from shortenings. JECFA and EFSA have evaluated fats and oils, including those used in shortening, and have established guidelines for their use. Evidence on the health effects of different types of fats continues to be studied.

Allergen info

Shortening is typically derived from vegetable oils and is not a major allergen. It does not contain gluten.

Products containing All-purpose Shortening

Compare products →
Sort by: Sugar Protein Sodium Calories
GOLDILOCKS Yellow Bean Hopia Croissants, Sweet Rolls, Muffins & Other Pastries 422kcal 6.7Protein 22.2Fat 51.1Carbs Vollmer's Cheesecake Factory Happy Birthday Decorated Chocolate Torte Cakes, Cupcakes, Snack Cakes High in saturated fat — 30% DV per serving 392kcal 3.8Protein 24.1Fat 43.0Carbs Vollmer's Cheesecake Factory Decorated Chocolate Torte Daisies Cakes, Cupcakes, Snack Cakes High in saturated fat — 30% DV per serving 392kcal 3.8Protein 24.1Fat 43.0Carbs Vollmer's Cheesecake Factory Decorated Marble Bar Cake Cakes, Cupcakes, Snack Cakes High in saturated fat — 22% DV per serving 386kcal 3.5Protein 24.6Fat 43.9Carbs Hearthside USA, LLC Sausage, Egg & Cheese Panino Breakfast Sandwiches, Biscuits & Meals High in sodium — 56% DV per serving High in saturated fat — 65% DV per serving High in cholesterol — 38% DV per serving 333kcal 11.6Protein 21.8Fat 22.4Carbs Hearthside USA, LLC Panino, Ham, Egg & Cheese Frozen Breakfast Sandwiches, Biscuits & Meals High in sodium — 56% DV per serving High in saturated fat — 45% DV per serving High in cholesterol — 44% DV per serving 252kcal 12.9Protein 12.9Fat 21.6Carbs Ingles Markets Inc. Caramel Hearts, Sea Salt Chocolate High in sodium — 22% DV per serving High in saturated fat — 20% DV per serving 425kcal 2.5Protein 12.5Fat 67.5Carbs Delhaize America, Inc. Dark Chocolate Topped Mini Eclairs, Dark Chocolate Croissants, Sweet Rolls, Muffins & Other Pastries High in saturated fat — 45% DV per serving High in added sugars — 28% DV per serving High in cholesterol — 25% DV per serving 298kcal 4.8Protein 19.1Fat 27.4Carbs Modern Italian Bakery Liberty Hearth, Irish Soda Bread Breads & Buns 351kcal 8.8Protein 8.8Fat 61.4Carbs Delhaize America, Inc. Milk Chocolate Dipped Creme Puffs Frozen Appetizers & Hors D'oeuvres High in saturated fat — 60% DV per serving High in added sugars — 36% DV per serving High in cholesterol — 20% DV per serving 388kcal 6.2Protein 25Fat 35Carbs Chicken Mini Egg Rolls, Chicken Chung's Foods, Inc. Chicken Mini Egg Rolls, Chicken Frozen Appetizers & Hors D'oeuvres High in sodium — 24% DV per serving 189kcal 6.6Protein 4.2Fat 30.2Carbs Jerry's Enterprises Inc. Milwaukee Rye Bread, Milwaukee Rye Breads & Buns High in sodium — 20% DV per serving 280kcal 10Protein 3Fat 50Carbs
Salt (25 products) Sugar (25 products) Water (22 products) Palm Oil (20 products) Soybean Oil (20 products) Niacin (18 products) Riboflavin (18 products) Folic Acid (18 products) Thiamine Mononitrate (17 products) Dextrose (17 products)

Last updated: September 28, 2026

Note: This site presents label data from USDA FoodData Central for general information. It is not medical advice. Check the package label; formulations change.