What are the uses of shortening in baking?

Answer 1

In bread, shortening coats the starch molecules, which slows down staling after the bread is cooled. Shortening can also be used to lubricate the baking pans.

In cakes, shortening helps prevent too much gluten formation, which gives a softer, lighter cake. Shortening also helps incorporate air bubbles into the cake to help with rising.

Answer 2

Shortening is made from vegetable oils. It is a fat that is pure white, odorless and tasteless. It is best used in cakes, and makes them very light and tender, with a moist crumb, but does not have the flavor of butter. It can be used in making pie crusts, although they will not be as flaky as those made with butter. Still, butter and shortening can be used interchangably in many recipes.

Answer 3

shortening is a name and a description of its function, making the dough "short". it adds fat which prevents it from rising as high. think short bread.

Answer 4

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