While butter and lard have been used in cooking for thousands of years, vegetable shortening is a much more recent invention. It was popularized by Procter & Gamble in 1911 with the creation of ...

Contrary to its fellow fats like butter and extra virgin olive oil, which both infuse recipes with noticeable flavor, vegetable shortening is neutral—which can be a pro or a con, depending on ...

To make the pastry, mix the flour and salt in a large bowl. Rub in the butter and the vegetable shortening until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Bring the pastry together using a table knife ...

Believe me, it isn't. Sift the flour into a shallow freezer-proof bowl, then add small mounds of vegetable shortening. Add the butter, shake to cover it, then place into the freezer to chill for ...

“Shortening” is an umbrella title that can be used to nod to any kind of fat that’s solid at room temperature; butter, margarine, lard, and vegetable shortening all fit the bill. Fast ...