Desserts are a must in life, and palm shortening is often a key ingredient in the most delectable creations. But what if you can’t find this pantry item or discover that it doesn’t meet your dietary needs?
Fortunately, you can still bake without sacrificing taste or quality by using one of the many alternatives to palm shortening! To make your job easier, we’ve compiled a list of some of the finest palm-shortening substitutes, as well as offer tips for getting the most out of your products!
1. Coconut Oil
When it comes to healthy palm shortening substitutes for baking and cooking, coconut oil is a worthy choice. It is known for its high nutritional value since it contains a variety of essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals that are beneficial to health. That, combined with its unique flavor, it’s no wonder that this oil has grown in popularity in recent years.
Coconut oil can be a healthier replacement for palm shortening and even butter in cookies, muffins, pies, cakes, and other baked goods. You may also use it for frying to replace common cooking oils like vegetable or olive oil. It is also an excellent ingredient for making sweet sauces, jams and jellies, and no-bake sweets.
Suggested ratio: 1 cup palm shortening = 1 cup coconut oil.
2. Ghee
Ghee is made from clarified butter, which means it doesn’t have lactose, making it considerably easier to digest for those who are allergic to dairy. It is also high in essential fatty acids, which are beneficial to cardiovascular health, cognitive function, and joint health. Furthermore, ghee is abundant in vitamins A and E, and it offers the body antioxidants that aid in the elimination of toxins.
You can use ghee to replace palm shortening in many recipes. It works particularly well as a replacement for fried foods since it has a higher smoke point than regular butter and palm shortening. When using ghee in place of palm shortening, simply follow the same ratio you would use when adding other fats, such as coconut oil or butter. You can even use ghee as a substitute for olive oil in recipes such as stir-fries, marinades, or sauces.
Suggested ratio: 1 cup palm shortening = 1 cup ghee.
3. Butter
Butter is a staple ingredient in baking and cooking. It not only adds flavor, but it also has a high fat content, which helps give baked goods a moist, fluffy texture. It’s also packed with nutritional value, providing healthy fats, minerals, and vitamins A and B12. Butter is thus an ideal substitute for palm shortening for creating delicious treats.
There are many ways to use butter when baking or cooking. In cakes, muffins, and cookies, you can replace palm shortening with an equal amount of butter for a more flavorful batter with a light, moist texture. For savory dishes like stir-fries, use equal parts of butter and olive oil to fry vegetables and meat.
Suggested ratio: 1 cup palm shortening = 1 cup butter.
4. Margarine
Margarine is an excellent substitute for palm shortening as it has a lower saturated fat content than butter, which can help reduce your consumption of bad fats while still providing a fantastic flavor. Margarine may be used as a shortening substitute in many recipes, including cakes, cookies, and other baked products.
When substituting, remember that margarine is softer than shortening. So, you may need to use a little less liquid than the recipe requires. Furthermore, because margarine melts faster than shortening, you may also need to adjust the baking temperatures. Apart from baking, you can even add melted margarine to savory meals such as stir-fries or mashed potatoes.
Suggested ratio: 1 cup palm shortening = 1 cup + 1 tbsp melted margarine.
5. Vegetable Shortening
For those searching for a healthier palm shortening substitute for baking and cooking, vegetable shortening can be a good option. It has fewer saturated fats than palm shortening and no trans-fatty acids. It also has the same texture and flavor as standard palm shortening, so it won’t alter your recipes.
Vegetable shortening can be used in pie crusts, cookies, cakes, or any recipe where you would normally need to use palm shortening. The ratio to replace palm shortening with vegetable shortening is generally 1:1. It’s also great when used as a spread on toast or as a topping on oatmeal or fruit.
Suggested ratio: 1 cup palm shortening = 1 cup vegetable shortening.
6. Lard
Lard is made from pork fat and contains no trans fats, unlike some commercial vegetable shortenings. It is also high in vitamin D, which helps strengthen bones and improves calcium absorption. Lard also has an even consistency that makes it an ideal choice for baking cakes and pastries.
When using lard as a substitute for palm shortening, you can use it as a direct substitute in a one-to-one ratio. If you’re using it to fry foods, it works best when the temperature is not too high — using medium heat will help ensure that the food cooks evenly and there is no burning or sticking.
Suggested ratio: 1 cup palm shortening = 1 cup lard.
7. Canola Oil
Canola oil is a good substitute for palm shortening in baking and cooking since it retains outstanding flavor. It also has several health advantages, including being high in omega-3s and vitamin E, both of which promote general heart health. It also includes monounsaturated fats, which are good for balancing cholesterol and preventing other ailments.
You can replace palm shortening with canola oil in many different recipes, such as cakes, muffins, bread, cookies, and other baked items. It can also be used for sautéing vegetables or frying food. Given the similar textures of canola oil and palm shortening, you can easily substitute them in equal amounts without worrying about affecting the consistency of your dish.
Suggested ratio: 1 cup palm shortening = 1 cup canola oil.
