As the holiday season kicks into high gear, many home bakers are gearing up to make their favorite holiday treats—think cookies, pies, and cakes straight out of Grandma’s cookbook.
These classic recipes often call for one key ingredient: shortening. While many of our grandmothers initially used lard, we’ve moved toward vegetable-based shortening, with Crisco as the go-to brand.
But this year, Crisco may face a new contender in baking staples: avocado oil shortening from Chosen Foods.
Crisco’s Legacy in Baking
Since hitting the shelves in 1911, Crisco has become almost synonymous with vegetable shortening. Known for its versatility, Crisco remains a favorite among bakers because it mimics the texture of lard or butter without impacting the final product’s taste.
Available in regular and butter-flavored varieties, it has held its position as a baking essential for over a century.
However, with the growing emphasis on clean ingredients, Chosen Foods has stepped up with an innovative alternative poised to capture the interest of health-conscious bakers this season.
Introducing Chosen Foods’ Avocado Oil Shortening
Chosen Foods, widely recognized for its popular avocado oil, has recently launched a groundbreaking alternative to traditional shortening: Avocado Oil Shortening.
Made from fractionated avocado oil, this new product is accessible from the typical additives and hydrogenated oils commonly found in standard shortenings.
Chosen Foods’ avocado oil shortening might be the perfect solution for a more natural, single-ingredient option.
What Sets Avocado Oil Shortening Apart?
Chosen Foods’ Avocado Oil Shortening offers a range of benefits. Notably, it has a neutral flavor, which allows it to work seamlessly in recipes calling for shortening, butter, or even lard without altering the dish’s taste.
Unlike many other shortenings, which often contain additives like soybean oil, fully hydrogenated palm oil, TBHQ, and citric acid, Chosen Foods’ shortening is made from only one ingredient: fractionated avocado oil.
Fractionated avocado oil is created by separating certain parts of the avocado solids during the oil-making process, leaving behind a purified product with a higher smoke point.
This higher smoke point means it’s ideal for baking and can withstand frying, making it a versatile addition to your kitchen.
Why Try Avocado Oil Shortening This Holiday Season?
If you’re intrigued by the idea of swapping out traditional shortening for a cleaner alternative, here’s why you might want to give Chosen Foods’ Avocado Oil Shortening a try:
1. Healthier Ingredient Profile
With no additives, preservatives, or hydrogenated oils, avocado oil shortening offers a more straightforward, cleaner ingredient list, which may appeal to those aiming for a more wholesome diet.
2. Neutral Flavor
Like traditional shortening, avocado oil shortening doesn’t impact the flavor of your baked goods. Whether making cookies or frying doughnuts, you can count on it to deliver the right texture without an avocado aftertaste.
3. Higher Smoke Point
Avocado oil has a notably higher smoke point than vegetable oil or butter, making it ideal for recipes requiring higher temperatures, like frying or roasting.
4. Versatile and Easy to Use
It works seamlessly in recipes that call for shortening, butter, or lard, so you don’t have to worry about adjusting measurements or techniques.
5. Eco-Friendly Choice
Chosen Foods’ shortening supports a more sustainable approach to production by using avocado solids left over from the oil-making process.
Where to Find Chosen Foods’ Avocado Oil Shortening
The new Avocado Oil Shortening from Chosen Foods is now available in a 16-ounce tub, sold at Target stores nationwide and on the Chosen Foods website.
With its simple ingredient list and versatile uses, it’s likely a popular option for holiday bakers and health-conscious cooks.
And while Grandma’s recipes are timeless, a modern, clean-ingredient update could make them even better.
FAQs
Avocado oil shortening is made from fractionated avocado oil without additives, hydrogenated oils, or preservatives. Traditional shortenings often include ingredients like soybean and palm oil, stabilizers, and emulsifiers.
You can substitute avocado oil shortening directly in recipes that call for traditional shortening or butter. Its neutral flavor ensures that it won’t change the taste of your dish.
Yes, avocado oil shortening has a higher smoke point, making it ideal for frying. Unlike many vegetable shortenings, it can handle higher temperatures without breaking down.
It’s currently available at Target stores across the U.S. and on the Chosen Foods website, where you can order it directly for home delivery.
No, avocado oil shortening has a neutral flavor profile, so it won’t affect the taste of your recipes, allowing the original flavors of your baked goods to shine through.
Conclusion:
Consider experimenting with Chosen Foods’ Avocado Oil Shortening this holiday season as a clean and versatile alternative to traditional shortening.
Its simple, single-ingredient formulation and wide range of uses may be the new staple in your baking lineup. And who knows? This clean-ingredient swap might add a fresh twist to Grandma’s cherished recipes.
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