Palm Shortening is one of the most popular shortenings in American kitchens. It has so many uses from desserts to frying that it can be a real fright to run out!
If you ran out of palm shortening there is no need to fear, I will let you know the best palm shortening alternatives so you can get back to making that delicious recipe!
What are the best substitutes for palm shortening?
The best substitutes for palm shortening are butter, coconut oil, lard, and vegetable shortening.
Which one you use depends on what you are making and which one’s you have on hand. You can find the specific ways to use each alternative below but first a bit more on palm shortening.
What Is Palm Shortening?
It is made from the oil found in palm fruit and can be used for frying, baking, and icing.
It has an incredibly high smoke point which means it doesn’t get damaged easily when its heated and will live to fry another day! You can even use it in candy making and deep frying!
What Can Be Made With Palm Shortening?
It has the perfect consistency for creating pastry and it can hold up in all types of desserts, especially cookie dough.
It complements a variety of flavors and can be used to enhance many different recipes.
It also makes for a great option as a thickener in dressings, sauces, jams, jellies, and salad cream.
One of the best ways to use palm shortening is to make baked goods.
Whether you’re making tasty pumpkin spice cookies or a gorgeous yellow cake, it can be a very versatile ingredient.
Also, if you’re making a banana bread or any other banana based recipe it’s a good idea to consider using palm shortening because of its neutral flavor.
Palm Shortening Alternatives
If you are baking or frying and don’t have any palm shortening use one of the following alternatives and your recipe will turn out great!
Lard
Lard is a wonderful fat to use when you don’t have anything else. It has a strong taste, so it can only be used sparingly, but it is absolutely worth it. Use it when you are frying pork, making pie crusts, or making fudge. Really anything, lard is old school and those that came before us knew what they were doing. I keep lard on hand at all times and it is an amazing palm shortening substitute.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is one of the latest kitchen crazes and it is packed with flavor. It also makes for a great substitute for recipes that call for palm shortening because it has a strong scent and flavor that can hold up in many dishes. Try using coconut oil when you are making cookies, cake, bread, and pastries.
Butter
Butter is great for baking and all of the recipes in your cookbook will taste even better when made with the butter. It is a very simple swap to make and it will give your recipe that extra bit of flavor. It can be used in so many different recipes when you don’t have palm shortening on hand.
Vegetable Shortening
This is a versatile substitute for palm shortening and it can be used in recipes that call for shortening, margarine, butter, or lard. The best part is that vegetable shortening has a neutral taste and it will go with any flavor you are trying to work with. Try using it in baked goods or when you are frying up some tasty veggies!
Margarine
Margarine is a very different substitute for palm shortening and it doesn’t offer the same flavor, however, it is just like vegetable shortening in that it has a neutral taste. Use it when you are trying to make all natural recipes or if you are baking or frying and need an alternative to the traditional fats.
How To Use Palm Shortening Alternatives
Each of the substitutes can be used exactly the same way as palm shortening. It is important to make sure you measure correctly when creating recipes because you don’t want to over or under do it.
You can use the palm shortening substitute exactly as you would the real thing when frying, baking, or making some tasty treats!
Tips For Baking Without Palm Shortening
When baking without palm shortening, you should consider reducing the amount of other liquid ingredients used. If a recipe calls for one cup of palm shortening, you should reduce the amount of water or milk called for by ¼- ½ cup and add the fat back in at a higher temperature.
It is important to keep an eye on your baked goods when using substitute fats because they can go from perfectly baked to burnt very quickly! Pay attention and check them often so they don’t end up being ruined.
How To Bake Without Palm Shortening
The baking process without palm shortening is very similar to the one you do with it. You want your oven at the temperature specified by your recipe.
When using a substitute fat, the heat of the oil going into your pan can make a huge difference in the final product! You want to use a light, high heat to avoid any burning or sticking issues that may cause less than desirable results.
Bottom Line
If you are scared to try something new don’t be! I recommend trying one of the substitutes at a time and if that recipe doesn’t turn out how you want just go back to what works for you. Some people have different cooking styles that require a certain texture or consistency, so it is important to try and find what works for you. Sometimes those little changes are just what you need to create something extra special.