Shortening has been a widespread kitchen fat for generations, known for baking flaky pastries and pie crusts. While trusty shortening has continued working its magic, hemp oil (not to be confused with CBD oil), the health-conscious newcomer, has infused and elevated dishes with its earthy, grassy flavor.
Whether you’re new to one of these or curious about how you can incorporate them into your cooking and baking, read on to find out more!
Comparing hemp oil vs shortening
Hemp oil | Shortening | |
Solid or liquid? | Liquid | Solid |
Smoke point (Fahrenheit) | 330 degrees | 360 degrees |
Primary fat | Polyunsaturated | Monounsaturated |
Taste | Grassy | Buttery |
Good for cooking… | Raw, low heat | Raw, low heat, medium heat |
Common allergens | Hemp seed, cannabis | Depends on ingredients |
Gluten-free? | Yes | Yes |
Keto? | Yes | Yes |
Paleo? | Yes | Palm shortening only |
Vegan? | Yes | No |
Differences between hemp oil and shortening
Hemp oil and shortening are most different in their textures and flavors. Shortening is a solid, white fat made up of various hydrogenated oils or animal fats and has a neutral, buttery flavor. On the other hand, hemp oil is a green liquid oil that comes from the seeds of the hemp plant (the non-psychoactive part) and has an intense grassy and nutty flavor.
Hemp oil takes the crown when it comes to accommodating diets, as it is gluten-free, keto-friendly, paleo-friendly, and vegan. Shortening is only gluten-free and keto-friendly and can differ in its allergens depending on what it’s made of.
Baking and cooking with hemp oil vs shortening
Hemp oil is much like flax oil, where it’s not the type of oil you’ll want to heat. Given its low smoke point (not as low as flax oil, though!), you’ll want to reserve it for raw and low-heat uses, like making salad dressings, drizzling over roasted vegetables, and even making pesto! You can also use it to finish off soups and smoothies.
One thing you’ll have to be wary of is its intense flavor, which will require you to “water” it down with another neutral oil if your recipe calls for a lot of oil. For baking, you can get creative by using it in recipes like cakes, quick breads, and muffins.
While hemp oil isn’t popular in baking, let’s turn our attention to something that is – shortening. Shortening is loved in American kitchens for its ability to make fluffy biscuits, flaky pastries, delicious scones, and more. It’s the secret to achieving that melt-in-your-mouth quality in baked goods, thanks to its texture. Because it’s so stable too, it’s especially good for making icing and frosting. Interestingly, it also shines in frying and creating that crispy brown layer – think fried chicken, vegetables, french fries, and fried dough.
Can hemp oil and shortening be substituted for each other?
Hemp oil and shortening might as well be from different planets, meaning they’ll likely be poor substitutes for each other. They’re both used for entirely different purposes in cooking and baking and won’t be able to mimic any of their qualities.
If you’re looking for a substitute for hemp oil, wheat germ oil is another oil that is typically used for raw applications with a nutty undertone. For something with a higher smoke point, regular olive oil will do the trick. For shortening, Crisco or lard will mimic its texture and properties the best.
Nutrition: Hemp oil vs shortening
Hemp oil is extremely rich in polyunsaturated fats. It’s abundant in omega-3s, omega-6s, and omega-9s, which all help to reduce bad cholesterol in the body. Not only that, it’s even considered a complete protein as it contains all 20 amino acids and contains vitamin E and many dietary minerals like potassium, magnesium, and calcium. So, if you’re searching for a healthy oil that can boost your immunity, reduce inflammation, and improve cardiovascular function, hemp oil is a great choice.
On the other hand, shortening is not known to be an overly healthy pick. While many love it for its properties in cooking and baking, it’s not known to contain any vitamins or minerals and has moderate amounts of saturated fats and cholesterol. On the positive side, it does contain healthy monounsaturated fats.
As a rule of thumb, always use cooking oils and fats in moderation.
Per tablespoon (15mL) | Hemp oil | Shortening |
Calories | 125 | 115 |
Polyunsaturated | 11 g | 2.5 g |
Monounsaturated | 2 g | 5.2 g |
Saturated | 1 g | 4.6 g |
Trans | 0 g | 0 g |
Total fat | 14 g | 12.8 g |
Cholesterol | 0 mg | 7.2 mg |
The primary fat source is bolded.
How to store hemp oil and shortening
Hemp oil is sensitive to the environment, especially light. It typically comes in a dark bottle that needs to be stored in a cool, dark place when unopened and in the fridge once opened. Unopened hemp seed oil can stay fresh for around 12 – 14 months regardless of where it’s stored, but once opened, it should be used up within 3 – 4 months.
Shortening should also be stored in the same way, but in the fridge right away if you live in a hot or humid environment. Once opened, shortening sticks have a shelf life of 6 months, and unopened sticks can be stored for up to 2 years. Opened cans of shortening can last for about a year, and unopened ones can last for about two years.
Hemp oil vs shortening: Which is better?
Hemp oil is the right pick when you want a healthy, liquid oil to elevate your dishes with nutrients and flavor, while shortening is the right choice if you need a reliable fat for baking and frying applications. While shortening falls short in nutrition and flavor, its textural properties are able to provide the delicious results needed for many dishes. At the same time, hemp oil falls short in its texture but is able to offer a burst of flavor. With so many differences between them, it’s clear that they both have unique strengths that can work wonders for your kitchen.
FAQ
Linseed oil and hemp oil aren’t the same – they both come from different plants. Linseed oil is also known as flaxseed oil and comes from the seeds of the flax plant. On the other hand, hemp oil is extracted from the seeds of the hemp plant. They both have differing flavors and nutritional profiles and have different smoke points.
Like any oil, hemp oil has a few downsides despite its nutritional content. Hemp oil has a relatively low smoke point, which makes it unsuitable for high-heat cooking, and also has an intense grassy and nutty flavor, which won’t suit every dish. Because of its flavor, it can’t be used in large quantities unless it’s “watered down” with another neutral oil.
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