Shortening Shortening is a hydrogenated vegetable oil blend, typically from soybean, palm, or cottonseed oils processed through hydrogenation and fractionation to achieve plastic consistency, used as a creaming agent, tenderizer, and aerator that shortens gluten strands for flakiness and extends shelf life. In the food industry, it provides trans-fat alternatives, superior aeration, and oxidative stability ideal for baked goods, icings, and frying applications.
