shortening replacement

[grooveslut]

I just have one more question that I could not find in the memories. I would like to know what can be used instead of shortening. I know there is vegetable shortening but is there a healthier alternative. I have found some desert ball and bar recipes that use shortening. I think it is there maybe to stick things together but I'm not sure, here is a

Comments

[pills23]

It depends on how it's being used. In that particular recipe, it's only being used in the chocolate coating, so I would skip it entirely and replace the chocolate with melted chocolate chips or a good bar of dark chocolate.

In other baking application I use cold coconut oil (not virgin) when I want a solid fat. It makes a good flaky pie crust as well. I've never tried to replace shortening specifically, but it often works as a great butter replacement. However, in applications such as puff pastry, where the specific qualities of butter really come through in the final product, I don't think there is a good healthy and natural replacement. Here is what I use:
http://www.omeganutrition.com/products-gourmet-coconut.php

[cheerjess]

Do you cook with your coconut oil as well? I've been very interested introducing it into my kitchen and saw this done recently.

[pills23]

I have, but I don't often - it's expensive stuff! There's no reason why you couldn't though.
I generally use EVOO for everyday cooking, though there is the concern about it's smoking point. Last night I wanted to crisp up some tempeh and therefore needed high heat, so I used canola, though I could have just as easily used coconut. At my school they even use coconut oil for deep frying because it does have such a high smoke point, though that doesn't fit my budget.
The stuff I linked to is deodorized. My school doesn't like refined ingredients, but they feel their deodorization process isn't harmful and I trust their research. They use and sell that brand. I have bought other "deodorized" brands and still noticed a coconut scent, so I stick to that one.

[cheerjess]

Thanks, I've been recommended that particular brand before, and I'm definitely buying my first jar in the coming weeks.

[grooveslut]

thanks for all this info, this is all extremely new to me so I really appreciate it.

[wefoughtharder]

are the coconuttey ones REALLY coconuttey? cause i actually would love that in my cooking.

does the saturated fat in coconut oil get to you? i always felt that coconut oil was 'bad' because of that. but i love coconut so much!

[pills23]

Well, the raw/virgin coconut ones are really coconutty, but the deodorized ones (even the ones that aren't fully deodorized) aren't. They won't give a coconut flavor to anything. Of course, I'm sure it varies by brand, and I only have experience with the brand above and perhaps 1 or 2 others (though I can't remember which).

I don't even think about the saturated fat issue. Our diet is free of all animal products - we have so little saturated fat that a bit here and there won't matter, and is in fact most likely beneficial. Also, there seems to be a *lot* of health benefits to using coconut oil (google for info). It seems to me the pros outweigh any perceived cons. Also, consider the alternatives - trans fats, highly processed soy margarines etc. To me a more natural product will always be the healthier choice.

[supercarrot]

my "garden of life" extra virgin coconut oil is very coconutty. :-)