Difference between shortening and butter?

Question

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Soft-Sugar-Cookies-IV/Detail.aspx

Answer 1

Shortening is a hydrogenated oil made from plants such as corn, soybean, peanut or cottonseed while butter is made from milk. Butter tastes better and is better for you and can be interchanged with shortening although you do end up with a product that has a different flavor and texture.

Answer 2

Shortening is made from animal fat or vegetables. It doesn't melt at body temperature, but has the consistency of butter at room temperature. Crisco is a common shortening.

Butter is made from cow or sometimes goat milk. It's essentially all the fat from cream that's stuck together and sold in sticks. It does melt at body temperature and is usually creamy and slightly sweet.

These two are essentially the same, with the difference being the melting point. If you want cookies that melt in your mouth and don't leave the film on your teeth, you might want to replace the shortening with more butter. If not, just follow the recipe. Also, a handy tip for measuring shortening (or other sticky solids, like peanut butter): use a liquid measuring cup and fill it with some water. Scoop some shortening into the cup until the water rises by as much as you need shortening (like 1/3 cup.) Drain the water, and you have the right amount, without mess.

Answer 3

Butter is made from milk fats and oils. Shortening is made from vegetable oils. Margarine is similar in that it is made from vegetable oils, usually one or two types. Lard is made from animal fats, usually pig fat.
How it is processed changes its texture which can change its density or apparent flavor. Margarine is closest to butter even though its ingredients are similar to shortening. If your recipe calls for butter often margarine will work as well. Lard will substitute for shortening as well. There is a taste difference between shortening/lard and butter/margarine if that is important to your recipe.

Hope this helps

Answer 4

I have used both in recipes. The cookies will turn out a bit crisper and flatter with butter. Shortening will actually make them softer.

Answer 5

Butter is from milk. Shortening is from vegetables. Butter is better for your heart. They can be exchanged equally in most recipes.

TX Mom

Answer 6

Shortening - plant
butter - animal

Answer 7

Both are thick fats that can be used in cooking. Shortening won't burn as easily as butter will if you are frying...They say that margarine is better for you because it is much lower in saturated fats, which clog up your blood vessels when you eat them. Regards, Mike

Answer 8

It is simple really, shortning, like crisco, is a type of fat. And Butter is made from dairy poducts and isn't a type of fat, and if you are wondering what margerine is.... it is chemicals and vegitable extracts

Answer 9

shortening is made from soybean oil and butter is made from milk

Answer 10

one tastes good on toast - the other not so much.

butter tastes better but usually produces a firmer cookie.