Is Crisco Shortening Gluten Free? Let’s Find Out

Crisco Shortening has been in the market since 1911, and it is a product of the popular American brand B&G foods. The product got popular as one of the first shortenings entirely made of vegetable oil. But is Crisco Shortening safe for celiacs? Is Crisco Shortening gluten free? 

Crisco Shortening is gluten free in the sense that it has no gluten ingredient. But it may not be the safest option for celiacs because it is not made in a gluten free factory. The manufacturers make the product in a common factory, so chances of cross-contamination are always there. 

So what should gluten sensitive people do? Should they consume Crisco Shortening? We’ll give you a detailed insight on the topic and what could be the best option for celiacs to do. Hence, keep reading. 

Is Crisco Shortening Gluten Free? 

Crisco official website declares there are no gluten substances in their shortenings; however, they don’t declare them as certified gluten free products. What is certified gluten free food? Is it not enough for a product not to have any gluten ingredients? 

Unfortunately no. Any food item to be completely safe for celiacs has to meet a few other conditions. In case you are on a gluten free diet or can’t digest food with gluten, you must be aware of these conditions. So let’s check out what they are. 

First and the essential condition is, it should contain no barley or wheat ingredients. Secondly, the company has to manufacture the product in a gluten free facility. The same facility can’t prepare anything with gluten to avoid chances of cross-contamination. 

The product should contain less than 20ppm gluten only when it passes the gluten test, which is mandatory. 

Although Crisco shortening has no gluten ingredient, the product hasn’t passed through the other conditions necessary to label it gluten free. Hence, we can’t declare it a safe product for celiacs. 

Read More:- Is Gnocchi Gluten Free?

Crisco Shortening: A Brief Outlook

Crisco Shortening is a product of Procter and Gamble, and the brand was launched in 1911. Like other shortenings, Crisco also makes things more tender and crumbly. But what sets Crisco Shortening apart is that it does not use animal fat to solidify the shortening. 

Crisco is made of cottonseed oil, and the brand uses a unique hydrogenation process for solidification, keeping the product free from any animal substance. As a product made completely from plant based products, people now frequently use it as vegetable oil. 

Is Crisco Shortening Vegan? 

Crisco Shortening is made from palm oil, soybean oil, fully hydrogenated palm oil, TBHQ and citric acid, and diglycerides. These ingredients are all plant-based; hence we can call Crisco shortening vegan. 

If you are vegan or follow a plant based diet, Crisco shortening is the best alternative since all other shortenings use animal fat as a solidifier. 

Different Crisco Shortening Flavors And Their Ingredient List

There are a few flavors of Crisco Shortening you can try. All of them are plant based without any animal fat content. Let’s check out these flavors along with their ingredients and nutritional facts. 

All Vegetable Shortening

This is the original Crisco Shortening in their original famous blue packaging. Here is the ingredient list- 

• Palm oil 
• Soybean oil 
• Fully hydrogenated palm oil 
• Mono and Diglycerides
• TBHQ and Citric Acid 

Nutritional Facts per 12g

All vegetable Shortening Baking Sticks

It’s quite the same as the original shortening, but the sticks make it a more convenient option to use. 

Ingredients 

• Palm oil 
• Soybean oil 
• Fully hydrogenated palm oil 
• Mono and Diglycerides
• TBHQ and Citric Acid 

Nutritional Facts per 12g

Butter Flavor All-Vegetable Shortening

This one, as the name suggests, has a rich buttery flavor that is best to add to your cookies and other bakeries. 

Ingredients 

• Palm oil 
• Soybean oil 
• Fully hydrogenated palm oil 
• Mono and Diglycerides
• TBHQ and Citric Acid 
• Beta- Carotene 
• Natural and Artificial Flavor 

Nutritional Facts per 12g

Butter Flavor All-Vegetable Shortening Baking Sticks

Here is the ingredient list of this variety- 

Ingredients 

• Palm oil 
• Soybean oil 
• Fully hydrogenated palm oil 
• Mono and Diglycerides
• TBHQ and Citric Acid 
• Beta- Carotene 
• Natural and Artificial Flavor 

Nutritional Facts per 12g

Recipes to Try with Crisco Shortenings 

Here are some delicious recipes to try with the Crisco Shortenings. I have been making these recipes for a long time and Crisco has never failed to provide the texture required. Let’s have a look at the recipes. 

White Chocolate Strawberry Fudge Drops 

Ingredients 

• ⅔ cups Crisco butter flavor all-vegetable shortening 
• 1 egg 
• 1 cup sugar 
• ½ cup buttermilk 
• ½ cup strawberry spread 
• 6 tablespoon cocoa powder (unsweetened) 
• 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour 
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda 
• ½ teaspoon salt 
• 1 ½ white chocolate chips 

Method 

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a baking tray using a non-stick cooking spray.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat egg, sugar, and the Crisco Shortening. Add the buttermilk and preserves and beat again. 
3. Combine cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, and all-purpose flour in a bowl. Add this into the cream mixture you made previously. 
4. Add the white chocolate chips and mix well again. 
5. On the baking sheet, add a rounded mixture and keep a gap in between. 
6. Bake for about 12 minutes, and your fudge drops should be ready. Wait for a couple of minutes to let the fudges cool down and enjoy!

Two Cheese Pecan Wafers  

Ingredients 

• ½ cup Crisco butter flavor all-vegetable shortenings 
• ½ cup pecans 
• ½ cup grated parmesan cheese 
• ½ cup finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese 
• ½ teaspoon salt 
• ½ cup all-purpose flour 
• ½ teaspoon onion powder 
• ½ teaspoon cayenne powder 

Method 

1. Roast the pecans in a non-stick skillet on medium heat. When they get slightly brown, turn off the heat and chop them. 
2. Mix parmesan, cheddar, and shortening in a bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed. 
3. Add the salt, onion powder, flour, and cayenne into the cheese mixture and beat for another two minutes until it forms a dough. 
4. Take a wax paper and roll out the dough. It should be around 12 inches long and 1 inch in diameter. 
5. Presse and roll it in the pecans and keep it in the freezer for 2 hours, wrapped in foil paper. 
6. Heat the oven to 350°F and line the tray with parchment paper. 
7. Cut the logs into ¼ inch slices and place them on the paper, keeping at least ½ inch gap. 
8. Bake them for 10-12 minutes, and your pecan wafers are ready!

Note: You can store the unbaked though for about two months in the freezer. 

Final Words 

Crisco shortening does not have any gluten ingredients, but it’s not a branded gluten free product. If you have a slight gluten sensitivity, you may have it, but it may not be safe for celiacs since the chances of cross-contamination are always there. 

Have you tried Crisco Shortening? Did you experience any side effects? Let us know in the comments. 

Most frequently Asked Questions About Crisco Shortening

What are the main ingredients in Crisco shortenings?  

The main ingredients in Crisco Shortening are- palm oil, soybean oil, fully hydrogenated palm oil, TBHQ and citric acid, and diglycerides. 

Are Crisco Shortenings safe for celiacs? 

Crisco Shortening may not be safe for celiacs as it has not undergone the gluten free test. 

Is Crisco shortening dairy-free? 

Yes, Crisco Shortening is dairy-free as it’s only made of plant based ingredients.