Yes, Sweetex Shortening Has Advantages over Butter [Here’s What They Are]

Sweetex Shortening, specifically our Sweetex Golden Flex Cake and Icing Shortening, features a non-PHO formulation and is superior to many other shortenings for spreadability, color, texture, and flavor.

But Sweetex Shortening is not simply better than so many other shortenings. It also has its place in any baker’s arsenal where its many advantages over butter will earn it a top spot.

That’s right, there are situations in which shortening - despite being an artificial alternative to butter - is actually superior. They say “butter is better,” and it has its place, but butter contains around 80% fat and 20% moisture. Shortening, by contrast, contains no moisture whatsoever.

This is only one reason that makes Sweetex Shortening great. Here are some others.

1. Since Sweetex Shortening contains no moisture, it can make lighter, fluffier cookies, cakes, and other baked goods.

Most cake and cookie recipes call for butter, but the thing about butter is that, in addition to being delicious, it also contains moisture. When it heats up, that moisture turns into steam, which can and does get trapped inside of whatever you are baking. This can make baked goods flatter, and can potentially inhibit them from rising.

By contrast, when you use shortening instead of butter, your batter or dough will likely capture air bubbles more effectively, allowing your cookies or cake to rise more readily and hold its shape better. Baked goods made with shortening tend to be taller, lighter, and fluffier than those made with butter.

2. Sweetex Shortening is more stable in the face of high temperatures and can be easier to work.

Once you get the butter out on the counter, you have to wait a little while for it to heat up before you can cream it. Don’t go too far, though because butter can melt and separate, making it difficult to mix properly.

Shortening, on the other hand, can be worked effectively at room temperature and has a higher melting point than butter. This makes it easier to mix into doughs and batters more evenly. It also doesn’t separate as it melts, for what it’s worth.

3. Shortening, in general, has a longer shelf life and is very affordable.

Sweetex itself advertises the long shelf lives of its shortening products. Sweetex Shortening has an expected shelf life of around a year, and unlike butter, shortening does not need to be refrigerated. Best of all, you can put your shortening in the freezer and it will keep for even longer - although you can do the same thing with butter.

Then again, there’s also the fact that shortening usually offers up significant cost savings over butter as well, in addition to keeping more easily.

4. Sweetex Shortening is pure, bright white - perfect for white icings and frostings

You may love butter, and use it religiously instead of shortening, but there’s one thing you can’t argue. Butter has an off-white, nearly yellow color, which can make it frustrating to create brilliant white icings and frostings.

By contrast, Sweetex Shortening is bright, pure white, which means you can make beautiful, brilliant white icing and frosting with it. Brilliant white icings can be made with Sweetex golden Flex. The fact that it doesn’t have any color of its own also makes it easier to add colors to it.

5. Shortening has no dairy-based ingredients, making it suitable for those with lactose intolerance

Finally, one more nice note about Sweetex Shortening (and shortening in general) is that they are made from vegetable oils, and, unlike butter, do not contain dairy. This makes them more suitable for any people with dietary concerns, or with lactose intolerance.

Why Sweetex Shortening?

In addition to these general advantages that shortening has over butter (in some instances) there are some specific reasons you might want to try out Sweetex Shortening specifically.

1. Sweetex Shortening leaves no waxy mouth-feel.

You may love that delectably unctuous texture of frosting or icing made with shortening, but hate the waxy mouth feel it leaves behind. If that’s the case, you’ll be pleased to know that Sweetex Shortenings have superior texture and flavor and do not produce that annoying, waxy, coating. Sweetex Golden Flex has superior spreadability and excellent mouthfeel.

2. Sweetex is made from soybeans that are grown in the U.S. and it has zero grams of trans fat per serving.

Sweetex Shortening is also noteworthy because it is a non-PHO shortening, made entirely with soybeans that are grown right here in America. It also has zero grams of trans-fat per serving - a huge bonus, considering the well-studied adverse health effects of trans-fat consumption. Golden Flex is a non-trans-fat shortening!

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