What is crisco?

Crisco is a brand of shortening produced by The J.M. Smucker Company. It was first introduced in 1911 by Procter & Gamble as a hydrogenated vegetable oil product, but is now made with non-hydrogenated oils. Crisco is primarily made from soybean oil, fully hydrogenated palm oil, and partially hydrogenated palm and soybean oils.

Crisco is commonly used in baking as a substitute for butter or other fats, as it has a high smoke point and does not impart a strong flavor to baked goods. It is also used in frying and cooking to achieve a crispy texture.

Crisco comes in several different varieties, including original, butter-flavored, and organic. It is available in both solid and liquid forms, depending on the intended use.

Crisco has been a popular household staple for over a century and is often cited as a key ingredient in traditional American recipes such as pie crusts, biscuits, and fried chicken.