Substitute for Shortening

[Babyoil]

I'm an American living in Australia and need a good substitute for shortening as I cannot seem to find it here. I want to make shortcake (for strawberry shortcake).

[Dib's]

Hey there Babyoil-We have quite a few Aussies here. I will post a message in the message forum and you should have an answer asap. Di

[Bergy]

Can you buy Crisco? Use that

[Evie*]

Hi there..Im not in Aussie, but nearby in New Zealand.
I use Kremelta vegetable shortening, I think you can buy that in Aussie.

Eve =)

[dale!]

I'm in Australia, I've seen shortening for sale in Woolworths in the butter, margarine section.
It's not commonly used here at all. In fact I've never used it once. You might need to try a few different stores as it wouldn't be in much demand I don't think.

[HeatherFeather]

Shortening in Ameria is usually Crisco, which is a vegatable shortening. It comes in a solid white form in either a huge can or in butter shaped sticks. It was created to replace Lard (animal fat shortening) - if you can't find either, you could use butter or margarine. Shortening produces slightly different results - it makes for extra crispy cookies and super flaky pie crusts, but butter tastes richer.

[Mirj]

I live in a country that doesn't have shortening, I've always used margarine or butter and the results have been just fine.

[JustJanS]

I'm also from Australia, and have used "Copha" in chocolate crackles, and a devil's food chocolate cake I used to make years ago. I have never seen the brand evie* mentioned, but think we can get Crisco at our local Safeway.
My recipes for strawberry shortcake all use butter, so I guess you could try it.
What part of Aus. are you living in, I'm in Victoria.
Cheers from Jan.

[Taylor in Belgium]

We Americans are spoiled by the wonders that Crisco can create..it doesn't exist here either. I have found it at the American Store. For most substitutes, I use butter or margarine. In shortcake, which is basically a glorified biscuit recipe, you can also use oil..at our local deli, we don't have regular good meat departments in the stores, I can buy "smout" or lard in small containers. My grandmother, when she was alive, actually peeled the chicken skins off and put them in a pan in a very low oven, 300 or so, and melted the chicken fat off and used it for baking. It has no taste in its purest form and makes a very moist, delicious cookie!!!

[KJ]

I agree with Jan S. Copha is the same as that white thick shortening you use. I'm an Aussie married to a yank, so I have a bitof experience in this area of substitution.

[MEAN CHEF]

Quote:

I'm an American living in Australia and need a good substitute for shortening as I cannot seem to find it here. I want to make shortcake (for strawberry shortcake).

Make the shortcakes with butter. They will taste much better.

[Charishma_Ramchandani]

Quote:

I live in a country that doesn't have shortening, I've always used margarine or butter and the results have been just fine.

Me too!