Fatty acids are made from carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Fatty acids are constructed from the chemical elements carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. Fatty acids can be divided into a carboxylic acid head groupâhence fatty acidâlinked to a long chain of carbon atoms. The bond between the carbon atoms stores a large amount of biochemical energy and is very stable, allowing fats to be an efficient long-term store of energy in your body.
Healthy Eating. Shortening is a solid fat that is derived either from plant or animal sources. Shortening derived from animals comes from lard, while those derived from plants undergo a process known as hydrogenation that changes the chemical composition and allows a normally liquid oil to remain a solid.
In general, the term shortening can apply to any oil-or. -based ingredient â liquid or solid-used in baking. More specifically, recipes use the term to mean solid vegetable shortening rather than those made from animal fats (including lard, which is from pork).Vegetable-based shortening is lower in. than. . Shortening should not be used in place of oils for salads, but it can be melted and used in many recipes. â¢ Shortening is less liquid than oils and butter. Just add extra water to the recipe. â¢ For increased flavor, include some butter and reduce the like amount of shortening.