Crisco vs Butter: Which Is Better? (2024)

These popular powerhouses in the kitchen have been clashing for over a century in the kitchen—both are extremely popular cooking oils/fats for baking flaky pastries and delicious cookies but have their own special qualities that can transform your recipe. Crisco is a famed brand of all-purpose vegetable shortening that is a staple in American households, while butter is a dairy product made from churning milk or cream.

If you’re standing in your kitchen right now wondering which to grab, this article is for you!

Comparing Crisco vs butter

Differences between Crisco and butter

Crisco and butter have a few differences worth exploring. The key difference is that butter is animal-based, while Crisco is plant-based. Crisco is a vegetable shortening made from 100% vegetable oils that have been hydrogenated to make it solid at room temperature, and butter is churned cream or milk.

Both are suitable for gluten-free and keto diets, but only Crisco is a vegan option. While Crisco has an advantage over butter being lactose-free, it isn’t suitable for those with soy, palm, and tree-nut allergies. Neither is paleo-friendly.

Baking and cooking with Crisco vs butter

Crisco’s higher smoke point makes it suitable for medium-heat cooking in addition to lower-heat cooking, but butter is only really ideal for low-heat cooking. Since Crisco can handle slightly higher temperatures without burning, you can get perfect crispy results when frying.

In my baking experience, using Crisco can result in beautifully flaky pastries and pie crusts that practically melt in your mouth. Its solid form is ideal for frosting, cookies that don’t spread, and achieving a golden-brown crust. On the other hand, butter adds a rich and creamy flavor to your baked goods, perfect for creating indulgent cookies, cakes, and pastries. Since Crisco is neutral-flavored, it can be good for recipes where you don’t want the flavor of the fat to come through.

Don’t forget that butter can come in salted and unsalted varieties, and depending on the source of the butter, will have different flavor profiles. Salted butter will bring out the flavors in your bake or dish, but unsalted butter will allow you to better adjust the overall saltiness.

Can Crisco and butter be substituted for each other?

Crisco and butter can be substituted for each other in many cases. If a recipe calls for Crisco and you prefer using butter, you can usually make the switch in equal amounts. Just keep in mind that the consistency, flavor, and texture may differ slightly. Crisco is 100% fat, while butter contains both fat and water, which means you might need to adjust the ratio.

Generally, lard or shortening is considered the best substitute for Crisco, and ghee is best for butter and is closest in flavor. Looking for a healthy sub for either? Go for coconut oil!

Nutrition: Crisco vs butter

Crisco is higher in calories than butter, at 120 calories per tablespoon vs 102 calories in butter.What you’re getting from those calories is very different…

Since Crisco is made from soybean and palm oil, it’s higher in polyunsaturated fat, whereas butter, an animal fat, is mostly saturated fat. Butter is also higher in cholesterol compared to Crisco. But that doesn’t make Crisco healthier than butter.

The FDA recently banned trans fat, so Crisco is now trans-fat-free. However, shortening is still highly processed. The vegetable oils in Crisco (soybean oil and palm oil) undergo high-heat processing and the final product doesn’t have many nutrients other than just fat. Butter, on the other hand, contains vitamins D and A.

For the healthiest butter, go for organic, grass-fed butter, which contains less saturated fat and more heart-healthy omega-3 and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) fatty acids than regular butter.It also tastes a lot better!

I’ve bolded the primary fat source.

How to store Crisco and butter

Crisco should be stored at room temperature in a cool, dry place like your pantry or cupboard. It will stay fresh for around six months after opening and at least two years when unopened. As for butter, it’s best to transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It’s also key to avoid storing butter near strong-smelling foods, as it can absorb odors easily.

Crisco vs butter: Which is better?

So, all in all, am I team butter or team Crisco? I find myself going for Crisco when I’m baking flaky pastries or perfect crusts, as that’s exactly what Crisco is known for. It’s also perfect if I’m baking for family and friends that are vegan or following a keto or gluten-free diet. But overall, butter is too versatile to pass up, and its rich flavor is hard to resist in baking and cooking!

FAQ