About Crisco

Crisco FAQs

How long can I keep Crisco® products on my shelf? What is a manufacturing code, and how do I read it? What exactly is a "Best If Used By" date, and how do I read it? Do I need to refrigerate Crisco? Can you give me any helpful measuring hints for Crisco shortening? Can I use Crisco Butter Flavor shortening in place of regular Crisco shortening? I'm out of shortening! Can I use oil instead? What about shortening in place of oil? Can I substitute Crisco shortening for butter or margarine? I'm curious about Canola oil. Will you tell me more about it? Are all Crisco shortening products trans fat free? How can I make a better pie crust? How can I find Crisco coupons? Where can I find recipes using Crisco? Where can I buy Crisco products? Do Crisco products contain any of the Top Eight Allergic Foods allergens? Do Crisco products contain gluten?

How long can I keep Crisco® products on my shelf?

The shelf life of a shortening or oil product depends a great deal on how it has been stored and handled. For the best results, Crisco products should be stored in a cool, dry place away from strong odors, direct sunlight and sources of heat (stoves, dishwashers and refrigerators).

Crisco Products Shelf Life & Manufacture Code Locations
	Shortening Can	Baking Sticks Shortening	Crisco Oil	Crisco Spray
Unopened	2 years from manufacture date	2 years from manufacture date	2 years from manufacture date	2 years
Opened	about 1 year	about 6 months	about 1 year	2 years
Code Location	bottom of can	side of plastic tub	side of bottle back label	bottom of can

Freshness Tip: To help keep track of how long a container has been opened, you might write the date on the package when you first break the seal. If you notice any change in color or appearance, or if your Crisco product develops an off odor or taste, it's probably past its shelf life and shouldn't be used.

What is a manufacturing code, and how do I read it?

The manufacturing code is the date the product was made. It might look something like this: 4 122 420 0321.
The first number represents the year it was made. For instance, the 4 in our example code means it was made in 2004. A number 3 would mean it was made in 2003, 2 in 2002, and so on.
The next three numbers represent the day of the year the product was made. In our example, the 122 (or 122nd day) is May 2 (May 1 during Leap Year).
The third set of numbers or letters is the plant code, which has nothing to do with the date.
The last four digits represent the time, displayed in military time.

What exactly is a "Best If Used By" date, and how do I read it?

A "Best If Used By" date code may appear on your product. This future date, projected from the original date of manufacture, represents the last day the product is guaranteed to be fresh. It might look something like this: APR 04 2007. The date code represents the month, date and year.

Do I need to refrigerate Crisco shortening?

We suggest storing Crisco shortening on the pantry shelf. If you live in a warm climate and prefer to refrigerate shortening and oil, keep in mind that refrigeration causes shortening to be more firm and oils to be thicker and look somewhat cloudy. Allowing the products to return to room temperature will bring their appearance back to normal and give you the best performance.

The one exception to this rule is for pie crust. Cold ingredients are key to a flaky crust. Using ice water and cold (even frozen) Crisco Shortening is important. Chill the dough for about an hour before rolling to help prevent sticking. When the pie crust goes in the oven, the cold shortening will stay solid long enough for the crust to set, creating small "pockets" between the layers of dough as it melts.

Can you give me any helpful measuring hints for Crisco shortening?

Crisco shortening has a honeycomb structure with air and liquid oils suspended in the solids. This makes it lighter than butter or margarine — one pound of Crisco shortening actually equals 2-1/3 cups. But, you can still measure Crisco shortening in the same way you measure butter or margarine, by tablespoon and cup portions, to get the right amount for your recipe.

Scoop shortening from can to the measuring cup with a rubber scraper or spatula. Press it into the cup and level it off with the same spatula.
For your convenience, Crisco shortening is now available in easy to measure sticks in both original and butter flavor. Each shortening stick is equal to 1 cup.
For other measuring help, use the guide below:

3 teaspoons	= 1 tablespoon
4 tablespoons	= 1/4 cup
5-1/3 tablespoons	= 1/3 cup
8 tablespoons	= 1/2 cup
12 tablespoons	= 3/4 cup
16 tablespoons	= 1 cup
2 cups	= 1 pint
4 cups	= 1 quart
16 cups	= 1 gallon

Can I use Crisco butter flavor shortening in place of regular Crisco shortening?

By all means! Crisco butter flavor shortening performs the same as regular Crisco shortening, but adds a rich, buttery flavor and color to foods. But, we do not recommend using Crisco butter flavor shortening to season skillets or to make white frosting as it is not designed for those uses.

I'm out of shortening! Can I use oil instead?

We do not recommend substituting oil for shortening because the products react differently in different recipes and because oils are liquid at room temperature while shortening is solid at room temperature.

It's always best to use shortening if your baking recipe calls for it. Shortening makes baked goods fluffy and flaky, while oils provide a dense and heavy texture. For preparing pans, we recommend using shortening, butter, cooking spray or baking spray with flour instead of oil since oil is a liquid and may be difficult to apply evenly to the pan and could pool or be absorbed by the recipe.

What about shortening in place of oil?

Frying — Sure! Go ahead and use melted shortening for fried foods.

Salad dressing—Because shortening will resolidify when it cools, we don't recommend it as a salad topper.

Baking—It's always best to use oil if your baking recipe calls for it as an ingredient.

Can I substitute Crisco shortening for butter or margarine?

In general, you can substitute Crisco shortening for butter or margarine in baking.

There are a few exceptions in which you can't substitute, including no-bake cookie recipes or candies and fudge, where butter or margarine is heated/melted and sugar is added/dissolved.

Crisco shortening doesn't contain water. So, if you want to get the same results as you get with butter or margarine, adjust the water according to the chart below.

Butter/Margarine	Substitute
1/4 cup butter or margarine	1/4 cup Crisco shortening + 1-1/2 teaspoons water
1/3 cup butter or margarine	1/3 cup Crisco shortening + 2 teaspoons water
1/2 cup butter or margarine	1/2 cup Crisco shortening + 3 teaspoons water
2/3 cup butter or margarine	2/3 cup Crisco shortening + 4 teaspoons water
3/4 cup butter or margarine	3/4 cup Crisco shortening + 1 tablespoon + 1-1/2 teaspoons water
1 cup butter or margarine	1 cup Crisco shortening + 2 tablespoons water

I'm curious about Canola oil. Will you tell me more about it?

Canola oil is produced from the seeds of the canola plant. This plant grows best in cool, moist climates. In fact, it received its name because the canola plant is Canada's major oilseed crop. Of all vegetable oils, Canola oil is the one naturally lowest in saturated fat. Because it's 100 percent vegetable oil, Crisco Pure Canola oil contains no cholesterol. It also has no additives or preservatives and can be used in any recipe that calls for vegetable or salad oil.

Are all Crisco shortening products now trans fat free?

All Crisco shortening products now have 0g trans fat per serving.

How can I make a better pie crust?

There are a few minor changes that can make a big difference in your finished pie crust. First, make sure all of the ingredients, tools and preparation surfaces are cold. For example, use ice cold water instead of room temperature water, use cold Crisco shortening and place the rolling pin in the refrigerator 30 minutes prior to rolling out the pie crust. Second, try to handle the dough as little as possible to keep all of the ingredients as chilled as possible. For a better pie crust recipe, click here.

How can I find Crisco coupons?

From time to time, we do offer coupons in RedPlum® coupon inserts delivered in the newspaper or by mail and through online coupon sites such as Coupons.com. We also may partner with local retailers and grocery stores to provide coupons either in-store, through their advertising circulars, or on their websites

You also may be interested in registering for e-Newsletters from Crisco filled with recipes, product information, promotions, special offers and more. Click here to sign up today! To be among the first to know about the latest Crisco news and offers, you also can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/Crisco.

Where can I find recipes using Crisco?

Click here to browse classic and new recipes. You’re likely to find some favorites from our collection of more than 2,000 recipes.

Where can I buy Crisco products?

If you have difficulty locating your favorite Crisco products, please visit our Product Locator.

If you would like to see the product available at a particular grocer in your area, we encourage you to speak with your local store managers and request this item be given shelf space. Additionally, some of our products are available through the Smucker's® Online Store at onlinestore.smucker.com.

Do Crisco products contain any of the Top Eight Allergic Foods allergens?

We recognize individuals with food allergies face particular challenges when making everyday food choices, and we are committed to providing consumers with as much information as possible about the ingredients in our products. Additionally, we follow all relevant U.S. Food and Drug Administration labeling requirements, which includes clearly disclosing the presence of any of the Top Eight Allergenic Foods: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans.

For the most up-to-date and correct information, we suggest checking the ingredient information located on your package.

Do Crisco products contain gluten?

Crisco shortenings, oils and no-stick cooking sprays* do not contain ingredients derived from gluten; however, these products do not meet our established criteria for a "gluten-free" claim for one or more reasons.

*Excludes Crisco No-Stick Spray with Pillsbury® Flour, an item that has been discontinued and renamed Pillsbury® Baking Spray with Flour.

It is important to note the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet defined the term "gluten-free" or established rules for making a "gluten-free" claim on a food product; however, "gluten-free" claims are permitted and each manufacturer is responsible for determining whether or not its products are "gluten-free".

We have established the following stringent criteria based on the FDA’s proposed rules for making "gluten-free" claims:

Ingredient Screening - The ingredient cannot contain gluten sources, such as wheat, rye, barley or their derivatives or hybrids. We also review for the presence of oats.
Testing - While there currently is not a commercially available test to detect the presence of oats, the product must be tested to verify it contains less than 20 parts per million of gluten.
Manufacturing Procedures - In addition, facilities that manufacture verified "gluten-free" products must have a comprehensive gluten management program. All equipment used in the manufacture of products containing any gluten or oat source must be cleaned thoroughly prior to producing a product that is “gluten-free.” These procedures must be validated and inspected after each clean-up.

Ensuring the most accurate information is provided to our customers and consumers is a key priority for The J.M. Smucker Company. The information provided relates to our products as of September 30, 2011. Changes to product formulations and ingredients do occur periodically, which could result in modifications to product information. Since it is not feasible to connect all points of distribution, The J.M. Smucker Company disclaims any responsibility to update this information. At any time, the most current product information is available by contacting our Company.

Red Plum is a trademark of Valassis Communications, Inc.