There are a few things that at all times—and vegetable shortening is one of them! Not only does she use it to make her favorite , this handy ingredient is also great for baking and , , and even performing household tasks like . But what if you don't have a tub of it on hand? Don't worry, there are shortening substitutes you may already have in your own kitchen.

But first, what exactly is vegetable shortening? Created in the early 1900s as an alternative to animal lard, shortening is commonly used to make short doughs with a high proportion of fat to flour such as pie crust.

Shortening is a hydrogenated form of , meaning it is oil that was turned from liquid to solid. While at room temperature it may resemble animal lard or even butter, but it's essentially flavorless. So, what's the obsession? Shortening has been known to lengthen the shelf life of goods and also produce fluffier, flakier bakes! There's a reason it has stuck around for so long.

If you're worried that shortening is bad for you, we've got some good news! Shortening was originally created with trans-fatty acids but, these days, many brands are made without them. That being said, if you'd rather swap shortening for something else, these helpful substitutes can lend a helping hand. In fact, many of these swaps will go completely unnoticed once baked, which means you can easily whip up your favorite without anyone knowing that you were missing an ingredient in the first place. Read on to learn more about these other —and just how to use them.