We're talking way more than just pie dough.
By Sara Tane and Sara Tane Updated January 23, 2018
getty crisco image
![5 More Unexpected Uses for Crisco (1) 5 More Unexpected Uses for Crisco (1)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)
Credit: Roberto Machado Noa/Getty Images
Whether you do or do not care about sports, there was an amazingly clever stunt that took place last night in Philadelphia that we need to discuss. In order to prevent excited fans from scaling the street poles throughout the city, the police assigned officers to slather Crisco on said poles. This way, any sort of grip that an enthused Eagles fan might have had to climb up and celebrate their team’s victory is now completely gone, due to the greasiness that shortening provides. Does it take the fun out of a city-wide celebration? Yes. Is it completely genius/hilarious? Totally.
With this out-of-the-box application for a pantry ingredient that’s most commonly used for making flakey pie crust, it got me thinking—what else can you do with shortening?
Season Wooden Cutting Boards, Wooden Bowls, and Cast-Irons
Whether you’re the proud new owner of a wooden kitchen piece or your current cutting board is looking a little sad, give it a nice slather of shortening and let it sit overnight. Wipe it clean the next day, and boom—you’ve got yourself a like-brand-new board. In the case of a cast-iron, the fat from the shortening serves as an excellent substance to season a new or worn-down skillet.
Watch Now: How to Make Chicken Under a Brick
Alleviate Dry Hands and Skin
Forget what they tell you about coconut oil—it’s not as hydrating to your skin as you’re led to believe. Shortening, however, is a different story. Apply it like lotion, and your skin will be soft and supple in no time. It’s even a great remedy for diaper rash on a baby, as it’s great for soothing and moisturizing sensitive skin.
Remove Gum from Places It Shouldn’t Be
Talk about a sticky situation. Next time you accidentally let a piece of gum fall into your hair or get it stuck on an article of clothing, rub some Crisco into the situation, and the gum will slide right off. Bet you wish you knew that 10 years ago when you cut off some of your locks to get that stubborn, sticky gum out of your hair, huh?
Coat Your Snow Shovel
Next time a blizzard rolls through, make sure you’ve got a stash of Crisco. Simply spread some all over the head of your snow shovel so that when you shovel, the icy snow slides right off, rather than piling up on your shovel. Your upper body will definitely thank you.
Remove Sticky Adhesive
You know those obnoxious price tags that are stuck onto new plates, mugs, books, and ceramics? Rather than fussing with the corners of the sticker, slowly trying to peel it off without leaving behind any gummy residue, spread a thin layer of Crisco atop the sticker. Wait about 10 minutes, and gently scrub the area clean with a sponge. Wasn’t that painless?
By Sara Tane and Sara Tane
FAQs
The product was first created as an alternative to lard, which had a bad reputation in the early 20th century, but Crisco eventually developed a bad reputation of its own, due in part to the large amount of trans fats.
What are the uses of Crisco in survival? ›
It can be rubbed on exposed skin for protection against the cold. When melted into an oil, the shortening is helpful as fuel. When soaked into a piece of cloth, melted shortening will act like a candle. The empty can is useful in melting snow for drinking water.
Can you put Crisco on your face? ›
They use Crisco in a pinch.
Run out of facial moisturizer? No worries, you can use vegetable shortening from the pantry. "It provides a relatively allergen-free and highly emollient moisturizer for parched skin," says Dr. Melanie Palm, board-certified dermatologist with the American Academy of Dermatology.
What does the word Crisco mean? ›
After rejecting the names "Krispo" and "Cryst" (the latter for its obvious religious connotations), Procter & Gamble called the product Crisco, a modification of the phrase "crystallized cottonseed oil".
Why is Crisco unhealthy? ›
As a hydrogenated oil, Crisco is loaded with trans fats. Trans fats have a chemical structure that our bodies have trouble recognizing, and they create free radicals in the body.
Why is Crisco so expensive? ›
Net sales of Crisco shortening and cooking oil jumped nearly 23% in the second quarter, mostly driven by price increases that owner B&G Foods passed to cover “extreme” cost increases for ingredients like soybean and canola oils, the company said in its most recent earnings call.
What is Crisco best for? ›
This shortening can be used instead of butter or margarine in cooking and baking, or it can be combined with either one (or both). Among other things, it's known for making good pies with a flaky crust, cakes and cookies soft, and frosting fluffy.
What was Crisco originally used for? ›
Invented as a possible substitute for lard (pork fat) to be used in soap making, Crisco was introduced by Procter and Gamble in 1911.
What is the UK version of Crisco? ›
Vegetable shortening is a white, solid fat made from vegetable oils. In the UK it is sold under the brand names Trex, Flora White or Cookeen. In the US Crisco is the best known and there is also an organic solid vegetable shortening made by Earth Balance.
Can you put Crisco in your hair? ›
But the positives of using Crisco for hair are a definite plus. Vegetable shortening, including the Crisco brand, contains fatty acids and often times Vitamin E which is great for hair. Those who have tried this treatment discovered their hair stays tamed and smooth for days, if not weeks.
20 Wacky Uses for Crisco® All-Vegetable Shortening
- Prevent diaper rash. ...
- Prevent snow from sticking to a shovel. ...
- Keep squirrels away from a bird feeder. ...
- Clean grease and dirt from hands. ...
- Make white clown makeup. ...
- Remove lipstick from clothes. ...
- Moisturize rough hands. ...
- Season new cast-iron cookware.
Is coconut oil better than Crisco? ›
Coconut oil is a healthier alternative to shortening. It contains medium-chain triglycerides, while shortening is typically made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil and may contain trans fats. However, shortening can be useful for specific baking applications like making pie crust.
Is Crisco halal? ›
CRISCO can be stored for up to 1 year after opening and should be stored at room temperature. This product is suitable for vegetarian diets and is Halal and Kosher certified.
Does Crisco go bad? ›
Information. The Food Marketing Institute's FoodKeeper recommends storing unopened solid shortening, such as Crisco shortening, at room temperature for 8 months. After opening, store at room temperature for 3 months for best quality.
Is Crisco still lard? ›
Made from vegetable oils — often soybean, cottonseed, or palm oils — vegetable shortening is a vegetarian alternative to lard. Introduced as Crisco to consumers in 1911, it became a popular "healthy" choice, though research now shows there isn't too much difference between the two when it comes to nutrition.
Why isn't shortening used anymore? ›
Shortening is a type of fat used in cooking and baking. It's typically made from hydrogenated vegetable oil and has a long history of use in American kitchens that dates back to the early 1900s. However, shortening has fallen out of favor in the past few decades because of its high trans fat content.
Does anyone still use Crisco? ›
What doomed Crisco? While it's true that Crisco had much less of the saturated fats found in lard, coconut oil, and palm oil, those "healthy" trans-fats have since been linked to clogged arteries and heart disease, making the product a whole lot less appealing to consumers.
Did people use Crisco as lube? ›
One of the main reasons, besides its edibility, that allowed Crisco to be used as a lubricant was its viscous, tactile quality, almost slimy, especially in its shortened form. In fact, various websites and books on gay sex suggest that it is one of the few lubricants that doesn't wear off, its slippery but also sticky.
Why did people stop using lard? ›
By the late 20th century lard began to be considered less healthy than vegetable oils (such as olive and sunflower oil) because of its high content of saturated fatty acids and cholesterol.