What Is the Best Way to Measure the Color of Shortening?

As baking is a science, it's vital that every ingredient is counted, measured, and observed before being introduced to the mixture. At HunterLab, scientific measurement is what we do, ensuring the color of every product you distribute is accurate and meets consumer quality expectations.

Types of Shortening

When you aim to measure the color of shortening, the most important thing to remember is that there are four types of shortening:

1. Solid: For cakes and pastries. This shortening usually looks similar to butter and comes in sticks or cans.
2. Liquid: For cakes and frying. This shortening comes in cans and containers and is the melted form of solid shortening, with additives to help it maintain its liquid form at room temperature.
3. All-purpose: For various baking methods. This shortening is free of emulsifiers, which can help maintain moisture in products over time.
4. Cake/icing: For cakes and their toppings. This shortening typically uses emulsifiers to enhance the final product.

Since color measurement is about consistency and each type of shortening may offer slightly different coloring, ensure your measurements are only compared against samples of the same form.

What Color Should Your Shortening Be?

Generally speaking, shortening is white or yellow. It derives its fat content from foods such as corn, nuts, and beans, which can alter the color. Fortunately, since shortening primarily adds structure to a dish instead of flavor, taste and color are minimal, meaning it won't majorly affect these aspects of your dishes. However, too much color variation can challenge this rule.

This means that shortening color is important both when shortening is on the shelf for consumers to purchase and when buyers (or you) incorporate it into pastries and other confections. To avoid this challenge, invest in a quality color measurement device so the color of your shortening is never in question.

HunterLab Shortening Measurement Tools

After more than 70 years in business, HunterLab's suite of spectrophotometers includes devices for nearly every food and ingredient on the market. To measure the color of liquid shortening, we introduced Vista, a full-spectrum benchtop device. We also offer ColorFlex EZ for semi-solid shortening. These machines read color the way human eyes do. Place a small sample on its scanner, and in seconds, you'll have the full breakdown of your shortening's color measurements on a wide, clear screen — which you can easily share with printers and computers.

Vista and ColorFlex EZ are ready to capture your data and use it to continue your legacy of consistent, quality ingredients. Request a quote and discuss your options with our team when you contact us today.