Of the ingredients used in bread preparation, shortening is
one of the major raw material (40–50%). “Shortening” is a
word used to describe fats, oils and various processedversions of fats and oils that are used as ingredients in
dough and batters. Shortening may contain substances other
than fats and oils e.g. flavour colours and emulsifiers (Matz
1996). It modifies the physical and chemical properties of
doughs and batters so that these intermediate products can
be processed more effectively. It lubricates the internal
structure of intermediates to allow greater expansion during
proofing and baking and make the texture of finished
product more tender. It modifies the visual and tactile
texture of crust in the desirable ways. In some cases, natural
fats contribute highly desirable flavour notes to bread (Matz
1996). Shortening can be plastic, semisolid, in pourable
fluid form, in encapsulated powder form or pellet or flake
form. It is produced by formulating a blend, solidifying and
plasticizing the blend and packaging and tempering. The
large numbers of minute air bubbles, incorporated in the
shortening improves the leavening of bread.