Shortening is any solid fat at room temperature that is used to produce crumbly pastry and other culinary items. Shortening was invented at least in the 18th century, long before contemporary, shelf-stable vegetable shortenings. Lard was the principal substance used to shorten dough in previous times. It is called shortenings because it causes the final food to crumble or act as if it had short fibres. Cross-linking between gluten molecules is prevented by solid fat.

This cross-linking would provide flexibility to the dough, allowing it to be stretched into larger sections. Shortenings is used to provide the proper texture in pastries such as cake, which should not be elastic. A crumbly or mealy dough is a short dough. A "long" dough, or one that expands, is the inverse of a short dough. Both forms of dough may be made using vegetable shortening (or butter or other solid fats); the difference is in the procedure. To make a short dough, which is usually used for tarts, chop the shortening into the flour using a pastry blender, pair of table knives, fingertips, or other device until the mixture is fine and cornmeal-like.

 For a lengthy dough, merely cut in the shortenings until pea-sized crumbs appear, or even larger lumps may be incorporated. After cutting in the fat, add the liquid (if needed) and form the dough for baking. Short dough and long flake dough are neither creamed nor stirred batters. One that stretches is dough.

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