A Crisco Story

In the culinary saga of 1911, Procter & Gamble unveiled the kitchen maestro we know as Crisco, born from the magic of “crystallized cottonseed oil.” This thick chalky-white trans fat wonder earned its permanent spot in homes across America. Crisco was a “must-have” for baking and frying. I grew up seeing my grandmother and mother use Crisco to make wonderful crispy fried chicken, sloppy Joe sandwiches, and the most amazing flaky and best tasting pie crust known to man. Of course, as an adult, my food shopping list mimicked the food items I saw in my mother’s kitchen.

Crisco had a permanent spot in my pantry until the 1970s ushered in the era of trans-fat awareness, particularly in the movement of California cuisine. Alas, the slow demise of Crisco presence in the American home – well at least mine.

Fast forward thirty-plus years later – to the wonderful end of the year 2023 holidays. I decided to make sweet potato pie using my grandmother’s (and mother’s) recipe. After shopping at my local produce store, I trotted off to the Taste of America, a store specializing in American food items, for example, Bisquick, Quaker oatmeal, and, of course, Crisco.

Much to my dismay and disappointment, there wasn’t a can of Crisco on the shelves of Taste of America during the entire festive stretch, from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve. What a Crisco shortage! A full-on “run” on Crisco in the heart of Barcelona, Spain, bewildered me as much as the toilet-paper buying frenzy during the COVID-19 pandemic!

Gee! How in the world was I to make an amazing pie crust without the thick chalky white lard known as Crisco? I opted to use butter. Even though butter is healthier and perhaps more suitable for baking, it wasn’t the same for me.

The holidays are over. I stopped by Taste of America to purchase Quaker Oatmeal, and to my surprise sat a single can of Crisco on the shelf. Without hesitation, I quickly yanked it off the shelf, completed the purchase, and excitedly brought it home.

The irony of it all is that Taste of America was out of Quaker Oatmeal.