I have been decorating for 5 years now. I made my daughters 4th birthday cake and it turned out HORRIBLE! The icing looked like doughnut glaze and wouldn't hold its shape. I was almost in tears. Everyone said how pretty it was. (There were just being nice.) The bottom border literaly melted flat right in front of me. (I know it wasn't the heat. My house has AC) The only thing I can think what happened was that I changed shortening. I usually buy Aldi's shortening. However, I was in K-mart and bought their off brand shortening. That is the only thing I changed. The next day I made another cake. (borrowed my mom's criso) and the icing turned out beautiful! Is there something I should be looking for in shortening?? I didn't realize there could be a difference.

Thanks,
Michele

I did not realize there is a differance between shortening either! All I can figure from the problem you had is the off brand shortening you bought had too much water content.

But that puzzles me, as there is not supposed to be any water in shortening. It is supposed to be pure hydrogenated vegetable oil. Were there water in the shortening, it would have separated and sunk to the bottom when the shortening cooled in the can, as water is more dense than fat.

When you scooped it out of the can, was it softer than the Aldi brand or Crisco? When you creamed it, did it appear to cream faster than the other brands?

Theresa

Maybe there is oil in the cheap shortening??

This could cause the icing to look translucent??

and not set right.

I'm so sorry that happened to you. I personally NEVER buy anything but Crisco. I found out Years ago that cheap shortening is no good for anything, especially icing. I think some of has animal fat (lard) in it.
Regardless, I think the problem was in the shortening.

Heck, I buy no name shortening all the time. It may have been the liquid you used. If the shortening was whipped, it already will be looser. So It's best to add a little liquid at a time.

I too, think it was just too wet maybe, from adding too much liquid. I buy off-brands frequently and I haven't had a problem like that. How much liquid did you add?

I added the same amount of water as I always do. About a cup. I add it a little at a time.

[/quoteWhen you scooped it out of the can, was it softer than the Aldi brand or Crisco?]

The crisco looked the same in both cans. I even compared the ingredients and they looked the same.

I thought I read in a thread somewhere that there was a differnce.

Still puzzled,
Michele

I often found that some store brands of shortening just didn't perform the same. I have since gone back to crisco only. Just can't take the risk.