Is There A Difference In High-Ratio Shortening?
Decorating By dandelion56602 Updated 18 Jan 2009 , 7:31pm by kjt
I'm only aware of 3 different brands: CK, Alpine & Sweetex
I'm wondering if there is a difference in the texture & taste of the 3. I'm trying to decide if I want to try it---if it's worth the cost. And if I do bite the bullet, which should I go w/?
The only one I've used is the sweetex, I can't say anything about the others. I do like it better than regular shortening though exspecially in the heat.
HTH
Kat
Where do you get high ratio shortening? I don't see it in my local grocery store.
Lisa
**This is my 100th post. Do I get a prize?? 
i have not tried ck but i have tried alpine and sweetex and i like sweetex by far the best and pay the extra money because i think it is worth it. many others are very happy with alpine and ck, though. I am just crazy anal about my icing, and I like what I like... lol.
I have tried CK brand and Sweetex. I do like Sweetex better because my icing comes out more creamy. I didn't want to try it at first because of the cost but in the heat and humidity of summer it's worth the extra bucks.
Totally agree 
.
You can buy it online, here is one place that is (semi) reasonable, http://www.intotheoven.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=hi%20ratio&keywords=hi+ratio. The shipping will kill you though, and no place online will sell less than the 50lb cube.
You can try custom cake shops in your area, one not far from here sells it in 1lb increments. (Cakes Amore in Plano, TX in case anyone local is interested)
Try these guys then, http://www.countrykitchensa.com/catalog/product.aspx?T=1&productId=619115
I think this link is for a smaller quantity, but if you need bigger they have it. And I love this company - order from them regularly, reasonable shipping and fast!
Good luck,
Found the larger amount, http://www.countrykitchensa.com/catalog/product.aspx?T=1&productId=619029
Hope this helps!
Found the larger amount, http://www.countrykitchensa.com/catalog/product.aspx?T=1&productId=619029
Hope this helps!
Thanks, oh me, I just ordered a PME snowflake cutter from them last week and it arrived in two days! Wish I'd been thinking, I should have looked for the shortening then 
!
I've used Sweetex, Alpine and Super Quik Blend and they're all relatively similar. I didn't notice any big difference between them. The Super Quik Blend is a brand that I can purchase at a bake shop not far from where I live. The other two brands I've had to order online.
I ordered 50# from Country Kitchen SweetArt, thinking it would be the CK brand (the 3# is CK, I just assumed, well I know what that does) - it's BakeMark...anybody ever used this???
TIA
Sharon, I hope you have an opinion about this brand and your icing recipe.
I have never used bakemark, sorry.
But i bet the 3# is bakemark also and they put the ck label on it so dont fret yet.
let us know how bakemark works. My big turn off in purchasing is taste. I can get over not having super creamy, but if the taste is off then you're screwed!
I have been using BakeMark high ratio shortening for about 3 years now, and I'm quite happy with it. There is a BakeMark warehouse within half an hour of my house and I buy alot of their products. I LOVE their butter-vanilla emusion.
I don't really like Alpine. I notice a funky taste when I use it and I can't get rid of it no matter how much sugar and flavorings i add. I actually took back the 50# cube to the bakery supply house and she recommended that I try Vreamay icing shortening and I really like it!! It's nice and soft and creamy with NO weird aftertaste. It was a little under $50 for the 50# cube.
I use sweetex a lot at my PT job and it is a great shortening too, just more pricey.
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