Shortening compositions containing polyol polyesters

Claim 1

A shortening composition comprising: (a) from about 10% to about 80% by weight intermediate melting polyol fatty acid polyesters having at least 4 fatty acid ester groups, wherein the polyols are selected from the group consisting of sugars and sugar alcohols containing 4 to 8 hydroxyl groups and mixtures thereof and wherein each fatty acid group has from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms; and wherein the polyol polyesters have: (i) a non-Newtonian plastic rheology at 100° F. (37.8° C.) and has a viscosity of not less than about 15 poise at 100° F. (37.8° C.) after 10 minutes of steady shear at 10 sec. -1 , (ii) a liquid/solid stability of not less than 90 percent at 100° F. (37.8° C.), and (iii) an iodine value between 25 and 55; (b) from about 20% to about 88% by weight soft oil comprising from about 0% to about 50% liquid polyol fatty acid polyesters having an iodine value between 60 and 130 and from about 20% to about 88% liquid triglycerides having an iodine value between 70 and 130; (c) from about 2% to about 20% by weight hardstock fat comprising from about 0% to about 10% hardstock polyol fatty acid esters and from about 2% to about 20% hardstock triglycerides; (d) from about 0% to about 50% by weight intermediate melting triglycerides; and (e) from about 0% to about 15% by weight other shortening ingredients; (f) wherein the shortening has a Solid Fat Content (SFC) such that the overall slope of the SFC curve between 50° F. (10° C.) and 105° F. (41° C.) is between 0.00 and -0.40; and (g) wherein the shortening has a penetration between about 120 mm/10 and about 400 mm/10 at 70° F. (21° C.).