Why does a plastic shortening like margarine weigh less per cup than melted one or cooking oil?

-Margarine is made by emulsifying oil and water, and then churning the mixture to incorporate air.

-This creates a solid, spreadable product that is lighter in weight than the liquid oils from which it is made.

-Additionally, plastic shortenings often contain other ingredients, such as sugar, salt, and flavorings, which can also add weight to the product.

-Finally, the packaging of plastic shortenings can also contribute to their weight, as the containers are typically made of plastic or cardboard.

In comparison, melted margarine or cooking oil is a liquid, and therefore does not contain any air bubbles.

-As a result, these products are denser and weigh more per cup than plastic shortenings.

Here is a table summarizing the weight of different types of shortenings per cup:

| Type of Shortening | Weight per Cup (grams) |

|---|---|

| Plastic shortening (margarine) | 198 |

| Melted margarine | 236 |

| Cooking oil | 240 |

As you can see, plastic shortening weighs significantly less per cup than both melted margarine and cooking oil. This difference in weight is due to the air that is incorporated into plastic shortening during the manufacturing process.