Abstract: There is provided a continuous process for fluidizing shortening compositions including a major amount of a normally liquid base oil and a minor amount of a normally solid lipid, the latter exhibiting polymorphic behavior. The composition is flowed through a length of tube and submitted to temperature oscillations alternating between a high temperature which is above the melting point of certain of the crystalline forms of the triglyceride but below that of the desired form (beta), and a low temperature which is below but close to the melting point of the lowest melting crystalline form (alpha).

Abstract: A feed of lipid and solvent is concentrated in a chamber by establishing and maintaining within a chamber a net major flow and a separate and distinct net minor flow. A net transfer of solid phase lipid is effected from the major internal flow to the minor internal flow thereby concentrating the minor flow. However, the minor flow is preferably essentially all in liquid phase when it is withdrawn from the chamber.