<P> Cooking spray is a spray form of an oil as a lubricant, lecithin as an emulsifier, and a propellant such as food - grade alcohol, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide or propane . Cooking spray is applied to frying pans and other cookware to prevent food from sticking . Traditionally, cooks used butter, shortening, or oils poured or rubbed on cookware . Most cooking sprays have less food energy per serving than an application of vegetable oil, because they are applied in a much thinner layer: US regulations allow many to be labelled "zero - calorie"; in the UK sprays claim to supply "less than 1 calorie per serving". Popular US brands include Pam, Crisco, and Baker's Joy . Sprays are available with plain vegetable oil, butter and olive oil flavor . </P> <P> Cooking spray has other culinary uses besides being applied to cookware . Sticky candies such as Mike and Ike that are often sold in bulk vending machines may be sprayed with cooking spray to keep them from sticking together in the machines . Coating the inside of a measuring cup with the spray allows sticky substances such as honey to pour out more easily . Vegetables may be sprayed before seasoning to make the seasonings stick better . </P>

What is the propellant in pam cooking spray