The present disclosure features methods and compositions for modulating lipid metabolism to achieve improved production and quality of recombinant products, such as next generation biologics. Modulation of lipid metabolism as described herein includes, for example, introducing a lipid metabolism modulator described herein to a cell or a cell-free system. Also encompassed by the present disclosure are engineered cells with improved production capacity and improved product quality, methods for engineering such cells, and preparations and mixtures comprising the products from such cells.