Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Egg Substitutions

For all you food storage people who are concerned about egg storage.....I found some substitutes that can be used in a pinch, or at anytime in case someone in your family has an allergy to eggs.



This was found at: http://allergies.about.com/cs/eggs/a/aa062899.htm (I have since not be able to locate it there, so here it is):



"Often times, you can skip the eggs in a recipe if it only calls for one or two. All you need to do is add a couple extra tablespoons of liquid to balance the moisture content of the product. There are several ways in which to substitute eggs in a recipe. For each egg, substitute one of the following:



As Binders

1/2 large mashed banana

1/4 cup apple sauce or pureed prunes

1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water

1 1/2 tablespoons water, 1 1/2 tablespoons oil, and 1 teaspoon baking powder

Combine one packet of unflavored gelatin with one cup boiling water - 3 tablespoons of this mixture equals one egg.

1 tablespoon apricot puree

1/4 cup of soft tofu

1/4 cup soy milk



As Leavening

2 tablespoons carbonated water and 2 teaspoons baking flour

1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 tablespoon water, and 1 tablespoon vinegar (add vinegar separately at the end for rising)

Dissolve 1 teaspoon yeast in 1/4 cup warm water

1 heaping tablespoon of soy flour and one tablespoon water

1 tablespoon bean flour and 1 tablespoon oil

1 tablespoon arrowroot powder mixed with 3 tablespoons water

1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 3 tablespoons water

2 tablespoons gluten flour or unbleached white flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons corn oil, 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, and 2 tablespoons water



For Whipping

1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum with about 1/4 cup of water. Let stand. It thickens, and can be whipped like an egg white. "



I will share an experience of mine, and hopefully you won't make the same mistake. I was once concerned about having eggs to cook with in case of an emergency. Unless you have a coop of chickens out back, this isn't going to happen. (Eventually we got a coop of chickens out back, and occasionally share them with the local skunks, weasels, and badgers.) So I bought a #10 can of powdered eggs. I thought that perhaps I should practice using them, so I would know how when an emergency happened. So I opened the can and used a small amount. Truthfully, I cannot remember the outcome of the cooking. Primarily in my memory is the rest of the story. I carefully snapped on a plastic lid (like comes on coffee cans) and put the can on the bottom shelf in the back of my fridge, so it wouldn't spoil. I then proceeded to forget completely about this can. When I finally got around to remembering it, I opened it up, and, boy, did it smell bad!! So in the garbage it went. The lesson I learned was that it is better to use common things that you are familiar with for egg substitutes, and save the expense.

Until next time....