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Varieties
The hen's egg is the most popular egg consumed, though duck, quail
and geese eggs are also eaten. The color of the shell indicates the
breed of the hen, whereas the intensity of the color of the yolk,
indicates what kind of diet the hen was on. A high wheat diet results
in an orange yolk!
Freshness
A fresh egg is heavy due to its high water content, so it will rest
lengthwise at the bottom of a pan filled with water. If the egg
floats, then the egg is stale due to its high air content, and it
should be thrown away.
The chalazae is the thick supporting strands used to hold the yolk in
the center of the shell. If it is more prominent, then the egg is
fresher. If you can barely see it, then the egg is older.
Storage
Store the eggs in their carton in the refrigerator on a shelf. In the
door, is too warm for them. Always keep them away from strong
smelling foods, such as garlic and onions. It can maintain its
freshness for 4 5 weeks!
If you have any leftover yolks, cover them with cold water and place
them in an airtight container. They will keep fresh for 3 days. If
you need more time to use your egg yolks, mix the yolks up with a
fork, and add 1/8 tsp. salt OR 1 1/2 tsp. sugar to every 1/4 cup egg
yolks. Then freeze in ice cube trays, placing 1-1 &frac; tbsp. in each
cube (equivalent to 1 egg yolk). They can maintain freshness up to 6
months!
Store leftover egg whites in an airtight container in the
refrigerator for 4 days. If that is not enough time, add 2 tbsp. of
egg white per cube on an ice cube tray (equivalent to 1 egg white).
They can maintain their freshness up to 6 months!
If your eggs are frozen, then defrost before using.
Nutritional Qualities
1 egg supplies an adult 15% of his daily protein.
Egg White: protein and riboflavin
Egg Yolk: fat, protein, iron, Vitamins A, B, D, E & K, calcium,
choline, iodine and phosporus
Despite their high cholesterol (213 mg per egg), new evidence
supports that foods high in saturated fats increase blood cholesterol
levels, not foods low in fat with high cholesterol. Please consult
your physician to find out how many eggs are safe for you to consume!
Trivia
Blood spot on the yolk is naturally occurring. It does not indicate
whether an egg is fertilized or not.
Sizes
Jumbo: 30 oz. per dozen
XL: 27 oz. per dozen
Large: 24 oz. per dozen
Medium: 21 oz. per dozen
Small: 18 oz. per dozen
Peewee: 15 oz. per dozen
Most recipes use a large egg!
Equivalencies
Serving size = 2 eggs
Whole: 1 dozen = 2 1/3 cups, 5 eggs = 1 cup, 1 egg = 3 tbsp.
Whites: 1 dozen = 1 1/2 cups, 7-8 whites = 1 cup, 1 white = 2 tbsp.
Yolks: 1 dozen = 7/8 cup, 1 yolk = 1 tbsp.
Substituting
1 Whole: 2 yolks + 1 tbsp. water OR 3 1/2 tbsp. egg substitute OR 2
1/2 tbsp of egg powder + 2 1/2 tbsp. water
1 White: 1 tbsp. powder + 2 tbsp. water
2 Yolks: 1 whole egg
Preparation
Separating Egg Yolks: Over a bowl, crack the shell on a hard flat
surface. Break the egg in half while keeping one shell horizontally.
Pass the yolk back and forth between the two halves until all the
white is in the bowl. ~ If this makes you nervous, you can do a
similar method by placing the whole egg in a cup and then pour into
one hand. Allow the white to pass between your fingers.
Egg Wash: Mix an egg yolk along with a tablespoon of water and 1/8
tsp. salt. Whisk until they are incorporated. Then brush over bread
or pastry items before baking.
Soft Boiled Eggs: Place eggs in a pan of boiling water. Once the
water resumes a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer for 3 4
minutes. The white should be set and the yolk runny.
Hard Boiled Eggs: Simmer eggs for 6 10 minutes. Then place in iced
water to stop the cooking process.
Tips
When whisking egg whites, make sure the eggs are at room temperature
and that all of your equipment is free of grease!
If your hard-boiled eggs have a green ring around the yolk, then the
egg has been overcooked. Try turning these eggs into deviled eggs to
hide the mistake!
If your hard-boiled eggs are too hard to peel, then the eggs you used
are too fresh. Try using these eggs in an egg salad, or anywhere else
you would need chopped eggs!
Salting eggs while they are frying toughens the white. Instead, salt
the eggs immediately after cooking, but before they get cold, so the
eggs have time to absorb the flavors of the salt.
Always fry eggs on a low heat. They will absorb less fat this way and
do not toughen up and get that hard material around the edge.
Safety
Salmonella is a foodbourne infection of the intestinal tract. It can
occur from eating raw or undercooked eggs. The bacteria are found in
healthy hens' ovaries producing healthy looking eggs. The bacteria
can be passed on to the yolk of the egg, and in lesser instances,
even in the whites. The temperature at which salmonella can be
destroyed is at 160 degrees F (71 degrees C). Pasteurized eggs are
held for 3.5 minutes in 140 degree F (60 degrees C) water. This will
kill any possible salmonella bacteria.
Spices
Basil, chervil, chili powder, chives, cumin, curry, dill, fennel,
marjoram, paprika, parsley, savory, tarragon, thyme.
Additional Information (Web Sites)
American Egg Board
Egg Nutrition Center
Recipes
Deviled Eggs
Recipe By: Jennifer A. Wickes
- 6 eggs
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1-teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1-teaspoon parsley
- 1-teaspoon chives
- salt and pepper -- to taste
Add the eggs into salted water, and bring to a boil.
Boil for 10 minutes. Then drain the water and add ice and cold water
to the eggs.
When the ice melts, the eggs are cool enough to handle (about 20
minutes).
Slice eggs in half. Remove the yolks and place in a bowl.
Mash the yolks. Add the rest of the ingredients, and mix well.
Using a cookie press or a pastry bag (or you can just spoon in the
yolk mixture), refill the eggs with the yolk mixture.
Sprinkle each egg with paprika.
Garnish the eggs by putting them on a plate of lettuce.
Yields: 12 servings
Potato and Cheese Omelet
Recipe By: Healthy Choice
- 1-teaspoon olive oil
- 1 small potato -- thinly sliced
- 1 small onion -- thinly sliced
- 8 ounces Healthy Choice Cholesterol Free Egg -- (1 container)
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 1/2 cups Healthy Choice Fat Free Cheddar Shreds -- (6-oz.) shredded
1. In 10" non-stick skillet, cook potato and onion in olive oil over
medium heat until potato is tender. Remove from pan and set aside.
2. In same skillet add egg product and pepper. As egg begins to set,
run spatula under edge of omelet, lifting cooked portion and allowing
uncooked portion to spread to bottom of pan tilting pan as necessary.
3. When eggs are almost set, sprinkle with 1 cup of cheese. Continue
cooking until cheese just begins to melt.
4. Spoon potato-onion mixture into half of omelet. Lift unfilled side
of omelet over filling. Sprinkle with 1/2-cup cheese. To remove from
pan, tilt pan slightly, turn omelet onto plate.
Yields: 3 servings
Sweetheart Meringues with Crème Brule and Raspberry Sauce
Recipe By: California Egg Commission
- 8 large California Fresh Egg Whites
- 2 cups granulated sugar
CREAM BRULEE
- 3 cups heavy cream
- 8 large California Egg Yolks
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons Raspberry Sauce
RASPBERRY SAUCE
- 1 10-ounce package red raspberries frozen in syrup
- 2 tablespoons orange flavored liqueur
Preheat oven to 325ºF
Whip egg whites until frothy, then gradually add sugar a little at a
time, until sugar is dissolved and whites are very stuff.
Using pastry bag and large plain tip, pipe meringue into 8 heart
shapes about 3 inches across on parchment-lined baking sheet. Build
the hearts up to about 1/2" in height. Bake about 20-25 minutes or
until lightly browned. Let sit in oven with door open until cool.
(This helps the meringues dry out thoroughly.)
Place hearts on serving plates.
Crème Brule Instructions: Mix egg yolks with granulated sugar until
thoroughly blended.
Whip in cream.
Place in top of double boiler and heat, stirring constantly until the
mixture coats the spoon in a thick layer.
Remove from heat and stir in liqueur. Let cool slightly.
Pour into meringue hearts and refrigerate for several hours. Place a
piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the brulee to
prevent a skin from forming or dot the surface, while still warm,
with a stick of butter so that a thin film of fat is on the surface,
protecting it from the air.
Raspberry Sauce Instructions: Thaw raspberries.
Dessert Assembly: Place two or three dollops of raspberry sauce
around the brulee-filled hearts. Garnish with a couple of fresh
raspberries and mint leaves.
Use caution and care when separating eggs. Make sure that no egg yolk
gets into the white. The fat in the egg yolk will prevent the whites
from whipping.
If suitable for the recipe, add a source of acid, such as lemon juice
or cream of tartar before you begin the whipping process. This
stabilizes the foam and prevents it from separating quickly after
whipping. Start whipping slowly to begin the aeration process, then
increase the speed to a rapid whip to develop the foam.
When adding the sugar, test the meringue by rubbing a little between
the fingers.
NOTES : Although there are three components, the preparation is
simple. The crème brûlée is cooked on the stove top, requiring no
water bath or oven time. The meringues can be made up to a day ahead,
if the weather is not too humid. The simple raspberry sauce will keep
for several days in the refrigerator.
Cooking Hints
Whipping Egg Whites
Use very clean bowls and beaters. Any foreign material, but
particularly grease or soap file can inhibit foaming. Metal or glass
bowls are the best. Plastic is not recommended because grease may
cling to plastic surfaces, even after cleaning.
Yields: 8 servings
This article was originally published at Suite 101.
About The Author: Jennifer Wickes is the editor at "Cookbook Reviews", "Foreign Films" and "Cooking With The Seasons", which has been voted to be one of the Top 100 Culinary Sites on the Internet! For more information about Jennifer Wickes or her columns, please go to:
http://www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/CulinaryJen
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