What can't egg beaters do?
April 5, 2012 8:13 AM Subscribe
What can eggs do that egg substitutes (like Egg Beaters) can't? we buy Egg Beaters constantly, but now we have one dozen eggs, no clue what to do with them, and several constraints on how best to use them.
the eggs have been in the fridge for about three days.
since we always have Egg Beaters on hand, omelettes would be sort of a waste. i'd really prefer to use them for the sort of things that you can't/shouldn't use Egg Beaters for.
scale-wise, recipes that allow for substantial leftovers are ideal, but anything that serves between 2 and 5 eaters may be workable.
we like cookies and cakes and that sort of thing. i am a moderately experienced (and slightly ambitious) baker but not much of a cook otherwise. Less work-intensive is better. On the sophistication spectrum... well, we certainly aren't "foodies," but we do avoid fast food joints.
we lack certain kitchen implements (such as an egg separator), but we do have a Kitchenaid...that has never once been used. i couldn't say which attachments we have.
None of my enemies are near enough to justify using the eggs as ammunition.
please refrain from suggesting anything involving beef, chicken, or pork. otherwise, be creative!
the eggs have been in the fridge for about three days.
since we always have Egg Beaters on hand, omelettes would be sort of a waste. i'd really prefer to use them for the sort of things that you can't/shouldn't use Egg Beaters for.
scale-wise, recipes that allow for substantial leftovers are ideal, but anything that serves between 2 and 5 eaters may be workable.
we like cookies and cakes and that sort of thing. i am a moderately experienced (and slightly ambitious) baker but not much of a cook otherwise. Less work-intensive is better. On the sophistication spectrum... well, we certainly aren't "foodies," but we do avoid fast food joints.
we lack certain kitchen implements (such as an egg separator), but we do have a Kitchenaid...that has never once been used. i couldn't say which attachments we have.
None of my enemies are near enough to justify using the eggs as ammunition.
please refrain from suggesting anything involving beef, chicken, or pork. otherwise, be creative!
Deviled eggs. This is a basic recipe, but there are a million other versions.
posted by kimdog at 8:16 AM on April 5, 2012 [7 favorites]
posted by kimdog at 8:16 AM on April 5, 2012 [7 favorites]
Souffle. You need to whip the egg whites separately from the egg yolks, which are mixed with a bechamel sauce. Here's Alton Brown's recipe.
This sponge cake is really incredible and also relies on egg whites whipped separately.
posted by punchtothehead at 8:17 AM on April 5, 2012 [3 favorites]
This sponge cake is really incredible and also relies on egg whites whipped separately.
posted by punchtothehead at 8:17 AM on April 5, 2012 [3 favorites]
Seconding deviled eggs. And fried eggs are good on the middle of a pizza or in a sandwich, if that's your kind of thing.
posted by box at 8:19 AM on April 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by box at 8:19 AM on April 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
Meringue cookies, using the kitchen aid. Also, you don't need an egg separator, as eggs come prepackaged with their own separator - just use the shell to catch the yolk, and let the whites slip by.
posted by fermezporte at 8:19 AM on April 5, 2012 [7 favorites]
posted by fermezporte at 8:19 AM on April 5, 2012 [7 favorites]
I use egg whites to make coconut macaroons. Use shredded unsweetened coconut. Let me know if you want my recipe.
posted by bilabial at 8:19 AM on April 5, 2012
posted by bilabial at 8:19 AM on April 5, 2012
Pad thai with prawns.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 8:23 AM on April 5, 2012
posted by EndsOfInvention at 8:23 AM on April 5, 2012
It's a good time of year for hard-boiling and dyeing the eggs, always a fun activity for kids and sometimes for adults. Dyed or not, here is one of my favorite recipes for using hard-boiled eggs:
Creole Rice Salad
posted by mikepop at 8:29 AM on April 5, 2012
Creole Rice Salad
posted by mikepop at 8:29 AM on April 5, 2012
Eggs in purgatory. A soft runny yolk is great over lots of things.
posted by hooray at 8:33 AM on April 5, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by hooray at 8:33 AM on April 5, 2012 [2 favorites]
Whites for angel food cake. Yolks for creme anglais and some lemon curd.
posted by pjaust at 8:34 AM on April 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by pjaust at 8:34 AM on April 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
Frittata. I can't imagine making a frittata with egg beaters.
The link leads to a spinach frittata recipe but you can throw just about any kind of vegetable, cheese, or herb in there. Frittata is a great way of getting rid of leftovers.
posted by Currer Belfry at 8:41 AM on April 5, 2012
The link leads to a spinach frittata recipe but you can throw just about any kind of vegetable, cheese, or herb in there. Frittata is a great way of getting rid of leftovers.
posted by Currer Belfry at 8:41 AM on April 5, 2012
omelettes would be sort of a waste
No they wouldn't. Please just try one. Maybe a blind comparison with the Egg Beaters? Taste tests are always fun!
posted by supercres at 8:45 AM on April 5, 2012 [10 favorites]
No they wouldn't. Please just try one. Maybe a blind comparison with the Egg Beaters? Taste tests are always fun!
posted by supercres at 8:45 AM on April 5, 2012 [10 favorites]
It IS Easter this weekend.
posted by humboldt32 at 8:47 AM on April 5, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by humboldt32 at 8:47 AM on April 5, 2012 [2 favorites]
I was just coming back to say, omelettes would only be a waste if you are absolutely set on continuing to bring EggBeaters into your home.
An omelette with real fresh eggs is a thing of joy. And I say this as someone with a strong texture aversion to scrambled eggs.
posted by bilabial at 8:53 AM on April 5, 2012
An omelette with real fresh eggs is a thing of joy. And I say this as someone with a strong texture aversion to scrambled eggs.
posted by bilabial at 8:53 AM on April 5, 2012
potato/chicken/egg/etc. salad
meringue?
angel food cake is pretty easy with the kitchenaid, and needs lots of eggs
breakfast burritos
posted by ArgentCorvid at 8:54 AM on April 5, 2012
meringue?
angel food cake is pretty easy with the kitchenaid, and needs lots of eggs
breakfast burritos
posted by ArgentCorvid at 8:54 AM on April 5, 2012
You don't have an egg separator, but it's not actually difficult to do it without the special tool. Are you squeamish about touching raw egg? If so, check out some instructions on how to pour the yolk from one half of the shell to the other. Personally, I find it much easier to just crack the eggs into a bowl, then reach in and grab the yolks out with my (washed) fingers, but I realize some people may find the feel of egg white kind of yucky. But it definitely doesn't matter if you own a special separating gadget or not.
My favorite things involving separated eggs:
souffle (cheese or garlic)
ginger cake
fluffy omelettes
lemon or chocolate meringue pie
meringue cookies with the whites, and mayonnaise, lemon curd, or egg tarts with the yolks.
posted by aimedwander at 8:55 AM on April 5, 2012 [2 favorites]
My favorite things involving separated eggs:
souffle (cheese or garlic)
ginger cake
fluffy omelettes
lemon or chocolate meringue pie
meringue cookies with the whites, and mayonnaise, lemon curd, or egg tarts with the yolks.
posted by aimedwander at 8:55 AM on April 5, 2012 [2 favorites]
Egg Beaters absolutely can't produce hard boiled eggs, soft-boiled eggs, poached eggs, or fried eggs, so those would get my vote.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 9:18 AM on April 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by rabbitrabbit at 9:18 AM on April 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
Or yeah, totally deviled eggs, yum.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 9:18 AM on April 5, 2012
posted by rabbitrabbit at 9:18 AM on April 5, 2012
If you're really feeling ambitious, what about a Pavlova with lemon curd? People have mentioned both meringue and lemon curd, but this recipe combines them! Delicious.
posted by CheeseLouise at 9:55 AM on April 5, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by CheeseLouise at 9:55 AM on April 5, 2012 [3 favorites]
Alton Brown's excellent pancake recipe requires adding the eggs in separated form, which you can't do with egg beaters.
I'm with aimedwander on the use-your-hand egg separation method. Just make sure you do them one at a time; you cannot beat egg whites into peaks if there is even the slightest bit of yolk. There's nothing more depressing than having to throw away 4 eggs because you goofed while pulling out the last yolk.
posted by phearlez at 10:07 AM on April 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
I'm with aimedwander on the use-your-hand egg separation method. Just make sure you do them one at a time; you cannot beat egg whites into peaks if there is even the slightest bit of yolk. There's nothing more depressing than having to throw away 4 eggs because you goofed while pulling out the last yolk.
posted by phearlez at 10:07 AM on April 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
Tortilla espanola, perhaps served with aioli?
A lemon meringue pie? Unlike many meringue desserts, you aren't left over with unused yolks, since you use the yolks to make the lemony filling, and the whites to make the meringue topping.
Pancakes or waffles? Use your usual recipe, but separate the eggs, add the yolks to the batter first, whip up the whites into a foam, and fold them in after everything else is mixed together. You'll end up with amazingly light, fluffy pancakes or waffles.
I've been cooking for decades and never used an egg separator. I just crack the egg and pour the yolk back between the cracked halves over a bowl, letting the whites pour into the bowl. If you get a bit of shell in the bowl, use one of the eggshell halves to scoop it out -- for some reason, it's easier to pick up bits of eggshell with an eggshell than with a spoon.
posted by zombiedance at 10:20 AM on April 5, 2012
A lemon meringue pie? Unlike many meringue desserts, you aren't left over with unused yolks, since you use the yolks to make the lemony filling, and the whites to make the meringue topping.
Pancakes or waffles? Use your usual recipe, but separate the eggs, add the yolks to the batter first, whip up the whites into a foam, and fold them in after everything else is mixed together. You'll end up with amazingly light, fluffy pancakes or waffles.
I've been cooking for decades and never used an egg separator. I just crack the egg and pour the yolk back between the cracked halves over a bowl, letting the whites pour into the bowl. If you get a bit of shell in the bowl, use one of the eggshell halves to scoop it out -- for some reason, it's easier to pick up bits of eggshell with an eggshell than with a spoon.
posted by zombiedance at 10:20 AM on April 5, 2012
Nthing deviled eggs.
I made these curried deviled eggs this week and they are a wonderfully indulgent treat.
posted by creepygirl at 11:07 AM on April 5, 2012
I made these curried deviled eggs this week and they are a wonderfully indulgent treat.
posted by creepygirl at 11:07 AM on April 5, 2012
Hard boil the eggs and then color the shells for Easter.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 11:23 AM on April 5, 2012
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 11:23 AM on April 5, 2012
Eggs Benoit!
or just sunny-side-up eggs. dip your toast in them.mmmm
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 12:33 PM on April 5, 2012
or just sunny-side-up eggs. dip your toast in them.mmmm
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 12:33 PM on April 5, 2012
Pickled eggs make a great snack, and there are several varieties to make. Sliced hard boiled eggs go great in salads (potato salad!) too.
To separate eggs, I just use my hands. Separate your fingers slightly so the white runs through, gently cradling the yolk in your hand. Have tried using the shells but usually wind up with bits of shell mixed in.
posted by xedrik at 12:55 PM on April 5, 2012
To separate eggs, I just use my hands. Separate your fingers slightly so the white runs through, gently cradling the yolk in your hand. Have tried using the shells but usually wind up with bits of shell mixed in.
posted by xedrik at 12:55 PM on April 5, 2012
cheesecake is a great platform for excellent eggs.
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:30 PM on April 5, 2012
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:30 PM on April 5, 2012
As somebody who feels foolish for having waited so long before getting backyard chooks and finding out how fresh eggs taste, the idea of being satisfied with packaged processed dried product just makes me want to weep.
Make a real omelette.
posted by flabdablet at 5:13 PM on April 5, 2012
Make a real omelette.
posted by flabdablet at 5:13 PM on April 5, 2012
When was the last time you ate a soft-boiled egg? They are truly a joy. The yolk is a joy.
You can't get that with egg beaters. Just boil one for breakfast, lunch or dinner and remind yourself of the flavor.
posted by Joh at 7:34 PM on April 5, 2012
You can't get that with egg beaters. Just boil one for breakfast, lunch or dinner and remind yourself of the flavor.
posted by Joh at 7:34 PM on April 5, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by decathecting at 8:16 AM on April 5, 2012 [3 favorites]