Egg Substitutes
Eggs are used in many products, and are very common when baking. If you're going vegetarian, or simply concerned about your health, you may be concerned about how to eliminate eggs in your diet. Eliminating eggs from your diet comes with many health benefits. Studies have shown that eating eggs increases the levels of bad cholesterol in the body. High cholesterol has been known to cause many diseases and is very unhealthy for the body overall, clogging up the blood vessels. There's no need to worry! No matter your reasons for removing eggs from your diet, here are various egg substitutes available that can replace eggs in both baking and dining.
The best egg substitute to use will depend on what type of dish you're making. Eggs play different roles in each dish. For example, in baked goods like cakes or fluffy pastries, eggs serve to plump up the pastry, making it fluffy and spongy. Other dishes, like vegetarian casseroles or veggie loafs, need eggs to bind all of the ingredients together. For this type of use, a commercial egg substitute serves the purpose admirably. Take care when choosing a brand to purchase, as many egg replacements aren't truly egg-free, but are liquid egg whites. Artificial egg substitutes are the easiest method to replacing eggs, but they lack flavor. This tastelessness can be compensated for by adding spices, or mixing with soy milk rather than water.
If the thought of an artificial egg substitute turns your stomach, or you want to eat an all-natural diet, applesauce or smashed bananas work wonders. Like eggs, applesauce and yogurt provide a nice thick consistency and moisture to your dish. Unlike eggs, however, these natural substitutes will not make a bread rise or add fluffiness to a cake or bread. Adding baking soda will take care of that aspect for you.
In dishes where eggs are predominately present, especially in thick chunks, like egg casserole, egg quiches, or egg salad, tofu is a great way to provide the same consistency. There are many different types of tofu with different levels of hardness, so choose whichever one is right for the dish you're making. More information on tofu is available here on the site.
There are various other options for egg replacement, including mashed potatoes, potato starch, any kind of pulpy mashed vegetables or fruits, and ground flax seed simmered in water. While egg substitutes are readily available and easily used, it's important to remember that very airy or spongy dishes, such as angel food cake, can be incredibly hard to replicate. Try an alternative instead.
Once you begin trying out various egg substitutes, you'll quickly realize that it's easy to eliminate eggs from your diet. Try out different combinations and alternatives to find flavor profiles that you'll love.
Several eggs substutues are available that taste almost indestinguishable from eggs.