Whether it’s Meringue or custard, separating egg whites and yolks is often necessary when preparing British baked foods. The smallest chunk of egg white can ruin any recipe, so you must know how to separate your eggs properly to get the best outcomes.
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There are several methods for separating your eggs. If you’ve used various strategies without getting the results you want, it’s time to try the slotted spoon hack! With this method, you’ll never have to worry about getting your hands dirty or if there will be pieces of eggshell in your bowl.
How Does the Slotted Spoon Work?
Separating your egg with a slotted spoon is pretty easy. Simply crack the egg on a flat surface and open the egg into a slotted spoon over a bowl.
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Afterward, gently rock the spoon so the egg whites fall through the slots and over the sides. Lastly, place the yolk in a separate bowl.
Use Cold Eggs
If you’ve ever wondered why some recipes suggest using cold eggs when separating them, it’s because cold eggs are firmer and easier to break, making them easier to separate from the whites.
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Also, cold eggs tend to hold their shape better, which is very helpful if you need to whip the whites for recipes like meringues. So, next time you want to separate eggs, grab them from the fridge for an easier process!
Use Fresh Eggs
Using fresh eggs when separating them comes with its perks. Fresh eggs have firmer whites, making them easier to separate cleanly from the yolks. This is best for recipes where you need to keep the whites intact, like when making meringues.
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Plus, fresh eggs hold their shape better, allowing you to make fluffier baked foods. So, if you want to get better results when separating eggs, choose fresh ones!
Choose the Right Slotted Spoon
You can use any type of spoon to separate your eggs, depending on what you have in your kitchen. A slotted spatula and even a pasta spoon will do a good job.
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However, metal and plastic slotted spoons are more effective than wooden spoons. Plus, egg whites tend to stick to the wood’s porous surface, making it difficult for them to slide through the slots. But, if a wooden slotted spoon is the only option available, place it under some cold water for a while so the surface can be a lot more slippery.
Crack the Eggs Carefully
The tip for cracking eggs without pieces of egg shells in the bowl is to use chilled eggs. It’s best to use eggs that have been refrigerated for at least 20 minutes.
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Once you’ve picked refrigerated eggs, crack the egg on a flat surface to keep the egg shells out of the egg whites. Cracking the egg on the corner of a bowl often pushes the eggshell pieces into the egg.
Separate Eggs for Improved Texture and Customized Flavor
Separating eggs allows you to control the texture of your baked foods. For example, egg whites create light and airy textures, and egg yolks add moisture. So, separating the eggs lets you use each separately, depending on what you want to achieve.
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Egg yolks also contain fats that sometimes leave eggy tastes in recipes. If you don’t like this taste, separating eggs allows you to remove the yolks and customize the flavor to your taste.
Store Separate Eggs Appropriately
If you aren’t using the separated eggs immediately, you can store egg yolks 2 to 4 days before use. To do this, place the egg yolks in a bowl and fill the bowl with enough water so it covers the yolk. Ensure to pour out the water before using the eggs.
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You can store egg whites in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days and in the freezer for about 12 months. To do this, pour the egg whites into an ice cube tray and let them freeze. Afterward, place the cubes in the freezer bag and defrost them before using them.
Other Ways to Separate Eggs
If you don’t have a slotted spoon or don’t want to use one, there are other alternatives that also do the job. For instance, you can separate your eggs with your hands, an egg separator, and a water bottle.
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Let’s examine each method below for separating eggs. Once you know how to do these, you can choose the most convenient method for you!
Separate Eggs With Hands
This is a quick method and requires no additional tools. So, it will likely be a go-to technique if a slotted spoon, egg separator, and water bottle are not within reach.
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To begin, wash your hands and crack the eggs on a flat surface. Open the egg into your hand over a bowl so that the egg whites can pass through your fingers. Afterward, place the egg yolk in a different bowl.
Separate Eggs With an Egg Separator
Besides a slotted spoon, an egg separator is another way to avoid separating eggs without your hands getting dirty. To do this, crack the egg on a flat surface and break the egg into an egg separator over a bowl.
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Let the egg white sip through the openings in the egg separator. Finally, place the egg in a separate bowl.
Separate Eggs With a Bottle
To separate eggs with a bottle, suck the egg yolk into the bottle so that only the egg white remains. Get started by cracking the eggs on a flat surface, breaking the egg into a plate, and squeezing a clean bottle gently.
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Next, place the bottle over the yolk and release your grip slowly so that the bottle sucks in the yolk. Lastly, put the yolk in a separate bowl.
