Eight Reasons to Love Eggs - Cooking Light

Becky Luigart-Stayner

These versatile ingredients serve all sorts of purposes in all kinds of recipes.

1 of 8

1. Eggs can leaven.

Randy Mayor

Fact: Tiny bubbles in whipped egg whites expand with heat, providing lightness in recipes for soufflés, meringues, and angel food cakes.

Try it: A hint of red-pepper spice makes these

2 of 8

2. Eggs can bind.

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Fact: Eggs bind ingredients together as they coagulate when cooked, as in meatballs/meatloaf, omelets, frittatas, and spaghetti carbonara.

Try it: Combining egg whites with whole eggs, as in this

3 of 8

3. Eggs can thicken.

Karry Hosford

Fact: The protein in eggs coagulates when heated, helping thicken mixtures like custards, custard-based ice creams, puddings, and flans.

Try it: Eggs give our

4 of 8

4. Eggs can emulsify.

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Fact: Egg yolks contain lecithin, a substance that helps blend emulsions (mixtures of water and fat), which are critical in mayonnaise, hollandaise sauce, and Caesar dressing.

Try it: Homemade

5 of 8

5. Eggs can glaze.

Karry Hosford

Fact: Beaten egg white, whole egg, or yolk is brushed onto dough before cooking for shiny baked goods, such as breads, rolls, and Danish pastries.

Try it: A quick coating of egg wash just before baking gives these yeasty

6 of 8

6. Eggs can coat.

Randy Mayor

Fact: Beaten eggs provide the “glue” for breading in fried fish fillets, chicken breasts, veal cutlets, or vegetables.

Try it: Deep-frying is not necessary to get a crunchy coating; a mere 1 1/2 tablespoons of oil bring four

7 of 8

7. Eggs can garnish.

Randy Mayor

Fact: Sliced, sieved, or chopped hard-cooked eggs make a colorful garnish for vegetables and salads.

Try it: Bits of egg add visual and textural interest in

8 of 8

8. Eggs can enrich.

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Fact: Eggs add color, flavor, and richness to a variety of foods, including cakes, certain breads such as challah, and pasta doughs.

Try it: In this

Replay gallery

8 Reasons to Love Eggs

1 of 8

1. Eggs can leaven.

1 of 8

2 of 8

2. Eggs can bind.

2 of 8

3 of 8

3. Eggs can thicken.

3 of 8

4 of 8

4. Eggs can emulsify.

4 of 8

5 of 8

5. Eggs can glaze.

5 of 8

6 of 8

6. Eggs can coat.

6 of 8

7 of 8

7. Eggs can garnish.

7 of 8

8 of 8

8. Eggs can enrich.

8 of 8

Up Next

Everything in This Slideshow

Account

8 Reasons to Love Eggs

1 of 8

1. Eggs can leaven.

1 of 8

2 of 8

2. Eggs can bind.

2 of 8

3 of 8

3. Eggs can thicken.

3 of 8

4 of 8

4. Eggs can emulsify.

4 of 8

5 of 8

5. Eggs can glaze.

5 of 8

6 of 8

6. Eggs can coat.

6 of 8

7 of 8

7. Eggs can garnish.

7 of 8

8 of 8

8. Eggs can enrich.

8 of 8

Share the Gallery

Up Next

Share the Gallery