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Friday, August 9, 2013

Freezing Eggs, Now, to Use in Baking and Cooking, Later


Oops! It looks like I put all my eggs into one basket!

When I find a deal on eggs, I make my best guess as to how many eggs our family can use before they go on sale again. This can be several dozen, as many as 20 dozen or so. I know -- that does sound like a crazy amount of eggs to buy. However, there are two very compelling reasons why buying this many eggs isn't wasteful.

First, did you know that the sell-by date doesn't mean the eggs will suddenly go rancid on that date? In fact, unlike milk, with eggs you have more than just a couple of days past their sell-by date. (Milk is usually is still good for 1 week past the sell-by date.)

Eggs, if stored properly, will be safe to eat several weeks past the sell-by date, according to the Illinois Department of Agriculture. (All kinds of helpful egg tips at this site.) Several weeks, not a couple, but several. I take that to mean that a I have 4 to 5 weeks to use those eggs. Evidently, the sell-by date on eggs is more about freshness than safety. Though, it's still a good idea to break eggs one at a time into a small dish before adding to other ingredients.

The second reason stocking up on eggs isn't wasteful is this -- eggs freeze well!

About 1 to 2 weeks past the sell-by date,  I freeze whatever amount of eggs that I am sure we won't use within the next 2 to 3 weeks.

I use frozen eggs in baking, for scrambled eggs, and in entrees like quiches, frittatas, and stratas. 

I discovered freezing eggs many years ago, when I made a bargain-hunting blunder. At the wholesaler, they had 15-dozen cases of eggs on sale for about $4. I jumped on that bargain! My thinking at the time -- even if I had to throw most of them out, I would have still come out ahead.

But we don't need to throw out excess eggs. At that time, my kids were all young and not overly large eaters. I discovered my folly, oh, about 4 dozen eggs into the case. What to do? WHAT TO DO?

That's when I got out my trusty old copy of Joy of Cooking and read up on freezing raw eggs.


Whole eggs and egg yolks need the addition of either sugar or salt to stabilize the texture of the yolk. Egg whites can be frozen, as is, nothing extra added.

If freezing eggs for baking, where a little sweetness is fine, you can use sugar as your stabilizing agent. For most of my cooking, though, I prefer to use salt. I mark my freezer container or bag, indicating whether I've used sugar or salt as the stabilizer for each batch. In my experience, eggs with salt added can be used in most applications.

Joy of Cooking gives instructions for freezing eggs measured by pints, suggesting 2 tablespoons of sugar per pint of beaten eggs or 1 teaspoon of salt per pint of beaten eggs.

Using sugar, the ratio is just over 1/2 teaspoon (rounded 1/2 teaspoon) of granulated sugar for each large egg.

Using salt, the ratio is just under 1/8 teaspoon (scant 1/8 teaspoon) of salt per large egg.


My method for freezing eggs:

  • I freeze eggs in 1-egg, 3-egg, 4-egg and 6-egg portions.
  • I freeze as individual eggs in muffin tins (then store in ziploc bags), or as multiples of eggs in ziploc bags, or as multiples of eggs in freezer containers.
  • I use my blender to beat the 6 eggs at a time, adding just over 1/2 teaspoon salt for the 6 eggs (or 3  1/3 teaspoons of sugar per 6 eggs). 
  • I then pour the combined beaten egg and salt/sugar into a freezer container, plastic ziploc bag, or a section of a muffin tin. 
  • If freezing eggs as 1-egg portions, I use a muffin tin. Sometimes I line the muffin cups with plastic wrap. Other times I pour the beaten egg directly into the tin.
  • A large egg is equal to about 3 tablespoons of beaten egg. When pouring beaten eggs into muffin tins, I measure 3 tablespoons for the first egg, then "eyeball" the remaining amounts for subsequent eggs.
  • If freezing in larger amounts, I measure 3 tablespoons per egg. So, a 3-egg portion would be 9 tablespoons or 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon. A 4-egg portion would be 3/4 cup of beaten eggs. And a 6-egg portion would be 18 tablespoons or 1  1/8 cup of beaten eggs

Freezing eggs in a muffin tin
You can line each muffin hole with a small piece of plastic wrap to remove eggs from tin more easily. You can also just pour the beaten egg into bare muffin pans.

  • If freezing a dozen eggs in a muffin tin, I place the filled muffin tin in a flat spot in the freezer. Once frozen solid (about 3-4 hours), I set the muffin tin on the counter for about 3-5 minutes. 


  • I use a table knife to wedge the egg disks out of each muffin section and place these in ziploc bags to store in the freezer.

  • To use, I thaw the number of eggs I need for a recipe in the fridge overnight or, in a pinch, on the counter for about 30 minutes. 
  • Use thawed eggs within 2 to 3 days of thawing. So, if you thaw a 6-egg ziploc portion of eggs, you can bake with an amount equal to an egg or two, make scrambled eggs with the amount equal to another egg or two, and maybe throw together a quiche with the remaining eggs over the course of 2 or 3 days. Just remember, 1 large egg is about 3 tablespoons of beaten egg.


FYI on storing fresh eggs
There is a "best" method for storing eggs. According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, store your eggs at about 40 degrees in the carton that they were originally packed. Don't store in the door of the fridge or in a decorative egg holder. Keeping them in the carton provides you with the sell-by date printed on the carton itself. Eggs stored at this temperature will keep for several weeks past the sell-by date.


You'll find this post, and many others like it, just a click away on this page -- a compilation of my recipes, shopping lists, and menu plans that illustrates how I feed my family of 4 adults on $125 to $135 per month.


15 comments:

  1. I rarely have eggs to freeze since we don't have chickens anymore. If I do have any though I'll often make quiche or egg cups and freeze for future meals.

    I love the idea of adding sugar for the baking eggs and salt for savory. Can the savory be frozen that way and then used to make scrambled eggs or is the texture off?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Shara,
      Yes, you can use the frozen eggs for scrambled, omelettes, and frittatas. I use a whisk, and whisk in a tablesppon of water or milk for each thawed egg. The thawed eggs will appear slightly thicker in spots, so the whisk is handy to break that up. The only thing I've not had as much success with, with frozen eggs, is souffle. It just doesn't seem to puff up as much as with fresh eggs.

      Delete
  2. You are a font of amazing information! I'll have to keep this in mind if I find a great deal on eggs!

    My one and only egg tip is that if you want to bring raw eggs along on a camping trip, your best bet is to crack them open and put them in a tall narrow olive jar. Apparently there's enough of a membrane or whatever that if you do this carefully, you can then pour out one raw egg at a time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Cat,
      The olive jar is a really good idea! Thanks for that!

      Delete
  3. I haven't seen a great deal on eggs for a few years. They haven't even been that cheap at Easter. But I will keep this in mind in case I do find a good deal. The Joy of Cooking certainly has a lot of good information, doesn't it? I need to get it out more often.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi live and learn,
      The Walgreen's in our area put eggs on sale about once every 2 months. I just make sure to check their digital signs, in front of their stores once a week. I remember when Easter was reliably a good time to buy eggs at a steep discount, at every supermarket. Not so much any more, unfortunately.

      Delete
  4. Thanks for sharing :) Unfortunately I have never been able to find a source of cheap eggs - they are always at least $5 a dozen. Maybe in the future when I have chickens :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Economies,
      And if the next time you have a long trip, and a few too many eggs left in the fridge, just remember you could always freeze them, to use when you return.

      Delete
  5. Lili

    I do this around Easter and other times a year. I actually just blend them in teh blender, pour the appropriate amount(1 or 2eggs) in a ziploc bag, freeze flat, then bag up in larger bag. That way, I can grab whatever I need for either breakfast or baking...and they thaw quick. Great post. Have a good weekend! Lisa

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lisa,
      the blender sounds like it would do a great job at combining the yolks and whites. And I like the idea of storing the eggs, frozen in flat bags. Thanks for sharing your tips!

      Delete
  6. In Germany, Poland and Russia, they don't even refrigerate eggs. Every time I see it I am amazed. Even in the stores, they are stacked on a plain shelf and my son, who lives in Germany, just keeps them on top of his small refrigerator. That's fine for them. I have chickens and the eggs are washed and refrigerated asap!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Judy,
      I am guessing that Americans and Canadians have substantially larger refrigerators, than are found in many European households. I know, in many places, eggs and produce are still stored in pantries and cellars. It may be "safe" enough, but the fridge will definitely allow foods to be kept longer. On top of the fridge, though, that's a new one to me. I'd think it would be too warm. Different strokes . . .

      You know, it wasn't until this last year that I realized that eggs had to be washed. Silly me! Did I really think that they came out of the hens so pretty and clean?!

      Delete
    2. do you know if you can just crack the egg, put in container with salt without whisking, and the then thaw to make a fried egg?

      Delete
    3. Hi there,
      I honestly haven't tried. But my understanding is that it's the yolks that need stabilizing to maintain their texture, and the salt has to be incorporated into the yolk.

      You could try just freezing one egg over night that way, and see what you think the next day.

      Or, if you want to get kind of creative, freeze your whites separately from your yolks, beating in salt with yolks. Then when you want fried eggs, pour your whites into the skillet, and use a spoon or spatula to break open holes in the partially-set whites, for the yolks. Pour the yolks in, and you have fried eggs. It's just the membrane to the yolk will have been broken and the fried eggs won't look so tidy.

      Whatever you try, good luck!

      Delete

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