What Can I Use as an Egg Substitute

Whether you are a vegan or you're simply looking for ways to reduce your cholesterol intake, then you might be wondering: “What can I use as an egg substitute?”

There are dozens of egg substitutes!

Fortunately for those looking to eliminate the Easter time staple from their diets, there are a number of excellent egg substitutes available. The trick is finding one that best suits your needs. Eggs perform different functions in different dishes. For example, in a cake recipe, eggs act as a leavening agent and help make the sweet treat light and fluffy. But in other recipes, eggs serve as a binding agent or add flavor or moisture to a dish. In order to yield mouthwatering results, it is critical to find the egg substitute that will enhance your recipe.

One of the most popular commercial egg substitutes is Ener-G Egg Replacer. It is made from potato starch, tapioca flour, leavening agents (calcium lactate, calcium carbonate, and citric acid) and a gum derived from cottonseed. Ener-G Egg Replacer is designed to mimic the leavening and binding characteristics of eggs in baking, but it can be used for nonbaked food items as well. Since it is relatively tasteless it works best in recipes that feature distinctive flavors such as brownies, muffins, casseroles and quiches. Ener-G Egg Replacer is vegan, gluten-free and certified Kosher. In addition, it is widely available in health food stores and at most major grocers. It's also extremely economical. One box of Ener-G Egg replacer is the equivalent of 100 eggs.

Vegan egg replacements are not hard to find. However, if you are in a pinch, there are a number of ways you can create your own egg substitutes from ingredients found in your own kitchen.

To substitute for one egg, try one of the following:

• Two tablespoons of cornstarch

• Two tablespoons of arrowroot flour

• Two tablespoons of potato starch

• One heaping tablespoon of soy powder plus two tablespoons of water

• One tablespoon of soy milk powder plus one tablespoon of cornstarch, and two tablespoons of water

• One tablespoon milled flax seed and three tablespoons of water

• One tablespoon chickpeas and one tablespoon of water

• One medium banana or half of a large banana, mashed

• Two ounces of mashed soft tofu and one tablespoon of water

• Two ounces of mashed potatoes and one tablespoon of water

• Two ounces mashed beans and one tablespoon of water

• 1/4 cup applesauce or other pureed fruit

• One teaspoon soy flour plus one tablespoon water

• Vegan custard

• Silken tofu

• Vegan margarine mixed with soy milk, sugar and cornflour

• Soya cream

• Agar agar

• Soya dessert (for cakes and brownie recipes)

It's important to note that the popular commercial egg substitute, Egg Beaters is not vegan. The product contains real egg whites and yellow food coloring to resemble beaten egg yolks. If you are allergic to eggs or are vegan this product is not a recommended egg substitute. However, if you are looking for a way to reduce your fat and cholesterol intake, Egg Beaters may be an effective alternative to whole eggs.

Before deciding on the type of egg substitute to use, it’s a good idea to look over your recipe carefully. For the most part, the fewer eggs a recipe calls for, the easier they will be to replace with other ingredients. For example, if a cake recipe calls for one egg, you should barely notice that an egg substitute was used. However, if you are trying to substitute for four or five eggs the difference in taste and texture will not be as minimal.

Flavor is a major consideration when using egg substitutes. Before using a particular egg replacement, consider how it will affect the overall taste of the dish. For example, while mashed bananas and applesauce are viable egg substitutes, you wouldn’t want to use them in a casserole or other savory dish. In those cases you are better off using a flaxseed mixture or tofu as an egg substitute.

To answer the question: “What can I use as an egg substitute?,” it is critical to consider the type of dish you are making. Whereas there are dozens of egg replacements available, not all of them will not yield tasty results if combined inappropriately.

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