Can You Freeze Egg Whites?
Egg whites are best for preparing meringues, frostings, icings, and several other cuisines. But, what if you have an excess of it? The best answer is to freeze egg whites before they go bad. By the end of this blog, you’ll understand ways to freeze egg whites effectively.
Egg whites are the transparent fluid thing in the eggs. They are mostly used to fluff up the content of the meal you are preparing. Egg whites tend to rise quickly and provide distinct flavors to different meals.
They are used in both the baking industry and culinary industries. Here are our top tips to freeze them properly for later use. This way they won’t go bad in the long run and you can use them again and again.
How Can You Freeze Egg Whites?
Well, yes you can freeze egg whites pretty effectively. Also, they don’t lose their texture even after months and can be used in recipes accordingly. Here’s a quick guide to help you in freezing them:
- Separate egg yolks and egg whites like you would usually do. When separating, try to add egg whites in a jar-like container so that they can be easily poured into another container.
- Then take clean ice trays and start adding egg whites to them till the top. Do not add any adjuncts like sugar or vinegar to the egg whites. It is best to freeze them fresh.
- Pop these ice trays into the freezer and allow the egg white cubes to freeze. Once the cubes are well frozen separate them from the tray and shift them into clean airtight bags.
- Labels are the last thing you want to forget! Add labels with the date of freezing and use them within 6 months.
- Shift the bags with frozen egg white cubes into the freezer and that’s it. This is the best way for freezing egg whites. It prevents their original texture and gives the same taste as a fresh egg white.
Tips for Freezing Egg Whites
Often you’ll end up in situations where you won’t need the egg whites for a particular recipe. However, it is better to freeze them up instead of wasting them. Also, you can store large batches of egg whites for later use if you are a baker or involved in the baking process.
- Do not add any additives like sugar to the egg whites before freezing. This might affect the texture and freezing pattern of the egg whites and eventually, you will end up wasting your egg whites.
- Always add labels to the egg whites and use them before the completion of six months. Do not use them after the said duration.
- You can freeze meringues as well! Yes, you heard that. The freezing process for meringues remains the same as well. That is to make meringue cubes and freeze them for six months.
- Defrost egg whites before using them for baking or culinary purposes.
- You can also freeze egg whites by directly adding them to an airtight container. If you don’t have a large stock of egg whites then you can shift them to small airtight boxes. Freeze these boxes for a while and then store them in the freezer for later use.
- Baking recipes require a fixed proportion of egg whites. Therefore, when you are making the cubes of egg whites keep a check on the number of cubes that a single egg makes. This way you’ll know the amount of egg white cubes you’ll need for a particular recipe.
Ways to Defrost Egg Whites
To defrost frozen egg white cubes, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight. Then allow them to get back to normal room temperature before using them. Do not heat egg whites or try to forcefully thaw the same.
Similarly, do not refreeze egg whites after using them. Thus, you should keep count of the number of cubes a single egg white can fill. This way you can defrost the exact number of cubes and prevent the wastage of others.
Refreezing egg whites will affect their original texture and will destroy them in the freezer. It happens because it is nearly impossible to maintain the same method of freezing with the used and leftover egg whites all over again.
How long can you Freeze Egg Whites?
Although it is better to eat everything fresh, however, sometimes it is better to preserve food than waste the same. So if you have leftover egg whites then you can store them in airtight containers for 3 days straight.
But, do not forget to eat them within three days, or else they will go bad. Egg white cubes can be left in the freezer unbothered for six months. You can use them in the meantime for different purposes.
Recipes with Frozen Egg Whites
Thick Pavlovas
Pavlovas are the perfect lightweight breakfast option you can prepare easily. They can be prepared in two hours and are a perfect weekend recipe. To make thick pavlovas, you need four egg whites for one serving. Therefore, calculate the number of cubes you will need accordingly. Beat the defrosted egg whites till it attains stiff peaks. As you beat the egg whites, add a tsp of vanilla extract and lemon juice to it. Keep adding sugar in small batches to the egg whites. In a preheated oven, bake your pavlovas by spreading them gently over lined trays. Bake them for one hour and cool. Top pavlova with whipped cream and fruit toppings of your choice.
Royal Icing for Cookies
These days you will find royal icing cookies to be on top of the baking trends. They have these alluring colors and decorations that make them aesthetically appealing. So, if you wish to know how to make royal icing for your cookies, here’s how you can do so. Start by defrosting egg white cubes equivalent to three eggs. Whip the egg whites with an electric mixer and add vanilla extract and sugar to the same. Add sugar in ¼ th cup measuring four times. Once the egg whites attain stiff peaks you can add a few drops of water to adjust the consistency. Separate your icing in separate bowls and add food colorings of your choice for the cookies.
Key Takeaways
Freezing egg whites is certainly the best option in case you are a budding baker or aspiring cook. This simple trick might save you a lot of energy in the future. Whenever you feel the need to bake tasty cookies or delicious macrons you can use your frozen egg white cubes with ease. Do not forget to follow the essential tips mentioned above for freezing egg whites.