Egg Wash Substitute | Baking Ingredients | BAKERpedia (2024)

Similar to egg-based washes, egg wash substitutes can be topically applied to fresh, par-baked or frozen bakery products for a crunchy-glazed crust. They can be also sprayed to coat the product after baking and before the product cools down.

Why replace eggs in egg wash?

Eggs and egg-based materials present food formulators and bakers with several challenges such as:

  • Availability and fluctuating prices: Eggs are the most expensive ingredient in bakeries, and there are frequent shortages in the supply
  • Quality and short shelf life
  • Enhanced functionality: Some egg alternatives provide better functionality and sensory properties than eggs in bakery products
  • Sustainability: Many bakeries and food manufacturers are implementing self-imposed sustainability program to appeal to younger consumers
  • Safety: Salmonella outbreaks, avian flu disease.
  • Allergens: Require segregating ingredients in production and warehousing areas
  • Nutrition and health: Eggs contain significant levels of cholesterol unlike plant-based ingredients, which are cholesterol-free
  • Lifestyle: Eggs are not compatible with vegans and vegetarian diets
  • Cross-contamination: Requires special handling and storage in bakeries

Function

Eggs are an important component of bakery products surface treatment. Their unique composition, mainly the presence of the natural emulsifiers and proteins, help with stabilizing the crust texture. Also, they provide color and visual appeal.

Typically whole eggs, yolk, or egg white mixed with water or milk can be used in egg wash with the yolk providing darker finish. During baking, egg proteins unfold and cross-link which squeezes out moisture to form a smooth web surface.

Applications

The first step in choosing the right egg wash substitute is deciding on the desired functionality:1,2,3

  1. Surface browner: When used to finish the surface of a bakery product, the mixture is brushed on prior to baking, usually an item with a crust such as pies, bread rolls, breads, Cornish pasties, empanadas, etc.
  2. Binder: When used as a binder, an egg wash can help the coating of food being dredged to stick on better. pies or bread with decoratives. Salt in an egg wash helps break down the protein in the eggs, helping crumb coatings, etc, stick better to the wash. Ground spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg adds surface flavoring and a bit of coloring. Here oils, butter and other lipid-based EWR will be too slippery to keep seeds, nuts, etc. to stick.
  3. Sealer: An egg wash can also “seal” the surface of a food item against moisture from the anticipated filling.

Ingredients used in egg wash substitutes and their corresponding properties:

Egg wash substitute (EWS)Impact on baked goods
Proteins, milk, soy
  • Good crust browning
  • Lacks shine
Oil
  • Good shine, crunchy texture
  • Slippery and doesn’t allow sticking nuts, seeds, etc.
Milk or Cream
  • Recreate egg color without unwanted oil flavor
Polysaccharides (Starch, Xanthan Gum, Alginates)
  • Corn starch can add gloss to the surface of baked goods
  • It should be applied immediately after baking, rather than before baking, to prevent overbrowning.
Melted Butter
  • Light crispy texture
  • Excellent flavor
  • If used in excess may cause the dough to soak and not rise
Rice milk, almond milk, soy milk
  • Golden caramelized color
  • Suitable for vegan diets
  • nuttiness
Flaxseed (dispersed in water)
  • Compatible with vegan diets
  • Good shine
  • Good binder
Custard Powder dissolved in water
  • Smooth finish
  • Good shine
Malt Syrup, molasses
  • Caramelized appearance
  • Nutty taste
Honey or Maple Syrup
  • Deep brown color
  • Crunchy texture
  • It may burn very quickly in a hot oven. It is best used with quick recipes or applied towards the end of the baking time.
Coloring agents (caramel, lycopene, annatto, turmeric, and paprika extracts)
  • Added to impart golden or caramelized color to the surface in baked goods.

FDA regulation

All ingredients used as egg wash substitute should comply with FDA regulations.

References

  1. Julianti, E., Rusmarilin, H., Ridwansyah, H. and Yusraini, E. Effect of gluten free composite flour and egg replacer on physicochemical and sensory properties of cakes. Int. Food Res. J. 2016, 23, 6, pp: 2413-2418.
  2. Wu, J. Eggs and Egg Products Processing, In Food processing: Principles and Applications, Second edition. S. Clark, S. Jung and B. Lamsai (Eds.). 2014, J. Wiley, pp: 437-455.
  3. Kohrs, D., Herald, T.J., Aramouni, F.M. and Abughoush, M. Evaluation of egg replacers in a yellow cake system. Emir. J. Food Agric. 2010, 22, 5, pp: 340-352
Egg Wash Substitute | Baking Ingredients | BAKERpedia (2024)

FAQs

Egg Wash Substitute | Baking Ingredients | BAKERpedia? ›

Other plant-based substitutes for egg wash include maple syrup, flaxseed, nondairy milks like rice milk and almond milk, molasses, aquafaba and various blends with olive oil or vegetable oil. But do yourself a favor this holiday season and brush that pie with some JUST Egg.

What can I use as a substitute for egg wash? ›

Other plant-based substitutes for egg wash include maple syrup, flaxseed, nondairy milks like rice milk and almond milk, molasses, aquafaba and various blends with olive oil or vegetable oil. But do yourself a favor this holiday season and brush that pie with some JUST Egg.

What happens if you skip egg wash? ›

Nothing: For a crisp, tan crust, leave your dough unadorned. Skipping the egg wash results in the most matte appearance, so if you like that look, keep it plain.

How do you make homemade egg wash? ›

Beat one large egg and one tablespoon of liquid (water, milk, or cream) in a small bowl with a fork until well combined. (Alternatively, beat one large egg white or one large egg yolk with one teaspoon of liquid.) Brush the egg wash mixture evenly on the surface of the dough using a pastry brush.

What if I forgot my egg wash? ›

Milk or cream.

If you don't have any eggs, or you can't be bothered making an egg wash, brushing your baking with milk or cream before it goes into the oven works great too.

What can be used instead of egg? ›

See the list of 11 egg substitutes below to find the right one for the recipe you're whipping up.
  • MASHED BANANA. ...
  • APPLESAUCE. ...
  • SILKEN TOFU. ...
  • GROUND FLAXSEED OR CHIA SEEDS & WATER. ...
  • YOGURT. ...
  • BUTTERMILK. ...
  • SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK. ...
  • ARROWROOT POWDER OR CORNSTARCH.

Can I use butter for egg wash? ›

Melted Butter

We are Team Egg Wash (or Cream Wash). While melted butter adds more flavor than the washes, it is less effective in look; it gives a speckled appearance to pastry.

Do you really need egg wash? ›

In baking, many recipes call for an egg wash to be brushed on the baked goods before it goes into the oven. The purpose of this is to give the final product a golden brown color that is slightly shiny. Egg washes can make the final product look more professional, a bit crispier, or act as a binder."

What can you use instead of egg wash for breading chicken? ›

THE BOTTOM LINE: We recommend using heavy cream when breading foods if you cannot use eggs. CREAM IS BEST: If you can't use eggs, use heavy cream to hold breading in place.

Can you use milk instead of egg for breading? ›

Breading also sticks well to cutlets that have first been marinated in buttermilk or yogurt, or coated in mayonnaise. Can you use milk instead of eggs? Yes, you can use milk instead of eggs as long as you coat the cutlets in a layer of flour first.

Does milk work instead of egg wash? ›

1. Milk or Cream. According to David Joachim, author of The Food Substitutions Bible, the very best substitute for egg wash is milk or heavy cream. Simply brush the baked good with 1 tablespoon of milk or heavy cream for every ¼ cup of egg wash the recipe calls for.

Is egg wash better with milk or water? ›

For a deeper brown sheen with a crispier crust, use water. For a lighter, slightly shinier sheen with a softer crust, use milk or heavy cream. For a firmer, lighter crust with little shine, use only the egg white and water. For a darker, richer hue, use only the egg yolk.

Is egg wash just yolk? ›

Basically, egg wash is simply egg (either whole egg, yolk only, or white only) that has been whisked together and thinned out with either a bit of water, milk, or cream and then brushed on top of baked goods right before they are baked.

Can you reuse egg wash the next day? ›

If you've used the wash on raw fish or meat it's best to discard it to avoid the chance of food-borne illness. If, however, it's not been in contact with meat you can save it for another use. According to the American Egg Board, raw beaten egg will last up to 2 days in the refrigerator.

Can you use mayo instead of egg wash? ›

There are more than a few reasons why mayo makes sense as a substitute for egg wash. Since they both share the same main ingredient (eggs), they function in very similar ways. Much like egg wash acts as a binding agent to help seasonings and breadcrumbs stick to meat, creamy mayonnaise also manages to do the same.

How to make egg wash for frying without eggs? ›

Flour and Water Slurry

To make this egg substitute for frying, combine 1 tablespoon of flour with 2 tablespoons of water until the mixture is lump free. Mix in 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder and 1/8 teaspoon of salt if desired. Use this mixture as you would regular eggs when frying foods.

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