The Big 8: Eggs

Egg can be found in nearly any prepared food product imaginable, as well as in non-food items such as vaccines.

Most baked goods contain egg, as do many cheeses, milk drinks like eggnog, creamy salad dressings (including mayonnaise), prepared meat products, and a variety of desserts such as custard, ice-cream, quick breads, and candies. Even instant cereals like cream of wheat and oatmeal may contain egg!

In the US, non-meat food products containing egg must list the ingredient in bold type or in a separate “Contains” statement. Foods containing meat (meatballs!) or poultry do not need to identify allergens separately.

When checking the ingredients list of a packaged food, consumers should look for these egg-related words:

• Albumin

• Egg

• Globulin

• Livetin

• Lysozyme

• Ovalbumin

• Ovoglobulin

• Ovomucin

• Ovomucoid

• Ovovitellin

• Vitellin

There are several ways to replace eggs when cooking and baking. Eggs serve as a leavening agent, causing baked products to rise; as a binder, keeping crumbly items together; as a liquid, providing moisture. It’s helpful to know what purpose the eggs in a recipe serve when deciding which replacement to use, but some suggested replacements can serve multiple purposes.

For moisture and some binding, replace each egg with:

• ¼ cup applesauce, OR

• ¼ cup banana, OR

• ¼ cup oil

For binding, replace each egg with:

• 1 tablespoon flax meal combined with 3 tablespoons water

If leavening, is needed replace each egg with:

• 2 tablespoons water, 1 teaspoon oil, and 2 teaspoons baking powder* whisked together, OR

• ¼ cup applesauce combined with 1 teaspoon baking powder*, OR

• 1 tablespoon flax meal combined with 3 tablespoons water and 1 teaspoon baking powder,* OR

• 3 tablespoons aquafaba (click here for the recipe)

NOTES:

* Baking powder can contain corn. To avoid corn, replace each teaspoon of baking powder with:

• ¼ teaspoon baking soda combined with ½ teaspoon cream of tartar, OR

• ¼ teaspoon baking soda combined with 1/3 cup molasses, OR

• ¼ teaspoon baking soda combined with 1 teaspoon apple cider or rice vinegar

Use the button below to download a printable resource you can take with you to the grocery store.