Few people know that you can freeze eggs, but at the same time, it is very convenient and even profitable, because you can buy them at an affordable price, promotions and make yourself a bunch of useful preparations, and then defrost and use them as needed.
Fresh eggs can be perfectly stored in the refrigerator for a whole month, however, sometimes even this popular product sits on the shelf, and then a completely logical question arises: “Is it possible to freeze fresh eggs and how to do it correctly?”
How to prepare eggs for freezing
According to several studies, raw eggs should never be frozen in their shells.
Eggs contain water, and because water expands when frozen, freezing a raw egg can cause the shell to crack. This means that bacteria can penetrate into the egg. Also, it is not recommended to freeze hard-boiled whole eggs or hard-boiled whites. Because the water in an egg changes structurally when frozen, the texture of hard-boiled eggs, especially the whites, becomes less than pleasing after thawing.
It is best to freeze beaten raw eggs, raw whites and raw yolks, as well as cooked egg-based dishes such as scrambled eggs, quiche and egg casseroles.
Only fresh eggs can be frozen. To check their freshness, do the egg float test. Fill a deep bowl with water and place the eggs in it. If the eggs sink, they are fresh, but if they float, it is better not to use them.
IMPORTANT! If you see a white layer of ice crystals on the outside of the product during storage in the freezer, throw away the eggs without regret! They are not safe to eat.
Is it possible to freeze boiled eggs in the freezer?
Boiled white after freezing acquires an unpleasant taste, so it is not worth freezing, but the yolk retains its nutritional qualities, which is why we will now learn how to freeze it.
- Freezing boiled yolks is much easier than raw ones. First, boil the eggs, be sure to hard-boil them.
- Cool them, peel them and separate the whites from the yolks
- Place the yolks in a container of water and bring the liquid to a boil.
- Leave the product in the water for another 7 minutes, then remove
- Decide how you will freeze the egg yolk - whole or crushed.
- For these purposes, you can use all the freezing methods that were described earlier. Most importantly, do not forget to label the product
How to Freeze Raw Whole Eggs
Whether you freeze whole eggs or whites and yolks separately, the freezing steps will be similar. For best results, beat the egg until smooth before freezing—this step improves the texture of the thawed egg.
Chefs recommend using muffin tins for freezing. One beaten egg fits perfectly into one mold. If you are freezing several eggs in a container at once, make a label indicating how many eggs are frozen, this will make it easier to work with thawed ones.
- Break the eggs. You can break them directly into the container in which you will freeze the eggs.
- Lightly beat the eggs. Use a fork or small whisk to combine the yolk and white. When the mixture is homogeneous in consistency and color, the egg is beaten enough.
- Add sugar or salt. Depending on what you will use the frozen eggs for in the future, for example, for a cake or an omelet.
- Place the pan in the freezer for about 4 hours until the eggs are frozen. You can cover the pan with aluminum foil or cling film.
- To avoid overcrowding your freezer, remove the frozen eggs from the ramekins and place them in a Ziploc bag or food container. If the eggs are difficult to remove from the mold, run the back of a knife blade along the edge of the container.
- Label the bag or container with the date it was frozen. Frozen eggs can be stored in the freezer without problems for up to six months. Return the eggs to the freezer.
Which eggs last longer?
For long-term storage, only fresh eggs, freshly collected in cool conditions, with a durable shell that is free of dents and small cracks are suitable. When collecting the product, markings are left with a simple pencil, indicating the date for further tracking of the expiration date. The shell is not washed and is covered with rendered lard or fat to protect it from external influences.
Prepared fresh eggs are left in a room where the temperature is consistently cool in winter
It is important to prevent freezing. In order for the product to be stored for a long time, the room must be dark. Alternatively, drawers or cartons can be tightly closed to further limit air ingress and ensure freshness.
Alternatively, close the drawers or boxes tightly, which will further limit air entry and ensure freshness.
Quail and chicken - is there a difference?
After chicken eggs, quail eggs are considered the most common. This variety has individual properties and is distinguished by reduced size and weight. A characteristic external feature is a monochrome color with splashes. Quail product is often used for cooking and preparing exquisite sauces of high gastronomy.
How and where it is better to store vegetables at home, rules and choice of temperature
The relatively small size negatively affects the ability to be stored for long periods of time. It is not recommended to consume the product in raw or semi-raw form after 10 days of storage.
How to freeze yolks
To freeze just the yolks, also place them in molds (don't forget to indicate the quantity!). Beat until smooth with a pinch of salt or sugar. When the yolk becomes lighter, it can be placed in the freezer.
Frozen yolks can be used to make creme brulee, mayonnaise or carbonara pasta. You can also add it to yeast dough (much better than adding whole eggs), to muffin batter, or to noodle dough.
Continuing the egg theme, see more on gastronom.ru: 3 ways to prepare unusual smoked eggs, one of them will suit anyone
Although frozen raw eggs last a long time, sometimes the hardest part is remembering to use them. On cooking forums, professionals admit: “Sometimes we freeze things and hope that we will use them someday, but we are much more likely to just eat them if they are prepared in advance.”
Egg after defrosting
When you're ready to use them, simply let the eggs defrost in the refrigerator. It's very simple, this process will allow them to stay cool enough when thawed so they don't spoil. Never defrost eggs at room temperature.
Eggs after defrosting - keep the egg whites at room temperature for about 30 minutes before whisking - this will give the best volume.
How to defrost frozen eggs
The safest defrosting option is to transfer it from the freezer to the refrigerator overnight. The egg is completely thawed when it returns to the consistency it had before freezing. This method is the optimal and most harmless for the texture and taste of thawed eggs.
If you're short on time, you can place the frozen egg in a small bowl of cold water. In any case, its temperature will be higher than the temperature of the egg from the freezer. And such a difference will not harm the frozen egg, as if it were in warm or hot water. This defrosting will take 20-30 minutes.
Product preparation
There are many microorganisms on the surface of the shell. Some types of bacteria are dangerous to human health - for example, salmonella. To destroy microflora, preliminary heat treatment is required. The easiest way is to pour boiling water over it. However, protein coagulates quickly at high temperatures. The contents of the shell begin to resemble flakes.
It is recommended to use other, safer methods. Baking soda works well for processing the product.
- Dissolve 2 teaspoons in a glass of drinking water;
- Wash the surface of the shell under the tap with soap;
- Pour the prepared soda solution over the eggs;
- Time it for about half an hour;
- Remove the contents of the bowl. Rinse under the tap;
- Cook on the stove;
- Or freeze raw.
Advice! Some housewives prefer to separate the whites before freezing. It is best to use the classic method of pouring the contents of the shell. Kitchen gadgets are also sold to make this task easier.
Does freezing change the taste of eggs?
Freezing eggs changes their taste slightly. The bosses notice that it is becoming less pronounced, as if it is weakening. However, raw eggs are often used not for their taste, but for their function. For example, eggs are used in baking for their ability to bind other ingredients. In this case, the taste of the baked goods is absolutely not affected by what kind of eggs you took - frozen or fresh. But for an omelet or fritatta, where taste is important, chefs recommend adding a little more spices, seasonings, herbs or vegetables to thawed eggs than to dishes made from fresh eggs.
What to cook with frozen eggs
When frozen, the product is used to prepare a variety of dishes: omelets, baked goods, salads and culinary products.
Knowing different recipes for freezing chicken eggs will help save egg stocks by ensuring their safety. There are many different recipes for cooking with frozen eggs.
- Author: Maria Sukhorukikh
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I accidentally found out that chicken eggs can be frozen. You do this and what happens next?
By the way, I once talked with a young man who confidently proved that ladies who read COSMO are complete primitives and cause him hatred.
For me, a young lady who read Mopasana’s “Dear Friend” at the age of 4, this sincerely made me laugh.
So, I love COSMO and read it regularly))
Frozen egg yolks
Greens to taste.
When they have solidified thoroughly, take them out and pour warm water over them so that a little of them thaws, peel them off and put them in a deep plate to thaw completely.
And then magic happens: the protein, having defrosted, will acquire all its previous properties, and then it will be possible to make either an omelet or a meringue from it.
And wonderful metamorphoses will happen to the yolk - it will retain its shape, becoming elastic, like a ball, and at the same time acquiring a creamy consistency.
You need to deal with it the same way as with butter - take a knife and spread it on the bread.
You can eat it plain or season it with salt, pepper, paprika, and herbs.
The finished yolks should be placed in a jar with a lid and stored in the refrigerator.
It is best to make sandwiches with such eggs for a holiday or for Saturday breakfast.
Fry slices of white bread in a frying pan or in a toaster, put tomato slices on them, olives and a scoop of yolk on top and garnish with herbs.
I’m sure no one will ever guess how these yolks are made.
I sometimes freeze when they bring a lot from the village and simply won’t eat it on time. Or when we go on vacation. And sometimes I freeze only the yolks or the whites separately (if you needed just one thing in the baking). Sometimes there are yolks left after meringue or yolks after Easter cakes, but somehow there is no time to cook something with them or there is simply no need, so a freezer and small plastic trays help out.
The only thing is that I don’t risk cooking sponge cake, meringue, protein cream or mayonnaise with them - I doubt that it will turn out as it should.
2. Nothing happens to proteins when frozen. Pour the egg whites into a container and freeze.
3. If you freeze the yolks, be prepared that after defrosting they will become viscous. Gourmets spread these yolks on toast and eat them with morning coffee (it’s really very tasty, especially if you sprinkle freshly ground black pepper on top). Or you can pour the yolks into a container, add salt or sugar so that the yolk retains its consistency, stir and freeze. For half a glass of yolks, take half a teaspoon of salt or a tablespoon of sugar. Just don't forget to label the containers! Place salty jelly in omelettes, and sweet jelly in baked goods.
- the white of one egg is about two tablespoons,
- yolk of one egg - one tablespoon,
- well, one egg is three tablespoons of volume.
Freezing is the best storage method
Whether you freeze whole boiled chicken or do it in parts is up to you.
For a more economical and rational approach, it is better to choose the second option, since the finished product cannot be re-frozen.
You can’t freeze such a delicious dish: you’ll just get ready and the plate will already be empty...
It is better to make several dishes from one chicken carcass. This will be both practical and useful: cook some for lunch and put the rest in the freezer. The technology is simple:
- decide how you will use the meat in the future and, based on this, divide the boiled chicken or freeze it whole;
- Place each piece of chicken meat in a plastic bag and tie it tightly to avoid touching other - especially raw - products;
- Place the chicken prepared in this way in the freezer - the temperature should be within -18°C.
Freezer of an experienced housewife
In this form, the product will retain its quality for 5-6 days. Thawed chicken should be used immediately.
This is approximately how tightly you need to pack - so that there is no air left inside.
Should you freeze smoked chicken? Definitely if you're not going to eat it now. See instructions below.
- Divide the smoked meats into parts - this will make them easier to defrost later.
- Pack the pieces in special bags for freezing - this will preserve their taste and aroma.
- The defrosted product loses its juiciness, but retains all its taste, so it is perfect for salads, hodgepodges and soups.
In order for the chicken to last longer, it is better to separate the meat from the bone, because it begins to deteriorate in these places
Shelf life also greatly depends on initial freshness, so when purchasing, pay attention to the appearance of the breast or whole chicken and the expiration date indicated on the packaging or price tag. The temperature maintained in the refrigerator also matters.
Temperature | Best before date |
-24С | 12 months |
-18°С | 9 months |
from -14°С to -8°С | 6 months |
from -8°С to -5°С | 1-3 months |
In the case of fried chicken, the technology is the same - freezing it will not be a problem. Remember: it is better to divide the carcass into pieces, use special freezing bags (or containers) and before putting it in the refrigerator, make sure that there is no air in the containers with chicken. Happy freezing!
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