If you’ve shopped for eggs in the past couple months, you may have noticed that the prices have jumped rapidly. While still not as pricey as those trendy$20(!) Erewhon smoothies, thecost of a dozen eggsspiked about 60% between December 2021 and December 2022, according to data from theU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Beyond vegan egg alternatives, other creative home cooks are turning to something that only campers, hotel breakfast buffet cooks andhomesteadersmight be familiar with: Freeze-dried eggs.
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What Are Freeze-Dried Eggs—And Are They Safe?
Folks like Idaho farmer Ron Kern of Back Forty Farms are getting creative and selling freeze-dried eggs. To make freeze-dried eggs, you simply crack hen eggs, mix the egg whites with the yolks, then transfer that egg blend to shallow trays. A special freeze-drying machine can take that raw egg mixture down to -40 degrees F, and as the machine slowly reheats, the moisture is removed.
Due to the freeze-drying machine’s ability to rapidly get icy-cold, this is different from dehydration. Since dehydration is a longer and slower process, it tends to impact flavor and texture more than freeze-drying does, too. Proponents of freeze-dried eggs also claim that a freeze dryer’s speedy temp changes don’t put raw food at risk of hanging out in theFood and Drug Administration’s (FDA) food safety “temperature danger zone” of 40° to 140° F.
The benefits of freeze-drying eggs? You can store and transport eggs more efficiently throughout the country—with no risk of cracking and with the promise of a far longer shelf life. Plus, freeze-dryer manufacturerHarvest Rightsays that its freeze-drying machine may be able to help preserve the nutritional quality of eggs for up to 25 years if those freeze-dried eggs are handled properly.
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The Bottom Line
Since that’s the case, we’ll be sticking to regular fresh eggs for eating, and might sprinkle in a few plant-based swaps until egg prices even out. And for baking, a “flaxseed egg” and these tried-and-trueegg substitutesseem like a much safer bet than freeze-dried
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