In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleWhat Is an Egg Yolk?Are Egg Yolks Healthy?How to Store Egg YolksWhat to Do with Leftover Egg YolksThe Bottom Line
In This ArticleView All
View All
In This Article
What Is an Egg Yolk?
Are Egg Yolks Healthy?
How to Store Egg Yolks
What to Do with Leftover Egg Yolks
The Bottom Line
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Photo: Getty Images
If you just finished baking a batch ofmeringuesorFlourless Chocolate Cookiesand are now stuck with leftover egg yolks that you don’t know what to do with, you’re in luck! Egg yolks can be used as a healthy emulsifier, binder or flavor agent in more recipes than you may think.
What to Do with Leftover Egg Whites
Eggs have long been considered a healthy and inexpensive nutrition source that can be used in many different recipes and dishes. While they are relatively high in cholesterol, the cholesterol we eat has minimal effect on the amount of cholesterol in our bodies. There are also some importanthealth benefits of eggyolks:
But before you get cracking, make sure you’re working withfresh eggs. Both yolk and white should be free of discoloration, which is a sign of bacterial growth. The egg should not have a sulfuric smell, and the yolk should be more round than flat, riding high on the albumen.
Like egg whites, raw leftover egg yolks should be stored immediately in the refrigerator in an airtight storage container. But unlike egg whites, yolks can dry out if stored. Try adding a bit of cold water to keep the yolks moist, and drain the water before using the yolks—which should be within two to four days, per theUSDA. If you don’t think you’ll use them within that time frame, you can freeze them!
Healthy Scrambled Egg Recipes
Salad Dressings
Egg yolks act as an emulsifier inhomemade vinaigrettes—and making them is easier than you might think. All you need is one egg yolk and a few key ingredients to prep aCreamy Mustard Vinaigrettethat pairs perfectly with veggies and salad.
You’ll never look at bottled salad dressing the same way once you’ve made Caesar dressing from scratch. Prep your dressing in a food processor and then drizzle over your salad greens with Parmesan crisps for theBest Caesar Saladyou’ve ever had.
Fresh Pastas
Instead of buying boxed pasta, try making your own. Some fresh pasta recipes will call for whole eggs, while others only require the yolk. More egg yolks than egg whites in your pasta will yield a richer, more yellow dough.
If you’ve never tried homemade gnocchi, now’s the perfect time. Only a few ingredients are needed forHomemade Potato Gnocchi, and the recipe couldn’t be easier. Plus, the possibilities are endless when it comes time for toppings, and you don’t need anypasta makers or tools!
Custards
If you don’t have any dessert at home and your sweet tooth has kicked in, you might already have the ingredients forhomemade vanilla custardon hand. Eggs serve as the thickening agent in custard, which requires just a few ingredients and 30 minutes in the oven to come together.
Cured Egg Yolks
Curing egg yolks is a low-lift way to use leftover yolks with results that are long-lasting and high-impact. Here’s how:
Cured yolks have a similar structure to parmesan cheese. Use a microplane to grate the cured yolks over salads, soups, pasta, pizza or your morning grits. The possibilities are endless!
Cured egg yolks will last weeks in an airtight container in the fridge. Just look for any discoloration or an off smell to judge whether or not they’re still good.
When you’re separating eggs and end up with a surplus of yolks, don’t worry about them going to waste. There are plenty of ways to use those leftover yolks in your kitchen, whether it’s in a simple salad dressing, a fresh pasta, creamy custard or cured yolks. There’s never a good reason to waste those sunny, nutrient-dense orbs.
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