However what about recipes that decision for uncooked or undercooked eggs—like carbonara or tiramisu? For sure dishes, there’s no applicable substitute for the emulsifying or volumizing properties that uncooked eggs ship. In these circumstances, the very best resolution is to make use of pasteurized eggs.
Are all eggs pasteurized?
Solely a small minority of shell eggs produced within the U.S. are pasteurized—and those which are out there are notably costlier as a result of added time and processing concerned in pasteurization. There are two varieties of pasteurized eggs out there to shoppers: Pasteurized shell eggs and pasteurized egg merchandise.
How do you pasteurize eggs?
Pasteurization includes heating a product, like eggs or dairy, to a selected temperature for a selected period of time so as to destroy dangerous pathogens.
Pasteurized shell eggs (or just eggs of their shell) are bought intact and bear a particular water tub that heats them to the right temperature, however with out truly cooking them. “Type of like the method of creating a hard-boiled egg,” says Hovis, “however at a a lot decrease temperature (130°F to 140°F) and for a for much longer time period (60 minutes) to verify the eggs are nonetheless runny and in no way cooked (within the conventional sense).” Hovis additionally notes that after cooling, the eggs are coated in a protecting wax to forestall recontamination then stamped with a “P” to point their pasteurized standing.
Pasteurized egg merchandise are eggs which have been faraway from their shells and are usually bought in cardboard cartons. These merchandise embrace complete eggs, egg whites, and egg yolks. Hovis explains that the USDA requires by legislation all egg merchandise (referring to eggs out of their shells) to be pasteurized. Nevertheless, the pasteurization course of for these merchandise is way sooner, which means that egg merchandise are cheaper and extra broadly out there than pasteurized shell eggs.
Hovis says that pasteurized eggs are fit for human consumption with out cooking, since they’ve been heat-treated to kill off harmful pathogens. “That stated,” she explains, “they have to be dealt with safely to forestall re-contamination and saved at correct temperatures (41°F or beneath) earlier than use.”
Methods to use pasteurized eggs
Pasteurized eggs received’t carry out precisely like their uncooked counterparts—they’ve a thinner and runnier consistency and received’t prepare dinner up as firmly—however they arrive fairly shut. Pasteurized shell eggs are most well-liked for preparations that require an intact egg or egg yolk; for instance, a sunny-side-up egg or a cured egg yolk. Liquid egg merchandise can be utilized in a mess of the way—complete egg merchandise are for baking, omelets, and scrambles, whereas liquid whites work effectively for meringue-based desserts (although they received’t whip up fairly as properly as uncooked egg whites).
Liquid egg yolks are much less widespread than liquid egg whites however can normally be discovered at restaurant provide shops and make a terrific swap for mayonnaise and even carbonara. Whereas they will not be an ideal substitute in each recipe, pasteurized eggs are a terrific choice for many who wish to keep away from the dangers related to uncooked eggs however nonetheless wish to take pleasure in among the many dishes that use them.