How to Make (and Use) an Egg Wash (2024)

FAQs

How to use leftover egg wash? ›

Egg wash is a mix of beaten whole egg and water (or milk or cream), which is used to brush onto the top of baked goods before baking. The purpose of egg wash is to provide a nice golden brown, shiny finish on your baking. I use this egg wash for pie crust, or this also makes a great egg wash for bread recipes.

For a deeper brown sheen with a crispier crust, use water. For a lighter, slightly shinier sheen with a softer crust, use milk or heavy cream. For a firmer, lighter crust with little shine, use only the egg white and water. For a darker, richer hue, use only the egg yolk.

Wash it whichever way you want. For a darker, richer sheen, you can make an egg wash using just egg yolks; or, for one with a lighter color, just egg whites.

For one chicken egg's worth of egg wash, just mix two tablespoons of JUST Egg with two tablespoons of water and start brushing that beautiful pastry of yours. There's no wasting an entire egg for a tiny amount of egg wash. Just use what you need then pop your container of JUST Egg back in the fridge.

Can I store egg wash? If you have some egg wash leftover after baking, you can keep it, wrapped in the refrigerator for two days. This is especially useful if you are doing a lot of baking over the course of a few days. Or, simply use your leftover egg wash to make some scrambled eggs.

You can also use your fingers to apply egg wash without a pastry brush. Can you freeze egg wash? It is safe to freeze egg whites if you use them within two months. But it isn't advisable to freeze egg yolks as the yolks contain a lot of fat which means they don't freeze properly.

Milk or Cream

According to David Joachim, author of The Food Substitutions Bible, the very best substitute for egg wash is milk or heavy cream. Simply brush the baked good with 1 tablespoon of milk or heavy cream for every ¼ cup of egg wash the recipe calls for.

Another option is brushing with melted butter as a finishing touch. Is it better to use an egg wash or butter on your pie crust? We are Team Egg Wash (or Cream Wash). While melted butter adds more flavor than the washes, it is less effective in look; it gives a speckled appearance to pastry.

Remember: egg wash is made with raw egg, which means it could carry salmonella bacteria.

Can I put sugar in egg wash? ›

Different types of egg wash

It can be just a whole egg, just the white, just the yolk, or a combination of any part of an egg mixed with water, milk, or cream. Some recipes even contain a small amount of sugar to aid in caramelization.

Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper and dredge it in the flour, and then shake off the excess. Submerge the chicken in the egg wash. Remove the chicken from the egg wash and dredge it in the flour a second time. Shake off the excess flour and place the chicken skin-side down in the hot oil.

Brush the Bottom with Corn Syrup or Egg White

Coating the inside surface of the bottom crust will create a barrier to prevent sogginess.

Take half a cup of egg whites and apply to clean, damp hair. Leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse the hair with cool water to remove the mixture. Shampoo hair as normal.

The most simple way to wash your hair with an egg is to crack an egg into a squeezy bottle (a fizzy drink with a squeezy lid works well) and give it a good shake. Take the bottle into the shower with you and after giving you hair a good wetting with COOL water squeeze the egg mixture all over your scalp.

Wash eggs in warm water.

The warm tap water will draw out any dirt and bacteria from the shell; cold water can cause bacteria to go below the surface of the eggshell. Avoid any cleaning agents such as bleach, soap, or detergent. Eggshells are porous, so any chemicals will pass through the shell pores into the eggs.

If you have some egg wash leftover after baking, you can keep it, wrapped in the refrigerator for two days. This is especially useful if you are doing a lot of baking over the course of a few days. Or, simply use your leftover egg wash to make some scrambled eggs.