About Egg Yolks
Feb 05, 2011 | From the kitchen of Rose
Egg yolks are the sunshine of baking. Golden, beautiful, and full of flavor. They also are very effective in emulsifying and thickening creams and batters.
There are three things that are very important to know about egg yolks:
1) More and more often, the proportion of yolk to white is less than it has been over the past decades. This means that a recipe dependent on many yolks in order to set or have the proper consistency may be significantly short on yolks if you go by just the specified number. I've found, occasionally, that when I measure or weigh 6 yolks I need to add as many as 3 more to have the needed amount. So be sure either to measure or weigh the yolks. I list them on every recipe and if you're using other people's that don't, make a little index card with measurements or weights to put up in your kitchen as a reminder.
2) If egg yolks are combined with sugar and allowed to sit they will crust over, dry out on the surface, and result in lumps in the cooked or baked product. If you need to separate eggs ahead of using them, either spray the yolks with nonstick cooking spray or if using oil in the recipe that will be added together with the yolks, simply store the yolks in the container with the oil.
3) If you have extra yolks and are not in the mood to make lemon curd! you can freeze them but only if you stir in some sugar which will maintain their texture. Be sure to mark on the container how much sugar you added so you can subtract it from the recipe when you're ready to bake with them. I use 1/2 teaspoon sugar per yolk which is enough to keep them from being sticky when defrosted.
Print
Post/Read Comments (10)
Digg
de.licio.us
Facebook
StumbleUpon
CharlesT in reply to comment from Paula (Salad in a Jar)
04/17/2011 09:20 PM
Paula, the sugar is for the yolks, not the whites.
REPLY
Paula (Salad in a Jar)
04/17/2011 09:10 PM
Did not know about adding sugar to freeze egg whites. Will give it a try the next time I go on an angel food cake binge.
REPLY
Donna Linnane
03/01/2011 04:32 PM
Rose, thank you so much for the tip about freezing egg yolks. I've been using frozen yolks for a couple of years, and they work okay, but they're pretty solid when I thaw them - this will surely help!
REPLY
Olawale Taiwo
02/08/2011 10:19 AM
Hello Rose, I recently bumped on this egg yolk preservation tip also in Maida Heatter Cake Book.
Thanks
Wale
REPLY
Rose Levy Beranbaum in reply to comment from Julie
02/07/2011 10:22 AM
julie--i'm so glad you mentioned this as i found the same thing to be true and i've been buying jumbo eggs!
REPLY
Julie
02/07/2011 10:21 AM
A great point to emphasize!
I've noticed that with yolks being smaller and whites larger, classic chiffon cakes can use extra-large eggs with no leftover whites or yolks.
REPLY
Rose Levy Beranbaum in reply to comment from Zach Townsend
02/07/2011 10:15 AM
i thought of the sun as well when i cropped it to look so big.
REPLY
Zach Townsend
02/06/2011 02:23 AM
Great reminders and a beautiful photo - just like the sun!
REPLY
Rose Levy Beranbaum in reply to comment from Wm
02/05/2011 02:51 PM
exactly so Wm!
REPLY
Wm
02/05/2011 02:15 PM
Rose,
Thank you; you have confirmed what I thought I have observed. This also means that fewer whites, than a recipe calls for, are needed. Right?
Sonny
REPLY
Woody's Bread Saga Continues
Introducing American Record Breaker..Haley Beranbaum!