Egg wash is one of the most important ingredients for people who bake a lot because it helps create that brown crust and crispy texture that everyone raves about. However, in the majority of cases, some egg wash will be left over. Then, many people have no idea what to do with it.
In truth, it’s more valuable than you think! So you never have to throw it away again! With this article, we’ll share eight different ways of using egg wash—and answer some other important questions too.
What is Egg Wash?
Egg wash is a simple mixture, containing eggs, which is a helpful resource when preparing baked goods. It has a variety of uses to enhance the final product.
What are the Uses of Egg Wash?
The most common use of egg wash is to improve the look of baked goods. You can brush it over pastries or breads before you bake them. Thanks to this layer the final result will be crispier on the outside and also have an inviting color.
It can even make a simple item seem more sophisticated, as if it was prepared by a professional, making it a handy tip for newbie bakers to remember. Furthermore, you can use egg wash as a type of glue or binder.
Apply it before adding a layer of sugar over sweet pastries, so the crystals will stick to the surface much better. Or, when you need different pieces of dough to stick together, egg wash can help.
For example, decorative pieces of pie dough on top of a layer of dough won’t come loose if you ‘glue’ them in place with some egg wash.
Different Types of Egg Wash
In its simplest form, egg wash is simply eggs whisked together. On baked goods this will help you achieve that inviting brown hue that makes bread look tastier. But depending on your purpose for the egg wash, you may find one of the following egg wash recipes even more beneficial:
- Eggs and water: For every egg you’ll add a tablespoon of water. It’s a very traditional egg wash recipe and our baked goods will have golden surfaces but also an alluring sheen thanks to this combination.
- Yolks or whites only: You can separate the eggs and only use either the yolks or the whites. With egg whites there will be a lot of shine, while yolks provide a golden look. Egg whites are also very helpful if you need egg wash as a gluing agent.
- Eggs and dairy: You can add some cream or milk to your egg wash. The ratio and exact ingredients will determine how dark the coloring of the baked goods will be, as well as how intense of a sheen you’ll get. So, experiment with different mixtures to get the look you’re after.
- Mayonnaise: You can use mayonnaise instead of creating your own egg wash, since this condiment already contains eggs. This is a helpful option if you’ve run out of eggs or if the baked goods will benefit from some additional fat and that unique mayo taste on the outside.
What to Do With Leftover Egg Wash?
On its own, leftover egg wash doesn’t look like much. But a few additional ingredients and cooking steps can work magic with this cooking ‘by-product’. We list a few ideas to try out, especially when your leftover mixture contains eggs only.
No, we aren’t saying that you can use uncooked egg wash as a salad dressing as is. But, you can surely use it as a base for your salad dressing. For example, the egg wash can replace the oil in your salad dressing.
The best thing about using egg wash as the base is the fact that it doesn’t carry that much flavor on its own. Therefore, if you have an existing recipe and you’re just exchanging oil for egg wash, you don’t need to change much of the other ingredients like spices, herbs, and vinegar.
The dressing will still taste great. Furthermore, using it as a salad dressing base will ensure the sauce comes out creamy and has an enriching flavor.
- Sandwich Spread
Another way of using your leftover egg wash is using it as a sandwich spread. Once again, you won’t use it on its own. Here you’ll need to mix it with mayonnaise.
Then you can flavor it with onion powder, garlic powder, pepper, and salt, along with other spices that you want in your sandwich spread. This tip is particularly handy for making your own sandwich spread at home.
It’s not ideal adding it to premade or commercial sandwich spread, since it can alter the consistency or taste.
- Dip
Dip is one of the most important elements when you serve items such as:
- Sandwiches
- Chicken
- Crisps
- Pretzels
- Crackers
- Cheese sticks
- Meat platters
- Raw vegetables
The good news is you can easily make dip with your leftover egg wash, which you may be stuck with after preparing other elements on the menu.
Another benefit here is that egg wash adds additional flavor to the dip, although the outcome is better if you’ve only used egg whites for making the wash. Here’s a basic recipe to follow:
- Start with your leftover egg wash
- Mix it with finely chopped herbs to improve the flavor
- Add salt, paprika, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder to taste
- This dip goes specifically well with roasted chicken, veggies, or fries.
- Glaze
The egg wash is usually used to add crispiness to the exterior of baked items, which is why you can use the egg wash as a glaze for vegetables and meats as well. However, when using it as a glaze, you must add water. This will make the wash thinner. In addition, you can improve the glaze’s flavor by adding:
- Spices
- Herbs
- Other condiments
Combine these with the wash to your personal taste and then pour this mixture all over your vegetables and meat before you cook or bake them.
- Pasta Topping
Another helpful method of using your egg wash and preventing wastage is pouring it over cooked pasta. You can top it with parmesan cheese.
When you do this you have an easy and fast way of adding some creaminess and richness to the pasta. However, for optimal flavor, don’t forget to season the pasta with onion powder, salt, and pepper.
Do you need a time-saving solution for breakfast? If you have some leftover egg wash from the day before, simply cook it in a pan on the stove top and you’ll have scrambled eggs!
With this tip you’ll benefit from the fact that egg wash turns into light-colored, fluffy scrambled eggs, so you’ll enjoy the texture as well as the taste. Serve it with toast and add pepper, salt, chives, parsley and herbs to suit your preferences.
Avocado slices make for an excellent addition to this recipe. Important tip: don’t use egg wash that has been in the fridge too long!
- Instant Gravy Base
When preparing gravy there’s always the chance that it turns out very thin. If you have some leftover egg wash you have an easy fix. Simply add the wash and a little bit of flour. Then continuously stir for five to seven minutes to ensure all the ingredients mix thoroughly.
- Roux
A unique but tasty alternative for anyone preparing roux is using leftover egg wash for this sauce base. You’ll mix the wash with flour, simmer the mixture for over 10 minutes, and let everything blend well. However, you will need to add some spices and herbs to flavor the roux.
Can You Store Egg Wash?
If you really don’t have a use for any of our tips above, you may consider putting egg wash in storage. Do remember that a mixture containing raw eggs is the ideal environment for salmonella bacteria to reproduce.
This can happen even if your egg wash mixture is in the refrigerator. If you do need to store it for future use, rather freeze it.
Can You Feed Leftover Egg Wash to Dogs or Cats?
Our list of tips is helpful to prevent wastage by ensuring human consumption of the leftover egg wash. However, there’s no reason not to feed it to your dog or cat, as long as you cook it first.
In fact, it can be a tasty addition so they’ll be more excited about that night’s dinner! Keep this in mind if you have a pet that’s a picky eater who quickly gets bored with their usual pet food. Remember that raw egg can contain salmonella, which can cause infections.
And if your pets have an infection related to salmonella exposure, it can spread to you as owners. So, never simply pour the egg wash over your pet’s food. Always cook it first.
In Summary
When you get creative in the kitchen there’s usually a lot you can do with any type of leftovers. It’s no different with leftover egg wash! Keep our handy guideline on hand and your egg wash leftovers may even solve other cooking challenges when preparing dinner one day!