Although egg prices are slightly less alarming than they were a month ago, they are still far from feeling like an affordable addition to your grocery list. But...I know you’re going to buy eggs anyway, so instead of using those precious eggs in baking projects, swap them with a flax egg! One 13-ounce bag of flaxseeds costs less than a carton of a dozen eggs, and it can make the equivalent of 36 eggs, making this easy egg substitute both effective, vegan, and incredibly economical. Whether you’re an egg replacement veteran or still debating trying this (admittedly crazy) hack, keep reading to have all your burning questions answered.
What Is A Flax Egg & How Does It Work?
Flax seeds have a natural gum in their exterior seed coat called mucilage, a plant-based fiber. When ground and mixed with water, the flax turns into a gluey substance that mimics the slightly sticky texture of an egg. The flax egg helps hold the ingredients together in the same way that an egg would.
How Do You Make A Flax Egg?
Using a spice or coffee grinder, grind one tablespoon of flaxseed until it turns into a fine powder. (You can also buy flaxseed meal, which is ground.) Transfer the ground flaxseeds to a bowl and add 2 ½ tablespoons of water. Stir the mixture until evenly combined, then let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes to give the water time to absorb into the flaxseed. As it sits, the mixture will thicken and develop a texture similar to that of a beaten egg.
How Do You Use Flax Eggs?
Flax eggs are great for baking projects.One flax egg can replace one regular egg in recipes for things like pancakes, cookies, muffins, and other baked goods.
Can I Use A Flax Egg In Cheesecake Or Custard?
Definitely not! In general, flax eggs should only be used as a substitute in baking when eggs aren’t a featured ingredient. Reach for real eggs when making things like cheesecake, key lime pie, curd, custard, pastry cream, ice cream, etc.
Can I Scramble Or Fry A Flax Egg?
No! A flax egg only replicates a real egg’s binding properties and moisture, but will not replicate the flavor, protein content, or texture of an egg cooked by itself. Like the question above, flax eggs aren’t meant to replace eggs when they are the featured ingredient, like in a quiche or frittata.
Are There Any Cons To Using A Flax Egg In Baked Goods?
The only real downside to using a flax egg is that the resulting baked good will be slightly more tender than its real-egg counterpart. The flax egg will also give your baked goods some speckles, but I don’t really see that as a downside.
