Easy Ways to Make Egg Wash

An egg wash is prepared by using either the whole egg, just the yolk, or just the white. Read this Tastessence post to find out how to make an egg wash in 3 simple steps.

When a recipe calls for eggs

it usually means you will need chicken eggs that are at room temperature. Even though different types of chicken lay eggs in a variety of color, it will not alter the flavor or color of your recipe.

In culinary terms, the word wash has two meanings. The first is the literal meaning where you clean the ingredients. As for the second meaning, it means you are going to apply a type of light glaze onto something. Here, we mean the latter.

An egg wash is a mixture that is prepared with a large raw egg and is used to brown baked items, and at times, chicken and fish. Although the standard recipe (provided below) is quite simple and provides desired results, many chefs, professional and home cooks, like to incorporate healthier variations (recipes given below). So, as you read the rest of the article, you will learn exactly how to make an egg wash with just two basic ingredients.

Egg Wash Recipe

Prep time – 1 min
Cook time – 1 min
Serving size – ¼ cup

Ingredients

• Egg, whole, 1
• Whole milk or heavy cream, 1 tsp.

Directions

1. To make an egg wash, place the whole egg, without the shell, in a small bowl.

2. Add a teaspoon of whole milk or heavy cream into the bowl.

3. Using either a fork or a small whisk, beat the ingredients together until its properly incorporated.

4. Using a pastry brush, apply the egg wash on the surface of the pastry or to bind it, or over any baked items. You can also cover the bowl with a cling film and refrigerate it until ready to use.

Although this recipe can work for almost all types of basting requirements, keep these important tips in mind.

• For every egg―whole, yolk, white―always add a teaspoon of liquid. You can always increase the amount of liquid to add, but never go beyond 3 teaspoons.
• If the quantity of egg wash is less, don’t include another egg. Instead, add a little more milk or water in it.
• Apart from salt, you can whisk cinnamon and nutmeg in the egg wash for additional flavor and color.

Recipe Modifications to Suit Your Liking

Of course, the amount of any ingredient changed or altered will fetch you different results. For example, using a specific part of the egg―whole, yolk, white―will determine the color and shine. So, let’s find out what the results will be depending on the color and shine you want on your baked items or meat.

For binding

• Egg, whole, 1
• Salt, pinch

For crispy surface

• Egg, white, 1

• Egg, whole, 1
• Salt, pinch

• Whole milk, 1 tsp.
• Egg, whole, 1

Before we end the article, we cannot stress enough the importance of using fresh ingredients every time you cook. So, make sure to use only fresh eggs to avoid any health-related issues.

Now that you have a variety of different recipes for making egg wash at home, try to experiment with them all to figure out which variation works in your cooking. With egg wash, you can be sure to put the lovely brown color and shine on your pastries, breads, rolls, and meats, one brush stroke at a time.