Healthy recipes using eggs, tips and hacks to use eggs
Unless you are vegan or have an allergy the chances are you use eggs fairly often. Here are some tips for eggs and recipes using eggs. I share how to get the most out of them without too much mess or stress! A healthy lunch with eggs can really set you up for the afternoon in my experience.
If you are a follower of Slimming World, Weight Watchers (WW), Noom or any other weight loss plan you can usually count many of these recipes and ideas as free or easily within your allowances, of course always check your plan for advice.
Tips for recipes using eggs
Freshness
If you are unsure if an egg is still okay to use, get a jug of cold water and carefully place the egg in. If the egg sinks, it is okay, but if it floats, you shouldn’t eat it.
The reason behind this is that if the shell breaks down slightly air can get inside it (and make the egg go off), if there is air inside it then with this test it will float. If you remember one of my tips with eggs, remember this one!
Eggs can be stored safely for over a year. Read more about storing eggs in my egg storage article to see if it is something you can do.
For more tips on storing food, check out my food storage tips.
Don’t crack on the side of a bowl
As much as you want to crack the egg on the side of the bowl or pan, it is much better to crack it on a flat surface like the work surface or chopping board.
Just one tap to crack the shell slightly but then use your fingers to open the shell. This way, you won’t get the shell in your omelette! If you try one thing from this about recipes using eggs then this should be it!
Keep an eye out for reduced eggs
Eggs have two dates a sell-by date and a use-by date, usually with a week between, if you use eggs often you can save money buying them close to the use-by date and still be eating them within the date! Money-saving makes such a difference in the long run!
I love recipes using eggs so do this often and can save a lot of money.
Add Water instead of Milk
If you want scrambled eggs or omelette but follow Slimming World or another diet and don’t want to use milk just use the same amount of water (a few tablespoons). Remember to season well and it will be just as fluffy.
Basics for recipes using eggs
The Perfect Omelette recipe
I spent ages perfecting the perfect omelette and how to stop it from turning into scrambled eggs! For a 3-egg omelette use a frying pan that measures around 6 inches in diameter.
Beat the eggs with 3 tablespoons of water and season well in a jug. Spray the pan well with low-calorie cooking spray and place over medium heat until the pan is hot and the spray is no longer visible.
Pour in the mixture, then, after one minute, use a silicone spatula to drag in the edge of the mixture towards the middle at various points around the omelette allowing the liquid from the top to run into the gap made.
Continue doing this until the top is no longer runny. The top doesn’t have to be wholly set but if it is no longer runny then add the filling e.g. cheese and mushroom and immediately using the spatula fold it in half in the pan and remove it from the heat.
Stand for a minute, then serve. The heat from the omelette will cook the part that was on top as it is now in the middle, and you will have the perfect omelette!
Perfect Fried Eggs
For the perfect fried eggs, use the freshest eggs you can as the yolk is less likely to split as the membrane of the yolk is stronger. To make it perfectly round, you can use egg rings or an alternative if you don’t have egg rings is simply a ring of onion!
Separating Eggs
If you need to separate the yolk and the white, the easiest way is when the eggs are cold. There are many gadgets available to separate them for you, but I find the easiest way is to keep the yolk in the shell as you crack it! Remember to check recipes using eggs to see if they need separating.
Picking up a Dropped Egg
We have all done it, haven’t we, dropped an egg all over the floor when making a healthy lunch with eggs in a rush and struggled to pick it up. The easiest way to pick it up is to tip salt over it and when that is set pick it up using a damp piece of kitchen roll.
Another way of picking it up is to use a brush and dustpan. This sounds bizarre, but it does work! This is one of my favourite tips for eggs.
Boiling Eggs
If you don’t want the egg to crack whilst boiling, it is less likely if you use room-temperature eggs. When they are cooked, plunge them straight into cold water and leave them to cool in the cold water (keeping it cool by topping it up if necessary).
This also prevents the grey surrounding the yolk, which whilst harmless, is not so nice looking!
Cooled-boiled eggs are great with salads or even as a snack. You can enjoy them without needing recipes using eggs, just have them as a snack!
Poaching eggs
The easiest way to make poached eggs is surprisingly simple. Boil a pan of water with a splash of white wine vinegar or cider vinegar in.
Using ramekins or similar, carefully break each egg into a separate ramekin and pour carefully, one at a time, into the boiling water. When the egg rises to the top of the boiling water, remove it carefully with a slotted spoon and serve immediately.
Top tip – don’t use balsamic vinegar, it makes it a horrible colour and the egg also has a slight balsamic taste! Cider or white whine vinegar are best!
Slicing Boiled Eggs
To slice boiled eggs without them crumbling, keep dipping the knife or slicer in cold water. This means you have much more perfect slices without crumbly yolk!
Whisking Egg Whites
For the firmest egg whites, use a metal whisk and a glass or metal bowl. Plastic whisks or bowls have slight bits of oil absorbed in them and stop the egg from being whisked to quite as firm!
How to make round eggs without an egg ring
I am often asked about this, and it is really easy to make round eggs even if you don’t have an egg ring. The first option is to use a slice of onion. This forms a perfect circle to crack your egg into and makes a perfectly round fried egg. Another good option is a slice of pepper.
Alternatively, why not buy some cheap egg rings or a one-egg pan? Both can help you make the perfect round eggs in the future!
Healthy recipes using eggs
If you have eggs to use up or are starting to think it would be great to add more to your diet, here are some tasty recipes using eggs as one of your main ingredients. Perfect for an easy midweek meal!
Spanish chickpeas, spinach and egg
Egg fried rice – probably one of the most popular recipes using eggs
Rosemary and caramelised onion mini quiches
Mini pepper quiches with a crust!
More you may find helpful
Fancy 4 weeks of healthy lunches already planned out for you? Check this lunch plan out. I also have lots of full week meal plans here.
I have other guides to recipes with specific ingredients/diets so do go and have a look at those too. Recipes with chicken, vegetarian and vegan recipes, how to use quark and recipes with it, how to cook perfect rice and recipes with rice, butternut squash tips and recipes and many more just check out my recipes directory. Be sure if you check out anything though to look at the tasty desserts I share here.
