How to separate egg whites

How to separate egg whites from egg yolks: a guide

When cooking or baking from a recipe that calls for egg whites, knowing the proper method to separating egg whites from egg yolks is a crucial skill. Separated egg whites can be used when baking fluffy meringue, whereas egg yolks are great for making a sweet and tangy custard.

Yields

• 1 set of egg whites and 1 egg yolk per egg

Ingredients

• Whole, raw eggs

Tools

• Bowls

Total time

• 1 minute

Step 1: prepare bowls

In order to separate egg whites from egg yolks, you will need a place to put them once they are divided. Place two bowls side by side on your countertop.

Step 2: crack egg

Carefully crack your egg against a hard, flat surface. While holding the egg upright, use your thumbs to delicately push the crack in the middle of the egg wider until you are holding two roughly equal halves of egg shell in each hand. The egg should be sitting in one of these halves.

Step 3: pass egg

Begin to slowly pass the egg back and forth between each egg shell. As you do this, allow the egg white to drip into a designated bowl below.

Step 4: remove egg yolk

Once you have separated all of the egg white from the egg yolk using this method, remove your egg yolk from its shell half and place it into the other bowl. You can reserve the egg yolks for use in other recipes such as custards, aioli or a zesty pomelo lime curd.

Tips for separating eggs

Separating egg whites from egg yolks is a delicate process. Luckily, there are a few tips that can make the process both run both smoothly and more fool-proof.

1. Use chilled eggs

The easiest way to ensure that your egg yolks don’t break, which makes it impossible to separate them, is to use chilled eggs. This ensures that the yolk is harder and therefore easier to handle.

2. Crack egg against a flat surface

When it comes to not breaking the yolk, make sure that you crack your eggs against a flat surface. This is because curved surfaces, such as the rim of your bowl, are more likely to penetrate your egg yolk and may make it difficult to separate it from your egg whites.

3. Wash hands before and after use

It is important to wash your hands before and after separating egg whites from egg yolks. Wash them before to remove skin oils that can stop egg whites from fluffing. Wash them after to remove any possible contamination of salmonella with your other ingredients.

How do you separate egg whites without an egg separator?

Instead of using a specialized tool, you can simply drop the unshelled egg into your hand and let the whites run through your fingers. For a less messy approach, pass the egg yolk back and forth between two halves of the shell, letting the egg white spill out as you go. Egg separators are specialized tools that are used to separate egg whites from egg yolks. They are a single-use tool that are unable to be used for other processes in the kitchen. Using hands-on methods for separating egg whites are just as effective and will help you quickly move to the next step in your recipe.

Is it easier to separate egg whites cold or at room temperature?

It is best to separate egg whites from egg yolks when the eggs are chilled as opposed to room temperature. This is because the yolk will be firmer and less likely to break when passing the egg back and forth. However, let the egg whites rest until they reach room temperature before using them in a recipe that calls for them to be beaten.

Recipes that use egg whites

Although not as prevalent as whole eggs, egg whites are an important ingredient to many sweet and savory meals. Recipes range from rich late-night meringue desserts to hearty frittata breakfasts that make the careful process of separating egg whites worth it.

1. Meringue

This fluffy and delectable dessert epitomizes cooking with egg whites. With its golden-brown peaks and white sugary valleys, you can spread your meringue onto pie filling or enjoy as a bite-sized treat by using a KitchenAid^® food chopper to rapidly whisk egg whites. View Recipe

2. Macarons

Equal parts sweet and nutty, these lemon and lime macarons are the perfect finger food. With some help from your KitchenAid^® slide-in range, you can bake these cookies until they are just hard enough to take the perfect bite. View Recipe

3. Frittata

When it comes to fluffy textures and rich flavors, this tomato tortellini frittata recipe is unbeatable. The key is using your KitchenAid^® stand mixer and flat beater to beat your egg whites until frothy and ready to help make the base for this dish with your additional ingredients. View Recipe

4. Whiskey cocktail

There is no better way to unwind from a long day than this recipe for a refreshing and satisfying winter orange whiskey cocktail. To top off this acidic drink, make sure to use a KitchenAid^® blender to whip your ingredients into a delicious froth. View Recipe