How to quickly make the best egg substitute for all your egg-free baking needs. Safer and healthier than commercial egg replacements that contain numerous additives.
Are you looking to get away from aquafaba aka “chickpea water” when it comes to egg substitutes? What actually is the healthiest egg replacement if you have a true egg allergy in your home?
Perhaps you can eat eggs just fine but you’ve simply run out of farmΒ fresh eggs temporarily and don’t want to run to the store and pay insane prices forΒ inferior quality organic eggs.
Some people use a few ounces of applesauce or a mashed up half banana as a substitute for one egg. In my experience, the binding ability of fruit is not very good. It can also unexpectedly change the taste of the recipe which may not be desirable.
Others useΒ goose or duck eggs as they are less allergenic than chicken eggs. Another option is eggs from game birds like quail. However, the availability of these types of eggs is sparse in some areas.
Some may try using bean water of various kinds but be warned. The saponins which cause the egg-like whipping are a risk to gut health. This anti-nutrient plus phytic acid, lectins, etc contribute to a leaky intestinal wall and can even be a miscarriage risk.
Homemade Egg Substitute that WORKS
The safe egg substitute I recommend that works really well is the gel from soaking flax or chia seeds.Β Β If you have any thyroid issues, it is best to use chia seeds as your egg substitute because flax is a slightly goitrogenic food.
Those who live in France should use chia seeds as flax has been banned for human consumption since 1973 and has limited availability in other European countries like Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland. Β To my knowledge, this ban is still in effect at the present time.
Note that a seed-based egg replacement works best for wheat or einkorn based baking recipes. It does work fairly well for gluten free recipes and best with those that only call for 1 egg. If you need more than 1 egg replacement for a recipe using gluten free flour, be sure to use a binder such as xanthan gum or guar gum.
Egg Substitute Recipe
How to quickly make the best egg substitute for all your egg-free baking needs. Safer and healthier than commercial egg replacements that contain numerous additives.
Ingredients
- 1 Tbl chia seeds or 2 tsp ground chia seeds
- 1/4 cup filtered water
Instructions
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Mix the seeds into the water in a small cup. The transformation to chia gel will occur faster if you use boiling water, but this is not necessary.
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Let sit for a few minutes. With boiling water, it takes about 5 minutes.
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Use the resulting gel in your baking recipe as a substitute for 1 egg. No need to try and sieve out the seeds. If you need to substitute 2 or more eggs, simply increase the recipe as needed.
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Whip the chia gel to get an even lighter and fluffier end result!
Recipe Video
More Information
Flax has negative effects on fertility and pregnancy.
I didn’t know this! I’m pregnant and just used 3 TBS of flaxseed for egg sub in a cookie recipe. Guess I will put the flaxseeds away & hope they didn’t hurt me π
Yeah, skip the flax during pregnancy. Pregnancy is tough enough on the thyroid and hormones as it is. Don’t need anything else contributing to the mix.
soy is toxic….
@Beth I wouldn’t use soy flour as it is loaded with gastric slamming phytic acid and soy is a potent goitrogen. Soy is best avoided unless fermented and even then consumed in small amounts.
flax is only good freshly ground and raw. chia would be my choice.
yes, I was curious as well, why would flax be banned in so many countries?
Do you discard the flax after making the gel, or can you use it for anything else?
I’ve always discarded it. I suppose you could dry it out in a warm oven and then grind it into flaxseed meal.
flax?
why would they ban Flax??
* Note that if you have any thyroid issues, it is best to use chia seeds as flax is a slightly goitrogenic food.
Those who live in France should use chia seeds as flax has been banned for human consumption since 1973 and has limited availability in other European countries like Germany, Belgium and Switzerland. To my knowledge, this ban is still in effect at the present time.
Thanks for such great information:)