There’s a good chance you’ve traditionally fried, boiled or baked an egg, but there’s plenty of creative, atypical ways you can make use of one, both in and out of the kitchen. Grab an “egg-stra” carton next time you’re at the grocery store for these imaginative tricks below.
1. Brûlée them
Eggs are delicious no matter how you use them, but have you ever tried them bruleed? Alvin Cailan, owner of award-winning, egg-centric gourmet restaurant Eggslut in LA and Las Vegas offers a recipe on the perfect egg brulee.
Preparation
- Extremely hot water helps the egg release the shell from the whites for a cleaner peel. Use water that’s come to a roaring boil to soft-boil the eggs first for 5½ minutes, then immediately dunk the eggs in an ice bath.
- For the cleanest peel, crack and begin peeling your eggs from one of the ends—rather than from the center—to reduce your chances of breaking the delicate whites. Give the eggs a dunk in the ice water bath as you go to get rid of any leftover bits of shell.
- For perfectly halved eggs, I like to use fishing wire. Imagine that you’re cutting cheese when you’re dragging the wire through the egg.
- You have to sprinkle the tops of the egg halves with a little sugar to get that perfect caramelization. To balance out the flavor, I salt the halves before sugaring them.
- Use a kitchen torch on low heat and wave it over the tops of the eggs until they start to bubble up and caramelize. There’s no substitute for a torch here, so go splurge!
2. Turn them into rubber balls
This is a fun activity with the kids! As a home science experiment, you can turn an egg into a rubber ball, a perfect bouncing toy for children of all ages. Place a room-temperature, hard-boiled egg into a jar and fill with vinegar (little bubbles will surround the egg for a fun show). Put the lid on the jar and wait 5 days (the acid in the vinegar eats away the calcium in the egg shell, creating the rubber effect). Rinse the egg with warm water to wash away the shell. Then bounce!
3. Make a cocktail
Egg whites have been used in classic cocktails for centuries (like the Whiskey Sour, Pisco Sour, Ramos Gin Fizz and Clover Club). Adding egg whites to delicious cocktails, traditional and new alike, really balances out the flavor profile. For instance, mixologist Jeffrey Morgenthaler has been serving up the Amaretto Sour with egg white to make it sweet, sour, nutty and, of course, boozy.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Amaretto
- .75 oz Cask-proof bourbon
- 1 oz Lemon juice
- 1 tsp Rich simple syrup
- .5 oz Egg white, beaten
Preparation
- Add all ingredients to a shaker and dry shake to combine.
- Add fresh ice to the shaker and shake again until chilled.
- Strain over fresh ice into an Old Fashioned glass.
- Garnish with lemon peel and brandied cherries, if desired.
4. Make a face mask.
Egg proteins are known to significantly improve your skin’s elasticity, which reduces fine lines and repairs cells. They’re also rich in collagen and vitamin A, which helps with large pores, acne and rosacea. The simple way to make a mask is with one egg white, 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and 1/2 tablespoon of honey for moisturizing.
Preparation
- Crack the egg and allow egg white to flow into a bowl.
- Add lemon juice (a natural astringent).
- Mix until it becomes foamy and frothy.
- Add the honey and mix again.
- Add mask to clean face with fingers (you can also scrub face before to help open up the pores).
- Let sit for 10 minutes (the mask will be messy so consider laying down or doing it in the bathtub).
- Wash off and add moisturizer.
5. Use egg white to clean leather and plants
Egg white is a powerful tool for cleaning, especially leather. You can use a cloth to rub egg whites onto leather products then use a clean, soft and damp cloth to wipe it off. The egg white’s sticky base helps remove dirt and stains, and it gives it a shine. The proteins in egg also help form a protective barrier from future damage. It also gives shine to plants!
6. Give your pets some love
While pet owners are often worried about giving their pets “human food,” eggs are a rare acceptation. Cooked eggs are easily digestible with proteins, vitamins and minerals your pet will love. Use leftover egg whites or scrambled eggs (pasteurized) to mix in with their dog food or as a treat.