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You've been baking like a pro ever since you first felt the need to take up a new hobby. You know that baked items are given a glossy, golden-brown appearance by brushing them with a mixture of water or milk and egg and that this mixture is also employed as a binding agent when preparing breaded dishes. But what should you do if you find that you have used the last of the eggs in the refrigerator on your omelette this morning? Simply replace the eggs in a recipe with one of the alternatives to egg wash provided below, and the end result will be just as Instagrammable.
To make an egg wash, you beat an egg and then add some milk or water to thin it down. It can be used to give baked goods a golden, crispy crust by brushing it on before baking. Breading can be bound to deep-fried dishes with this. Eggs are often used in baked goods, but there are many people who can't have them due to dietary restrictions or food allergies. To achieve the same crispy, enticing crust that an egg wash can produce, an egg wash alternative may be necessary.
Milk or Cream
Milk or heavy cream works best as a replacement for egg wash. For every 1/4 cup of egg wash called for in the recipe, use 1 tablespoon of milk or heavy cream instead. For example, if a recipe calls for an egg wash, you can use 4 tablespoons of milk or heavy cream instead.
Butter
Baking using butter instead of egg wash achieves the same golden, crispy finish without sacrificing flavour. To begin, melt the butter over low heat, taking care not to brown it. Next, spread a thin layer of the butter using a pastry brush to the item that will be cooked. (Note that using too much melted butter can result in a greasy mess when baked, so don't go crazy.)
Almond Milk
If you're looking for a vegan alternative to egg wash that will give your baked items the same golden brown colour and delicious nutty flavour, look no further than almond milk. Use as much almond milk as you need to brush it across the surface of the item, but be careful not to oversaturate the dough.
Oil
Another vegan alternative that, when drizzled on dough before baking, produces a golden, crunchy crust. Vegetable oil is recommended since its bland flavour complements a wide variety of dishes, but other oils such as grapeseed, olive, and coconut can be used instead if desired. Use sparingly; similar to butter, too much oil will make the final product oily (and maybe burnt).
Honey or Maple Syrup
Honey or maple syrup can be used in place of egg wash for baking sweets. Both of these sugary liquids will caramelise in the oven, giving baked goods an attractive sheen and golden colour. Both can be used as toppings by simply brushing them onto the dough. But the experts claim that honey and maple syrup are better suited for quick-baking recipes because they burn more easily at higher temperatures. (You can also use both at the very end of baking for more time-consuming dishes.)
Yogurt
Yoghurt can replace egg wash in recipes for fried and baked goods when the egg wash is employed as a binding agent rather than a varnish. If the yoghurt is too thick, add a tablespoon or two of water and whisk until smooth; then, for a coating that holds, dip the food into the yoghurt before dredging in flour and/or breadcrumbs.
