For most people, eggs are an easy and healthy food option and a popular baking ingredient. However, vegans do not consume eggs, as they avoid any animal products. This can make cooking and baking more difficult. But it doesn’t need to be a challenge, below are 8 substitutes for eggs in vegan cooking and baking.
The first vegan egg replacement on our list is unsweetened applesauce. Applesauce adds moisture while also binding ingredients together. It is also affordable, and easy to find in any store. Just ensure you always use the unsweetened option or cut the sugar content in the recipe. For best results use ¼ cup of applesauce per egg.
Using mashed bananas to replace eggs maintains moisture and binds ingredients together. However, bananas have a distinctive flavor, so keep this in mind when replacing eggs in certain recipes. Avoid using green or bright yellow bananas, instead, wait for the fruit to ripen and develop brown spots. This way the banana will mash well with fewer chunks. Use ¼ cup of mashed banana to replace each egg.
This is a popular option in many vegan recipes. However, you must either grind the chia seeds yourself or buy pre-ground chia seeds, which can be expensive. If the chia seeds are not ground up, your finished goods will have hard seeds throughout. Keep in mind that using chia seeds to replace eggs can create a denser texture, and can add a nutty flavor. To replace each egg, combine 1 tablespoon of ground chia seeds with 3 tablespoons of water and mix well. This should create a thick mixture to add as needed.
Arrowroot is a South American plant, with a starchy root. It is available in powder form at most health food stores. Resembling corn starch, this powder is great for replacing eggs in most recipes. Simply mix 2 tablespoons of arrowroot powder with 3 tablespoons of water for each egg.
A relatively new development, aquafaba is the liquid from a can of chickpeas. This liquid has a similar consistency to egg whites and a very mild flavor. This makes it a great substitution for eggs, and egg whites in various recipes. You can even whip aquafaba into peaks for meringues, marshmallows, and macaroons. Use 3 tablespoons of aquafaba to replace one egg.
Using carbonated water to replace eggs ensures the end product is light, fluffy, and moist. Just ensure you use unflavoured carbonated water to avoid additional flavor. Use ¼ cup of carbonated water per egg.
This is an unflavoured gelling agent, making it a great binding agent in baking and cooking. Agar-agar is made from seaweed or algae and is available in most health food stores in powdered form. To replace each egg use 1 tablespoon agar-agar powder mixed with 1 tablespoon water.
Nowadays there are various egg replacement products on the market. These are often made from potato starch, tapioca starch, pea protein, and leaving agents. With many options on the market, in both powdered and liquid forms, it is important to read the directions on each product. For powders, you will have to combine the powder with water before adding it to your recipe. However, for the liquid options, it is typically 3 tablespoons to replace each egg.
Eggs are a crucial ingredient in many recipes, contributing to the structure, flavor, texture, and look of finished meals. Luckily, there are now many options available to replace eggs. Use the substitutions for eggs above in your vegan cooking and baking. Note, that you may need to experiment with the options above to get the best egg replacement for each recipe.
