Learn how to make freeze dried eggs at home. This is a great way to preserve extra eggs in the summer to use in the winter. Freeze dried eggs can also be used for prepping or for your food storage, and you can use them to make scrambled eggs.
If you have backyard chickens, then you'll have a lot of eggs in the summer and fewer in the winter. While you can freeze eggs, I learned how to freeze dry eggs at home with a Harvest Right freeze dryer.
I have two freezers, but I still have more shelf space than I do freezer space. I also like putting food on the shelf so I don't lose everything if the power goes out for a long time.
How to Make Freeze Dried Eggs at Home
I use a Harvest Right freeze dryer to make my freeze dried eggs. It's the only freeze dryer that's made for home use, so it's affordable for homesteaders.
It's still an investment, but it's a worthwhile one in my opinion. You can use it to make several things for store or for eating.
- How to Make Freeze Dried Fruit at Home
- How to Make Freeze Dried Strawberries
- How to Make Freeze Dried Apples
- 27 Recipes Using Freeze Dried Fruit
- How to Freeze Dry Blueberries
Keep track of your inventory and batches with a printable freeze drying log book.
Can You Make Freeze Dried Eggs At Home?
Yes! You absolutely can freeze dry eggs at home, whether in a machine or through a different method. Freeze dried eggs are perfect for storage and last a long time making them a great thing to have on the shelf.
Not to mention just how many recipes call for eggs, as well as them tasting great on their own. Learning how to freeze dry eggs at home is a good way to preserve your fresh eggs.
There are a couple methods that you can use to freeze dry eggs, and you can even do it without the use of a machine.
How Long Do Raw Freeze Dried Scrambled Eggs Last?
When properly stored, freeze dried Scrambled eggs can last for several years. This means that you will always have eggs on hand and freeze drying allows you to take advantage of large sales or large yields from your chickens.
You should store your freeze dried eggs in an airtight storage container. If you are saving them for a short time, you can use mason jars with plastic lids.
However, for long term storage, I recommend using Mylar bags with an oxygen absorber.
How Do You Dehydrate Scrambled Eggs For Long Term Storage?
Freeze drying eggs is typically the easiest method to prepare eggs for long term storage. Freeze dried scrambled eggs will last up to several years when stored properly, and the process is relatively simple to do.
Do Freeze Dried Eggs Taste Good?
Freeze dried eggs can be used as one to one substitutes in most recipes or eaten on their own. Typically, freeze dried eggs are reconstituted before consumption, unlike fruits or meats.
This is because to freeze dry eggs you are drying the innards of the egg. As such, you would eat them in the same way you eat fresh eggs, through cooking or in a recipe.
However, reconstituted eggs taste great and are typically indistinguishable from standard eggs when used in recipes.
Does Freeze Drying Kill Bacteria?
Freeze drying is a great way to kill bacteria in eggs and is part of the reason why they have such a long shelf life. Eggs are not very shelf stable foods, often lasting only about three weeks.
However, freeze dried eggs can last up to five years making them perfect for storing on the shelf.
Can You Freeze Dry Without a Machine?
You can in fact freeze dry eggs without a machine. I like to use the dry ice method of freeze drying, as a standard freezer won’t work with eggs.
To start, crack your eggs into freezer bags and place into a cooler with a ventilated lid. From there, stack dry ice in a one to one ratio on top of the freezer bags. Place the lid back on and allow the cooler to sit for twenty four hours.
After the twenty four hours are up, or all the dry ice has evaporated, remove the eggs and place them into sealed containers for storage. This is the easiest method for home freezer drying when it comes to eggs.
Important to note, however, is that the Harvest Right freeze drying machine is still much more effective, and easier to use, than the dry ice method. If you do not or cannot get a machine this method will work great.
How Long Does It Take To Freeze Dry Scrambled Eggs?
Using a machine will take several hours depending on how much egg you are freeze drying. Using the machine can take up to 16 hours to make freeze dried eggs.
As such, it is important to plan your time accordingly. The last thing you want is to be bound to your freeze drier when you need to be doing something else.
Can Hard Boiled Eggs Be Freeze Dried?
While possible, hard boiled eggs are not ideal for freeze drying. This is because the fats in the yolk complicate the freeze drying process, making it harder for them to properly freeze dry.
Rather, it is best to learn how to make freeze dried eggs the simple way.
Can You Use Freeze Dried Eggs For Baking?
Freeze dried eggs are perfect for baking, as you can easily add them to any recipe. Further, they can be used in a one to one ratio after reconstituting. With minor corrections, you can also use egg powder in recipes.
Of course, you will want to use your best judgement as some recipes will need the eggs to be reconstituted to make them liquid and help with the mixing process.
How Much Freeze Dried Egg Equals One Egg?
Typically, freeze drying eggs will lessen the amount of eggs that you have. However, by the time they are reconstituted you will have the same amount. Therefore freeze dried eggs and regular eggs are a one to one ratio.
To use freeze dried powered eggs in baking, combine 2 tablespoons of egg powder and 2 tablespoons water in a bowl. Stir and let sit for two minutes to allow the water to get absorbed into the egg powder.
You can then cook the egg like scrambled eggs or use in baking.
How Much Water Does It Take To Rehydrate Freeze Dried Eggs?
Typically, you will use a 1:1 ratio of water and egg powder to rehydrated freeze dried eggs. However, you may need more if you are making scrambled eggs.
How much water you want to add will also depend on what purpose you are using eggs for. Some recipes will need liquid runny eggs to help with mixing while others can use powdered eggs no problem.
Can You Make Scrambled Eggs With Powdered Eggs?
Powdered eggs are ideal for making scrambled eggs, as you only need to add water. Simply add water until the eggs are at your desired runniness and cook for delicious and easy scrambled eggs.
Powdered eggs are great for camping as they are light and easy to transport. Best of all, they don’t break and can be easily packed away in cases and coolers.
How To Freeze Dry Eggs and Make Powdered Eggs
Learning how to make powdered eggs is super simple to do. To start, freeze dry your eggs as normal. For the freeze drying process, I recommend cracking your eggs into baggies or silicone ice cube trays.
Once they are dried, toss them into a blender and blend until they form a powder. From there place your eggs into sealed containers for storage. It is that easy to learn how to make powdered eggs.
Can You Eat Powdered Eggs Raw?
It is not recommended to eat powdered eggs raw. Rather, powdered eggs should be reconstituted for use on their own.
You can use raw powdered eggs in recipes, but as far as consuming them on their own you should always reconstitute and prepare them properly.
Freeze Dried Eggs Ingredients
You will need the following to make freeze dried eggs:
- Eggs
- Salt and pepper (optional)
How to Make Freeze Dried Eggs
Step #1
Beat eggs and pour into hot pan. Cook flipping after about 3 minutes. Cook until fully cooked through. I cut mine out with circle cutters and they were about 1/8 cup each.
Step #2
Let cook and place on freeze dryer sheet and set to “not frozen”, 140 dry heat. Allow machine to run the cycle. Mine took about 16 hours start to finish.
Step #3
Remove and store in bags.
Step #4
When ready to use, place 2 tablespoons of water with 3 circles of eggs. Stir until rehydrated. If you like your eggs a bit softer add a bit more water. You can also crumble the eggs and use 2 tablespoons of egg powder and 2 tablespoons of water to make the equivalent of one egg.
How to Store Freeze Dried Eggs
Your freeze dried eggs will last up to 25 years if stored properly. Here are several ways to store your powdered eggs until you're ready to use them:
- Store powdered eggs in a mason jar if you plant to use them within a few weeks. I recommend using the plastic lids because they seal better than a ring and lid.
- You can vacuum seal your powdered eggs in a mason jar or in vacuum sealed bags if you plant to store them for longer than a few weeks.
- For the longest storage, store them in Mylar storage bags with an oxygen absorber.
Now you know how to make freeze dried eggs at home!
How to Make Freeze Dried Eggs at Home was originally published at Homesteading in Ohio.
Like this post? Pin it!
How to Freeze Dry Eggs With Harvest Right Freeze Dryer
Ingredients
- 12 eggs
Instructions
- Beat eggs and pour into hot pan. Cook flipping after about 3 minutes. Cook until fully cooked through. I cut mine out with circle cutters and they were about 1/8 cup each.
- Let cook and place on freeze dryer sheet and set to “not frozen”, 140 dry heat. Allow machine to run the cycle. Mine took about 16 hours start to finish.
- Remove and store in bags.
- When ready to use, place 2 tablespoons of water with 3 circles of eggs. Stir until rehydrated. If you like your eggs a bit softer add a bit more water. You can also crumble the eggs and use 2 tablespoons of egg powder and 2 tablespoons of water to make the equivalent of one egg.
Notes:
Store freeze dried eggs right away because they can absorb moisture from the air.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
71.50Fat (grams)
4.75Sat. Fat (grams)
1.56Carbs (grams)
0.36Fiber (grams)
0.00Net carbs
0.36Sugar (grams)
0.19Protein (grams)
6.28Sodium (milligrams)
71.00Cholesterol (grams)
186.00
Great Blog! Altho I would like to mention that freeze drying does NOT kill bacteria. Any bacteria or viruses will be freeze dried along with the eggs and will be inert until the eggs (food) is rehydrated. So treat reconstituted eggs as carefully as you would fresh. The complete removal of water during the freeze drying process is what makes the food shelf stable. All things alive need water to live. Bacteria is special tho, and can spring back to life when rehydrated. No worries tho, it's normal, none of our food is sterile, nor should it ever be. Foods that are packed with probiotics (good gut bacteria) is not compromised during the freeze drying process. Water bath or pressure canning kills
ReplyDeletebad bacteria and good bacteria.
Hope this helps. Keep up the Freeze Drying!!