I don’t want my egg yolks go to waste when making meringue. I know there are a lot of recipes in which you can use egg yolks for, but cooking two or more dishes in a day is just too much for me. So I just refrigerate the egg yolks and cook them for breakfast the next day. Can I freeze egg yolks for a week so I can use them for baking later? How many days can I freeze egg yolk before it spoils?
You don’t have to freeze egg yolk if you’ll use it immediately anyway. If you refrigerate it, the yolk will stay fresh for up to 4 days.
If you intend to preserve egg yolk for a period longer than that, then you definitely need to freeze it. The recommended period is to freeze it only up to 12 months. You need to beat it with anti-gelation agents such as sugar or salt to hold back the freeze-induced gelation process.
Can You Freeze Egg Yolks
You should determine beforehand where to use the egg yolk for. If you will use it for dessert, then beat it with sugar or corn syrup before freezing. If not, use salt.
Egg yolk is made up of lipoprotein that turns into a pseudoplastic substance when frozen. That is why it is not advisable to freeze egg yolk by itself.
Sugar and salt are effective inhibitors of the gelation process, as they disrupt the increase in viscosity of yolk granules during storage.
Without these agents, your frozen egg yolk becomes nothing more than like a tasteless gum. That surely isn’t good for any recipe at all.
Use the frozen egg yolk for thoroughly baked or cooked dishes only. Prepare it right away after it is thawed to prevent contamination.
One tablespoon of yolk concoction is equivalent to one egg yolk. You can put the mixture in cube trays and pop them out when hardened so you can thaw only the portions you need.
How to Preserve Egg Yolks
Definitely, egg yolk has many culinary purposes other than being a mere ingredient in meal recipes. If you feel like indulging in sweets, you can bake custards and cookies with your preserved egg yolks.
- Separate the egg yolks and put them in an airtight plastic container, bottle or jar
- Beat the egg yolks with a teaspoon of sugar or corn syrup if you intend to use them for baking purposes or dessert (Use salt for cooked dishes)
- You can add a little cold water to the egg yolks to keep them from exsiccating (Before using, just thaw in the refrigerator overnight and draw off the water)
- Double wrap with parchment paper and plastic wrap, but before that, leave a half-inch headspace
- Seal tightly and label the container with the number of yolks, the date and what type of anti-gelation substance you have added (Whether it’s salt, corn syrup or sugar)
- Refrigerate or freeze immediately
How To Use Up Extra/Leftover Egg Yolks?
Egg yolks are a kitchen staple that can be used in a variety of ways. But what do you do when you have extra egg yolks? Here are five delicious ways to use up your leftover egg yolks:
- Make a custard – A custard is a smooth and creamy dessert made with eggs and milk. To make a custard, simply whisk together egg yolks, milk, sugar, and vanilla extract. Then pour the mixture into a baking dish and bake until set.
- Make an ice cream base – Egg yolks can also be used to make a delicious ice cream base. Just whisk together egg yolks, milk, sugar, and vanilla extract. Then freeze the mixture in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Make a hollandaise sauce – Hollandaise sauce is a delicious and rich sauce made with egg yolks, butter, and lemon juice. To make a hollandaise sauce, simply whisk together egg yolks, butter, and lemon juice in a double boiler. Then cook the mixture until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Make a mayonnaise – Mayonnaise is a versatile condiment that can be used on sandwiches, salads, and more. To make mayonnaise, simply whisk together egg yolks, oil, vinegar, mustard, and salt in a bowl. Then refrigerate the mixture for an hour to allow it to thicken.
- Make a yellow cake – A yellow cake is a classic cake that can be made with just a few simple ingredients. To make a yellow cake, simply whisk together egg yolks, milk, sugar, flour, and baking powder. Then pour the mixture into a greased and floured cake pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
So there you have it – five delicious ways to use up your leftover egg yolks. Next time you find yourself with extra eggs, try one of these recipes and enjoy!
Egg Yolk Recipes
Crème Brulee recipe is not a mysterious recipe as a remote French village. This dessert is simply baked custard with vanilla flavor and caramelized sugar on top.
Indulge yourself with this Crème Caramel and get crazy. You don’t need baking skills to turn egg yolk into dessert – just some sugar, milk, water and a little time for the baking.
How about baking cookies out of pure egg yolk? Packed with protein, this German Egg Yolk Cookie recipe is surely not only sugar and flour.
Wrap Up
Yes, you can freeze egg yolks. Freezing them will last for 9-12 months in the freezer. Here is how it works: Separate yolks and whip them. If you want to freeze whites, here is how it works for that: separate egg whites from the yolk, freeze them in Ziploc or heavy-duty freezer bags (push all the air out of the bag), store properly, label your bags with today’s date. If you are saving yolks though, proceed with folding in 1 tablespoon of sugar per every one cup of whipping cream/milk. Make an ice bath using a large bowl filled with water and ice cubes in a larger bowl inside to let your mixture cool down before putting it in a container and transfer to the fridge.
If you have tried freezing egg yolks planning on doing so soon or have done it in the past, please share your experience with me in the comment below. I am always looking to hear from my readers.