Author Topic: Homemade powdered eggs  (Read 9815 times)

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Offline Old Philosopher

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Homemade powdered eggs
« on: March 21, 2012, 07:56:06 PM »
Wilderbeast asked for this thread on making powdered eggs at home, so here ya go.

These were eggs I've been storing for up to 7 months, and I needed to preserve them some way. I cracked each egg into a glass to make sure they were still good. I was able to get about 2 dozen in the blender at a time.



That made a nice smooth batter to pour into the dehydrator trays. Each of these fruit roll up trays holds the liquid of a dozen eggs:



The initial drying time was 165F degrees for 6 hours to kill any bacteria. The temp was lowered to 110F for the next 24 hours. Eggs are oily, and need thorough drying. When they were done, I transferred them to a bowl.
From there they went back into the blender. Mine can grind flour from grain, so it powdered the eggs easily. You could use a food processor, too. After the second trip through the blender, the eggs were ready to store.



I decided to vacuum bag them instead of using a canning jar. Less chance of them getting damaged. So here's the finished product. Eight dozen eggs in these two bags.






Review:

I decided to use the raw egg method because I wanted egg powder, not reconstituted scrambled eggs.

I started out with 4 dozen eggs. I whipped them up just as I would to cook scrambled eggs. I have the equivalent of a Garden Master food dehydrator with a thermostat control. I also have the 'fruit roll up tray liners' that come with the machine.

It turned out that 1 dozen scrambled eggs would exactly fill one tray. I took the four filled trays and turned the dehydrator up to 165 F to kill any nasties in the raw eggs. I left them at 165 F for about 3 hours. At that point, I turned it down to 115 F and dried the trays for about 18 hours. When I checked them, they were still a little oily, so I let them go for another 6 hours.

After they were dried, I crumbled them into a blender. I have a Vita-Mix blender that I use to grind wheat, rice and barley flour. It has a pulse capability, and a "reverse" setting on it. I ground up the eggs the same way I would whole grains, by pulsing the blades, and reversing them each time. I didn't want to just turn it on and let it go, because the heat generated by the friction with the blades could 'cook' the eggs. The ratio turned out to be 2 parts egg powder, 3 parts water.

Out of 4 dozen eggs, I ended up with 1 quart of product, about the consistency of corn meal. Now for the test!

I reconstituted the eggs in warm water. I wanted them the runny, like thin pancake batter. The tendency is to use too little water, but think about how 'runny' a fresh egg is. I let them rehydrate for about 15 minutes, and then added a splash more water. They looked surprisingly like whipped, fresh eggs.

I poured them into a hot skillet and stirred them as they cooked. Whoa! They LOOKED like scrambled eggs. Taste test. Whoa! They even TASTED like scrambled eggs! Full flavor, and a whole lot better than any commercial powdered eggs I've ever eaten, including Egg Beaters.

The experiment was a success, and I have another 8 dozen scheduled for the same treatment. I would say the secret for frying powdered eggs is to get the mixture thin enough, whip a bunch of air into it with a fork, or whisk, and stir them in the pan. If you just plop in a glob of thick paste, you're gonna get an egg pancake that doesn't taste like either eggs, or pancakes.

P.S.

I ultimately dehydrated 16 dozen eggs. At the time, we had 45 dozen back logged. This turned out to be a viable way to preserve the harvest, and quality.

Don't bother walking a mile in my shoes. That would be boring. Try spending 30 seconds in my head. That will freak you right out!!

Offline Smokewalker

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Re: Homemade powdered eggs
« Reply #1 on: March 21, 2012, 08:04:51 PM »
Thanks OP I book marked this post
"Theres allot of learnin under this hat son." "Boy use what ya kin see and quit tryin a see what ya kin use." Grand pa Jesse- A real Cowboy

Offline Wilderbeast

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Re: Homemade powdered eggs
« Reply #2 on: March 21, 2012, 08:13:57 PM »
Thanks a bunch OP.  Once I've built up a bit more of a reserve I'm going to give it a go.

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Offline Old Philosopher

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Re: Homemade powdered eggs
« Reply #3 on: March 21, 2012, 08:14:17 PM »
Thanks OP I book marked this post
You're welcome!
In the future, I would run the dried eggs through a food processor, or my Vita Mix. I just need to use a pulse technique to keep from ending up with a hot pasty mess.
Don't bother walking a mile in my shoes. That would be boring. Try spending 30 seconds in my head. That will freak you right out!!

Offline PetrifiedWood

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Re: Homemade powdered eggs
« Reply #4 on: March 30, 2012, 09:36:08 PM »
I like the metal blender pitcher. :thumbsup:

Offline Old Philosopher

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Re: Homemade powdered eggs
« Reply #5 on: March 30, 2012, 09:43:28 PM »
That's an old style Vita Mix. Mid 70's.
Don't bother walking a mile in my shoes. That would be boring. Try spending 30 seconds in my head. That will freak you right out!!

Offline PetrifiedWood

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Re: Homemade powdered eggs
« Reply #6 on: March 30, 2012, 09:50:01 PM »
Can you still get gaskets and bearing for it?

Offline Old Philosopher

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Re: Homemade powdered eggs
« Reply #7 on: March 30, 2012, 10:03:51 PM »
As far as know. I haven't needed any yet.
Don't bother walking a mile in my shoes. That would be boring. Try spending 30 seconds in my head. That will freak you right out!!

Offline SouthernCross

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Re: Homemade powdered eggs
« Reply #8 on: March 31, 2012, 12:28:39 AM »
G'day OP

Thank you for the informative post.  :thumbsup:


Kind regards
Mick

Offline BigHat

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Re: Homemade powdered eggs
« Reply #9 on: May 06, 2012, 06:25:17 AM »
when the eggs were drying, did you sponge off the excess grease with a paper towel? or did you just let it go until it was all done after 24 hours?


thanks
Rick
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Offline Old Philosopher

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Re: Homemade powdered eggs
« Reply #10 on: May 06, 2012, 09:42:22 AM »
when the eggs were drying, did you sponge off the excess grease with a paper towel? or did you just let it go until it was all done after 24 hours?


thanks
Rick
I didn't touch them until they were brittle. They looked greasy, but weren't.
Don't bother walking a mile in my shoes. That would be boring. Try spending 30 seconds in my head. That will freak you right out!!

Offline SwampHanger

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Re: Homemade powdered eggs
« Reply #11 on: May 25, 2012, 07:51:54 PM »
thanks for this post! I have been wondering about this and just happen to have bought a new dehydrate a month ago. My brides chickens out produce her selling ability some times. What about shelf life?

Offline Old Philosopher

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Re: Homemade powdered eggs
« Reply #12 on: May 25, 2012, 08:06:11 PM »
thanks for this post! I have been wondering about this and just happen to have bought a new dehydrate a month ago. My brides chickens out produce her selling ability some times. What about shelf life?
I can only guess, since we haven't had any old enough to test. Since cold storage eggs (fresh) can last 9-10 months, I'm guessing at upwards to 2 years dried and vacuum sealed. YMMV.
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Offline SwampHanger

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Re: Homemade powdered eggs
« Reply #13 on: May 26, 2012, 04:58:42 AM »
Well i've put in a order with the boss she said I can have a couple ov dz to try out. Think I'm going to put small amount to the side for a trial. This will def help my load out where camp. Its one of those deals that as long as I can stay lite I take the Kyak instead of the canoe. Every little bit helps. (space and volume)