Today we're talking eggs! Eggs are such a fantastic item to store for the Zombie Apocalypse or just for when the chickens (or ducks) aren't laying during the winter. Now when you think of stocking items for the pantry most people wouldn't think to include eggs. They go bad quickly so how do you store them as long(er) term staples.
Eggs are so versatile and such a wonderful item to always have on hand. Farm fresh eggs are even better. I have friends that give me fresh chicken eggs and duck eggs. Now unwashed & un-refrigerated eggs can last awhile on their own but will not last through the winter. So how do we make them keep?
Well let's first check to make sure they are still good. Do you know how? The simplest way is to take a pot of very cold water and place the eggs in it one by one. If they stand up on one end they are good, if they roll on their side they are fixing to go bad and if they float to the top they are not good. The side laying ones I either use immediately or boil them for hard boiled or deviled eggs or I use them in my dogs' dry food.
Tools:
Skillet. Use either cast iron or non-stick
Spatula
Blender
Dehydrator
Pressure Canner
Mason jars & other canning Supplies
Baking Sheet
Coffee grinder (I have 3. One for peppers, one for coffee and one for all my fruits, herbs, veggies and everything else!).
So....let's use some good eggs.
Wash them first. I like to crack them & reserve the shells (we'll go over what to do with those later).
Then take a shit ton of them. I usually do a dozen at a time and crack them into a blender. Then blend until it is big, fluffy and creamy.
Pour into a hot skillet.
Cook until done. Now don't add anything to the eggs, just eggs is what we want. DO NOT OVERCOOK!!
Put in dehydrator. I just took some wax paper and cut a hole in the center and trimmed around my dehydrator. They make fancy little inserts for the racks for liquids but I am a broke cheapskate. Spread them out so they aren't touching and line each tray.
I dehydrate mine at 160 degrees. I know the book says a lot less heat but I wanna kill anything that might be in there. I know I probably killed Salmonella by cooking them but better safe than sorry. If everything is closed and I don't have access to a hospital I wanna minimize the chances of getting anything. I check on them every hour and it takes a few hours. You want them dry but not overdry if that makes sense. Best thing to do is after 3 or 4 hours pop out a piece and pop it in your mouth. If your saliva rehydrates it after a few minutes and it tastes like egg, it's done!
Throw in a grinder and grind it all up.
Now if you wanna make it last longer can it. If not than pour the ground up eggs in a seal able glass jar and store in a dark place. Will last about a year (UNCANNED).
So now we have a bunch of powdered eggs what do we do with them? Well these are great for baking, making eggs in the winter, adding to recipes, adding to my dog food, etc. Once they are rehydrated you can use them for french toast, baking cookies and cakes, scrambled eggs or omelets, make popovers, etc. Anything you'd make with eggs you can use powdered eggs. Here's how to rehydrate them:
-Measure 2 tbsp. of powdered egg for every egg being replaced. For example, a recipe calling for two eggs would require 4 tbsp. of powder.
-Pour 2 tbsp. plus 2 tsp. of water into the mixing bowl for every egg you are rehydrating.
-Stir the water and the egg powder together with a whisk and allow them to rest and absorb the water for 10 minutes. Pour the rehydrated eggs into a recipe or straight into a pan to make scrambled eggs (add your other favorite ingredients).
OK! Now let's address those shells! Make sure they are washed (especially if using them as a calcium supplement) and throw them on a baking sheet and pop into the oven on low heat until done! Easy peasy eggy cheesy!
(I was also drying out banana peels too for banana powder for the garden.)
Once cool add to the coffee grinder and grind up. Add to glass jar and store. Voila! Powdered eggs shells or in the witchy community it's called Cascarilla. So what do we use it for?
to gel capsules for a calcium supplement
mix in juice, milk, smoothies or on oatmeal
Sprinkle on dog food as a supplement
I add to my garden and houseplants about once a month or so. Anytime I transplant my plants i add eggshell and banana powder.
So there ya go! Let me know if you try it!
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