Food packaging giant ConAgra first introduced the Egg Beater egg substitute to American grocery stores in 1972. With the egg yolk removed and various nutrients and vitamins added, Egg Beaters offer a lower calorie, no cholesterol alternative to real eggs that can be used in omelets, salads and many of your favorite recipes.
Ingredients
Egg beaters egg substitutes consist of 99 percent pasteurized egg whites, which are purchased separately from the yolks by the product's maker, ConAgra. To the egg whites, the manufacturer adds flavorings and color, in the form of beta carotene, as well as salt, onion powder and other spices. The food additives xanthum gum and guar gum are also added as thickening agents. Various vitamins and minerals, such as calcium sulfate, iron, zinc sulfate, folic acid, vitamin B12, riboflavin, biotin and several others, are also included.
Nutritional Information
Original Egg Beaters have 30 calories, 1 gram of carbohydrates and 6 grams of protein per 1/4 cup serving. They contain no fat and no cholesterol. The also contain between 2 percent and 50 percent of the recommended daily allowance of several vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A, D and E, thiamine, riboflavin and pantothenic acid. Conversely, a shell egg has 75 calories, 5 grams of fat and 210 milligrams of cholesterol per serving.
Varieties
Egg beaters come in several flavored varieties including Southwestern, Cheese & Chive, Garden Vegetable and Egg Beater Whites. Flavored egg beaters are sold in 16 oz resealable, pour-spout containers, while the Egg Beater Whites and original formula are available in both a 16 oz and 32 oz carton. Additionally, you can purchase smaller, individual cartons of the original Egg Beaters in a 4 oz three-pack or an 8 oz two-pack. The two-pack container is sold frozen, while the others are found in the refrigerated section of the grocery store.
Safe Handling and Storage
Egg Beaters have a 90-day shelf life that starts at the date of production. Egg beaters remain safe to use for up to seven days after opening the carton, or for seven days after the "sell-by" date on the carton, whichever comes first. Store opened and unopened Egg Beaters containers in the refrigerator. Also, you can freeze an unopened container of Egg Beaters for up to one year, but once it has thawed, refreezing is not recommended.
Cooking Uses
To use Egg Beaters in recipes, substitute 1/4 cup of Original Egg Beaters for one whole egg. If the recipe calls for one egg white, use 2 tbs of the egg substitute. To scramble Egg Beaters, pour your desired amount into a pre-heated skillet that has been coated with cooking spray. After the egg substitute sets, use a spatula to flip the Egg Beaters until fluffy. For use in egg salads and sandwiches, you can bake one cup of Egg Beaters in an 8 x 8 glass dish at 325 degrees for 15 minutes.
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