[Easy and delicious] How to make and thaw frozen eggs, applied recipes

Eggs are cheap and can be used in a variety of dishes, so don't you find yourself buying too many or having leftovers?

Freezing eggs greatly extends their shelf life and allows for a wider variety of ways to eat and cook them.

Frozen eggs are easy to make and can be stored for a long time, so it is very convenient to make them ahead of time. It tastes even better when thawed and eaten as is, and can be used in a variety of dishes.

It's perfect if you want one more side dish or if you're busy and don't have time to cook.

Tips on how to make and thaw frozen eggs

Making frozen eggs is very easy. You can make it by simply putting raw eggs in the freezer and leaving them overnight.
When frozen, the shell expands and cracks, so place it in an airtight ziplock or container and freeze.

Not all eggs can be frozen, and boiled eggs are not suitable for freezing.
When you freeze boiled eggs, the whites become rubbery, so always use raw eggs to make frozen eggs.

The thawing method is also easy, just peel the shell from the frozen state and let it thaw naturally for 40 to 60 minutes. If the shell is difficult to peel, soaking it in water will make it easier.

Once thawed, the whites will be a little watery, but they will return to almost the same state as before freezing and can be used as egg whites. The yolk will harden as if it has been heated and will look like a crow's egg.

Sometimes you cook frozen eggs without thawing them, so in that case, use them frozen without thawing them.

The advantage of frozen eggs is that they have a longer shelf life. The expiry date of eggs is approximately two weeks after being packaged.
If you freeze it at -18℃, which is the temperature set in a normal home freezer, it can be stored for several months.

However, even though they are frozen, they are still raw eggs, so it is best to eat them as soon as possible, and we recommend eating them within a month.

When frozen eggs are thawed, the yolks harden and become chewy, allowing you to make a variety of dishes using the yolks. Another advantage of freezing food is that it is easier to prepare.

The secret behind the deliciousness of frozen eggs

Why does the texture change when frozen?

The proteins in raw eggs are normally covered with a membrane, but when frozen, that membrane breaks and the proteins stick together.
The binding of proteins gives it a chewy texture. Freezing also changes the structural components such as proteins, giving the yolk a sticky texture.

Although the umami component does not change even if the protein binds, I feel that freezing the egg increases its deliciousness. This is said to be because the yolk becomes more viscous and stays in your mouth for a longer period of time, allowing you to enjoy it thoroughly.

In addition to the flavor components, nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and amino acids do not change even after freezing, so you can consume the original nutrition of eggs.

By using frozen eggs, you can make delicious egg dishes that you always eat in a short time.

For example, tamago kake gohan, which is a standard dish using raw eggs, can be made by simply placing thawed frozen eggs on top of warm rice and adding soy sauce.

In addition, you can easily make hot spring eggs that are difficult to heat. Place frozen eggs in boiling water, cover with a lid, and wait 1 minute, turn off the heat, wait 5 minutes, and cool in cold water for 3 to 4 minutes. The white is soft and creamy, and the yolk has a smooth texture.

You can also make delicious eggs marinated in soy sauce without much time and effort. Thaw frozen eggs and separate them into yolks and whites.
Soak the yolks in a mixture of dashi soy sauce and sake for about 15 minutes, turning them upside down halfway through. Frozen eggs have broken cell membranes, so the flavor comes through easily, and the flavor develops in a short amount of time, so it can be cooked in about 15 to 20 minutes instead of the usual two days.

Advanced recipes using frozen eggs

Additionally, I would like to share some recipes using frozen eggs.
By using frozen eggs, you can make dishes that you usually make or that are difficult to make more delicious and easier.

<How to make rice balls using frozen egg yolks>

☑材料
・白いご飯
・冷凍卵
・海苔

[How to make]
Thaw frozen eggs, separate them into yolks and whites, and soak the yolks in a mixture of dashi soy sauce and sake for about 20 minutes. Place the warm rice in a bowl, make a well in the center, put the yolk on top and wrap it up to make a nigiri rice ball. If you like, you can marinate the yolk and dip the rice ball in soy sauce to make it more flavorful and delicious.

Finally, wrap it in seaweed and it's done. You can make luxurious onigiri by using not only white rice but also ketchup rice or fried rice.

<How to make fried eggs from frozen eggs>

☑材料
・冷凍卵
・塩コショウなどお好みの調味料

[How to make]
In a heated frying pan with oil, fry peeled frozen eggs without thawing them. The yolk will be frozen when you start cooking, so if you hold the yolk with your hand until the white is cooked, the yolk will come to the center of the white and it will come out beautifully.

Once the whites are cooked to a certain extent, add a small amount of water, cover, and steam for about 2 minutes. Compared to fried eggs made with regular eggs, the yolks are raised and the fried eggs have a richer flavor. As an arrangement, you can make fried eggs with two yolks by dividing the yolk into two and baking.

<How to make frozen egg tempura>

☑材料
・天ぷら粉
・小麦粉
・冷凍卵

[How to make]
Mix tempura flour and water. Peel the frozen eggs and gently wipe off the moisture while still frozen. Sprinkle flour on the eggs, toss them in the tempura flour solution, and place in the oil at 160℃. Fry for 5-6 minutes, turning occasionally, until done.

Since the eggs are frozen, it is easier to apply the batter and the eggs can be fried beautifully.
You can enjoy a variety of flavors by adding green seaweed to the batter and deep-frying it, or wrapping it in shiso leaves and frying it.

<How to make hamburger steak with frozen eggs>

☑材料
・合いびき肉
・タマネギ
・パン粉
・片栗
・塩コショウ
・チーズ
・冷凍卵

[How to make]
Mix the minced meat, chopped onion, bread crumbs, potato chestnuts, and thawed egg whites thoroughly and season with salt and pepper. Mix well, then shape into an oval shape, make a well in the center and top with cheese and yolk.

Shape it into a ball, making sure to wrap it around the yolk so as not to crush it. Flatten it slightly and heat it in a frying pan with oil. Cover with a lid and cook over medium heat for 2 minutes, turn over and cook for 3 minutes, then top with your favorite sauce. The cheese and yolk make for a creamy hamburger.
Insert a bamboo skewer or chopstick into the center of the hamburger steak and if clear meat juices come out, it's a sign that it's cooked. The key is not to overcook the yolks, as they will become hard if they are overcooked.

Conclusion

Frozen eggs are easy to make and can not only extend the shelf life of eggs, but also offer new ways to eat them.

The texture of the yolk becomes thicker, so eating it as is is much more delicious than raw eggs.

It is also easier to handle when cooking and can be used in a variety of dishes.

Why not try frozen eggs, which are convenient and delicious?