If you’ve never heard of dried egg product, we don’t blame you for being skeptical about it. Everyone loves whole eggs in their natural, ovoid shape – why mess with a good thing? Although we understand the sentiment, you might find yourself pleasantly surprised by the many benefits of dried egg product. Not just an odd form of the classic egg, dried egg products present unique merits when it comes to storage, uniformity, shelf life, and more. So what is dried egg product? And why might one choose it over whole eggs?
What Is Dried Egg Product?
First, we need to tackle the titular question: what is dried egg product?
Dried egg product refers to eggs that are removed from their shells for processing at a USDA-inspected plant. During the processing stage, the eggs may be filtered, mixed, stabilized, blended, pasteurized, cooled, frozen, dried, or packaged, amongst other processing procedures. Egg products have been around since the 1880s, proving their worth in the food service, commercial food, and pet food industries.
Manufacturers create dried egg product by using an atomizer or spray nozzle to disperse raw egg. The fully dehydrated eggs are left in the form of minuscule particles, i.e., a powder.
What Are the Benefits of Dried Egg Product?
Whole eggs are obviously readily accessible, available in cartons in supermarkets across America. So why should anyone purchase dried egg products? Believe it or not, powdered eggs present unique advantages when compared to whole eggs.
- Uniformity: When adding dried egg product to recipes, you can use exact measurements to ensure uniformity, guaranteeing that your recipe will remain consistent from batch to batch. Egg product is available in bulk quantities for ease of use. Plus, by adding dried egg product to a recipe, you can improve its texture and composition.
- Shelf Life: Unlike whole eggs, which are quite perishable, dried egg product can last for many months when stored properly. In a cool and dry place, they can last 12 to 24 months (depending on the exact product and storage situation) without sacrificing their quality.
- Flavor: Converting eggs to a powdered form will not negatively impact their flavor. Once added to a recipe, a flavor difference does not exist between dried eggs and whole eggs.
- Storage: Dried eggs don’t require the special packing materials needed to store whole eggs, like cushioning egg cartons. Thus, they require less space to store and are more economical. In addition, dried eggs offer a reduced weight per volume, which makes it easier to move stored product.
- Handling: As we just mentioned, dried egg product is lighter than cartons of whole eggs, which mitigates some of the weight of handling and shipping the product. Plus, you don’t have to worry about dried egg product breaking! Unlike whole eggs, with their thin and fragile shells, dried egg product doesn’t need to be handled with extreme care. As a result, you will also have fewer casualties, i.e. waste.
Finally, you might worry that during the processing phase, dried egg product loses some of its nutritional benefits. In actuality, dried eggs offer all of whole egg’s nutritional merits. So like any other egg, they offer a high level of protein, can boost pets’ immune systems, assist with energy and growth, and act as a great source of antioxidants and nutrients. Plus, they are easily digested, so none of those healthful components will go to waste.
Are Dried Egg Products Safe?
Absolutely. Dried egg products intended for human consumption must be produced in USDA-inspected plants. In addition, all manufacturers producing dried egg products must adhere to the regulations set forth by the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA). Passed by Congress in 1970 and administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the EPIA strengthens consumers’ trust in egg products. It ensures the safety, wholesomeness, and quality of the products.
In addition, all egg products must be pasteurized (i.e., temperature treated to eliminate microbes), carefully handled, and safely stored. The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) inspects all egg products unless the product has an exemption from the EPIA. Upon approval, the product receives a USDA inspection stamp.
Finally, unlike whole eggs, dried egg product can safely be used in uncooked foods. For example, you can add egg to Hollandaise sauce, eggnog, or key lime pie without risking Salmonella poisoning. You could even use it in cookie dough and eat the dough raw! However, the USDA does recommend that you use dried egg product in cooked foods when possible, especially if you are feeding infants, seniors, or pregnant women.
Additional Resources
Still wondering, “What is dried egg product?” To learn more about this innovative, efficient, and versatile ingredient, check out some of our previous blog posts:
- Advantages of Dried Eggs
- Egg Product vs. Eggs
- Egg Product Safety
- Benefits of Dried Egg Product in Dog Food
- Benefits of Dried Egg Product in Cat Food
- Egg Products Inspection Act
- How Are Dried Eggs Made?
If your company is interested in purchasing dried egg products for pet food, check out IsoNova. Our pet food products are researched, developed, and manufactured through a joint venture utilizing the advanced technologies and insights of Rembrandt Enterprises, Inc. (REI) and the expertise and premium raw materials of American Dehydrated Foods (ADF). By isolating the components of the egg, we are able to give our customers the high-quality and nutritional ingredients they desire. To learn more about our products, please give us a call at 888-304-5849 or click here to contact us online. We look forward to hearing from you, and we would be happy to answer any further questions you have regarding the query, “What is dried egg product?”
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