Updated on April 9th, 2023
Eggs are an excellent protein source for the human body and a strong dietary choice for breakfast and feed a young adult. Eggs are very nutritious and tasty when cooked with vegetables. However, one of the many reasons they are used to make meatloaf is their binding potency. Eggs are an essential ingredient when you want to make anything that deals with flour usage. This is because they serve as a binding agent to help you keep the particles of your flour together due to their moist, sticky nature and fat contained in them.
Eggs should be appropriately stored in a fridge while they are still fresh. Then cook them thoroughly; this will help you kill any bacteria on the shell. The yolk gotten from egg taste gives you a creamy feeling on your tongue but without an actual sweetness. A boiled egg is tasteless and produces a strong aroma whenever it is stored for long before cooking.
While the taste of boiled eggs could not be named, fried eggs get their flavor and taste from the vegetables and fat used to spice them up. Eggs, like many other food, have their unique texture. The albumen has a smooth surface and a crystal-like formation when you chew it and glide down your throat when you grind it with your teeth. The yolk gives a slightly rough surface on the first bite and gradually melts as it mixes with your salivary glands. Hence attaining a more delicate texture than the albumen after about 60 seconds of chewing, it is safe to say eggs possess a fine texture when boiled or fried.
Eggs in Meatloaf Nutrition Facts:
Eggs are an essential ingredient when you want to make anything that deals with flour usage. This is because they serve as a binding agent to help you keep the particles of your flour together due to their moist, sticky nature and fat contained in them. Meatloaf is a special delicacy that has different recipes scattered all across America and Europe. Some of the recipes where eggs are used as a binding agent include:
- Turkey Meatloaf
- Cheez-It Meatloaf
- Philly Cheesesteak Meatloaf
- Bacon Cheese Meatloaf
- The Greek Meatloaf and many others.
Substitutes For Eggs
Although eggs are an integral part of your meatloaf recipe, there are few options available that could give you the same satisfaction gotten from eggs.
Here is a list of five (5) other recipes that could serve as a substitute for eggs in meatloaf and their benefits:
Olive Oil
A meatloaf with Olive oil is useful if you are trying to maintain a healthy eating habit. The olive has a fruity and spicy smell, and it is a good substitute if you are a vegan. The olive makes your meat moist easily than eggs and is also helpful in lowering blood pressure. Excessive use of olive oil will give you a bitter taste, and a teaspoon is good to take the place of two large eggs.
Chia Seeds
If you are looking to reduce your cholesterol consumption by limiting your egg intake, an excellent option to consider is the Chia seeds. You can omit the usage of eggs and instead soak a tablespoon of chia seeds in a bowl with three (3) tablespoons of water to get a gel-like mixture and then apply as you would use your usual egg.
Bread Crumps
This might be unexpected to many people because bread crumbs are an ingredient in a meatloaf recipe, but they can also function as good binders. But this has to do with the kind of bread you are using and how smooth the texture is. However, to get the best result, a slice of white bread for a minimum of 3 days old soaked in water for a paste is ideal for this process.
Using freshly baked bread will not give you the desired level of binding needed for your meatloaf, and this is because it will be too soft.
Gelatin
Originally a binding agent, gelatin is a household name as a binding agent for cooking; it is rich in protein and helps build the brain. And it has the added advantage of been flavorless with a hellish texture, which means the flavor of your meatloaf will not be affected by the use of gelatin.
For a perfect blend of gelatin as a binding agent for your meatloaf. Mix two tablespoons of warm water with a pack of gelatin. The quantity should be the same as the number of eggs needed in the main recipe.
Flour and Oatmeal
This is another combination that works. A mixture that results in a great bunding agent for your meatloaf makes it more significant with an added depth when you are making it.
To get the right proportion of flour and oatmeal, an equal quantity of both and a little water will work just fine.
Substitute for eggs in Turkey Meatloaf
The turkey meatloaf is dominated by the turkey flavor, which is tasty. Two large eggs can be easily substituted by 1 cup of bread crumbs, making your turkey meatloaf firm and thicker when you chew. It gives your meatloaf a solid texture and helps to keep it from falling apart.
Substitute for eggs in Cheez-It Meatloaf
Another delicious kind of meatloaf that will leave your salivary glands excited.
4 Tablespoons of Chia Seeds can be used as a substitute for two eggs in this meatloaf because it will reduce the fatty contents in your meatloaf and gives you a vegan-friendly meatloaf. Also, it gives you a soft and chewy texture.
Substitute for eggs in Greek Meatloaf
If you are looking for a replacement that will help you reduce obesity and fight heart diseases. And still give you that slightly bitter taste, 1 Tablespoon of olive oil is just right to replace two large eggs. The use of olive oil provides a trace with a greasy texture to your meatloaf.
Substitute for eggs in Bacon Cheese Meatloaf
For your Bacon Cheese Meatloaf, the gelatin will be a perfect replacement for eggs and will do fine because it adds extra protein to your meatloaf and anti-aging nutrients when you use 1.5 Tablespoons of gelatin in place of 2 large eggs. It also gives your meatloaf a crunchy texture, and it’s suitable for those who will get oily skin to prevent acne.
Read More: Substitute for Eggs in Pancakes
Frequently Asked Questions
What will happen if l don’t put eggs in meatloaf?
Not adding eggs to your meatloaf will not cause any harm, but you will not get the perfect mold of a meatloaf. Because eggs serve as a binding agent, so without it, your meatloaf will keep shattering while you pick it up to eat.
What can you use instead of eggs in a recipe?
There are several options readily available for use as a substitute for egg in a recipe. An example includes gelatin, olive oil, chia seeds, and many more.
What is the right quantity of olive oil needed for your meatloaf?
Olive oil is more oily and should be added in a minute amount when been used. So ideally, always add in as you progress.
Conclusion
That will be all on the substitute for eggs in meatloaf, and I believe it will go along way in helping you make the right decisions when needed for your meatloaf.
