Basic Preparation Of Foods: Dairy Produce.
EGGS: Part 1
Eggs can be fresh or dried, the latter being only chickens’ eggs without the shell and water. Dried egg should be stored in a cool, dry place – do not put it fridge! Store eggs for several or a week in a cool place away from strong-smelling foods. An egg stand is ideal for this purpose. If the eggs are soiled, wipe them over – washing will remove the natural oils which help to preserve the eggs.
Pickled Eggs: eggs laid in the Spring keep better than those laid in the other seasons. Eggs that will not clean-up, must be rejected. Waterglass or the special preparations should be used. If an egg floats to the surface, use it immediately. Try to maintain the ambient temperature between 2 and 8 C and they should keep for 6 to 9 months.
Preparing Eggs for Cooking: break each egg separately into a cup, before adding it to the other ingredients to ensure it is not ‘off’. If you wish to separate the white from the yolk, tip the contents back and forth between the two eggshell halves and the white (albumen) will run off. Beat eggs with a whisk or a fork in an appropriate bowl; whip egg whites with a knife on a dinner plate – a pinch of salt will help.
Raw eggs used to be prescribed for invalids as they are easily digestible, however, this not advisable these days due to the prevalence of salmonella. One method, given here for the curious was to strain a beaten egg into a mug and slowly add a cup of hot milk (or tea, coffee or lemon water; add sugar to taste. Sherry was also often added.
Cooking Eggs: eggs should be cooked slowly because the white cooks at a temperature lower than that of boiling water and becomes ‘tough’ at higher temperatures. By the same token, if raw egg is used to thicken a sauce and the liquid is subsequently allowed to boil, the sauce will ‘curdle’, i.e. the egg will solidify into small specks, ruining its texture.
Coddling: produces easily digestible egg-whites, making it an ideal method for invalids and children. Lower eggs into 3″ (75mm) boiling water; place lid and turn off the heat. Let stand for: 7 mins for medium-, 5 mins for soft- and 20 mins for hard-boiled.
Boiling: lower fresh eggs gently into 75mm boiling water with a spoon. Cover and boil gently for 3-3″ mins for soft-, 4-5 mins medium- and 10 mins hard-boiled eggs.
Place the eggs in eggcups: tap the shell to crack it, pemitting the steam to escape and so preventing further cooking. For sandwiches, salads etc: boil egg for 12 mins and plunge into cold water. This enables the shell to be easily removed and discourages a black ring around the yolk.
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