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If you love to cook or bake, perhaps you have made a dish that has left you with some spare egg yolks. Whether it be for making meringues, macarons, or even egg white omelets, many recipes call for just egg whites. So what to do with leftover yolks? Don’t let these balls of golden goodness go to waste. Read on to learn how best to store them. Plus, if you’re looking for leftover egg yolk recipes because of your keto diet or business oversupply, you can find some quick and easy ideas here.
Storing Egg Yolks
If you aren’t planning on using your yolks immediately, you will need to store them properly in either the fridge or the freezer, depending on when you want to use them. Yolks will keep for up to four days in an airtight container placed in the fridge. A tip to keep your yolks from drying out is to cover them with a bit of cold water, just drain them off before using.
To keep them for longer, you will need to freeze them, though this is a bit trickier because yolks are gelatinous. Because of this quality, they cannot simply be frozen as is. It is recommended to beat the yolks with a pinch of either salt or sugar, as this helps prevent them from becoming too gelatinous to use.
Also, be sure to label your container with the number of yolks used, the date, and whether you added salt or sugar. You can later use the yolks with salt for savory dishes and save the ones with added sugar for desserts. Frozen yolks should be either thawed overnight in the fridge or under cold running water before using.
Savory Egg Yolk Recipes
Carbonara
The key to a traditional carbonara is the perfect mixture of whole eggs and extra yolks. The additional yolks help create the signature smooth and creamy texture of the dish without the need for added cream. Pasta, eggs, hard Italian cheese, guanciale or bacon, and black pepper are all you need. Mix the eggs, cheese, and black pepper in a large bowl and set aside.
Fry the guanciale in olive oil while boiling the spaghetti in another pot. When everything is cooked, add into the bowl with the cheese mixture and mix until creamy and combined. To boost the flavor, toss in some crumbled Knorr Pork Cube. It’s as simple as that!
Aioli
Aioli is everywhere. It’s the perfect dip that goes with everything, but what really is it? It starts with making an emulsion of oil and yolks, then adding different flavorings. It’s that easy! The possibilities are endless with aioli: add some garlic to make the perfect sauce for shawarma, mix in some truffle oil for a fancy potato chip dip, or even blitz in a few chipotle peppers and make a spicy sauce to drizzle over tacos. The same base can also be used in making an egg yolk salad dressing.
Cured egg yolks
Another way to enjoy yolks is to cure them. Cured egg yolks have the flavor of a runny yolk but the texture of a medium to soft cheese. All you need is salt, sugar, and time to make them. Pack the egg yolks in a mixture of salt and sugar and let them cure in the fridge for several days before grating over a creamy pasta or salad. Although this technique might sound complicated, it’s a simple way to elevate this golden egg center, and impress friends at the next dinner you host. Keep your cured yolks in a sealed container in the fridge for up to a month!
Sweet Dishes Using Yolks
Ice cream
All good ice cream starts with a custard base, and one of the main ingredients in custards is yolks. Start by heating cream, milk, and sugar in a pot. Then infuse in your flavor. To make vanilla, for example, add vanilla beans or extract. Whisk together yolks and sugar in a separate bowl, then add this to the steaming cream. Be careful with this step, or you risk scrambling the eggs in the hot mixture. Cook the custard over medium heat until the mixture has thickened. Now, transfer to your ice cream machine and follow the instructions given.
Lemon curd
When life gives you lemons and leftover yolks, make lemon curd! Lemon curd can be stored in a jar and enjoyed in many ways. Just make some and figure out what to use it for later on. (Pro tip: make lemon meringue pie and use the egg whites for the meringue and yolks for the curd!) Start by gathering lemons, eggs, sugar, and butter. Just whisk the lemon juice, eggs, and sugar together in a pot over low heat and, when ready, add cubes of butter to thicken.
Don’t Waste Those Yolks!
Food waste is a global problem. Learning new ways to use your ingredients to their full potential with minimal wastage is an easy way to help make a difference. Consider it a challenge! Whether you go sweet or savory, there are endless ways to use those leftover egg yolks. Less waste and more delicious meals for your family!