What Is Egg Wash and What Does It Do in Cooking Baking If you cook or bake, chances are that youve heard the term egg wash. But do you have a good understanding of what an egg wash is and what it does What does an egg wash do Find out here. If youre wondering why we use egg wash in cooking and baking, then youre in the right place. In this post, well discuss all things egg wash what it is, how it can benefit your cooking and baking and what you need to do it right. What is egg wash  An egg wash is composed of beaten egg combined with liquid and sometimes salt. There are two primary functions of an egg wash It is either brushed atop a food item and to enhance its visual appearance and finished texture, or is employed as a glue to make items stick together. What does an egg wash actually do As noted above, an egg wash can be used either to help toppings or coatings stick, or can be used to enhance visual appearance. Lets explore these functions in a bit more detail. Egg wash as glueAn egg wash thats used to adhere toppings or elements in a recipe is fairly straightforward. For instance, an egg wash is often used as part of the breading process when making fried foods, employed as a means to help bread crumbs stick. An egg wash can also help adhere toppings You might brush an egg wash over a loaf of bread to help poppy seeds stick. An egg wash can also be used to stick elements together. An egg wash can create a seal along the folded edges when making empanadas or hand pies, to ensure that the fillings dont ooze out. Egg-Wash-FAQ-800x416.jpg' alt='Egg Wash' title='Egg Wash' />Egg wash for visual or textural enhancement. The fat and protein in eggs can help improve the texture and visual appeal of baked goods. How The protein from both the yolk and egg white create a browning effect The fat from the yolk promotes a pleasing glossiness to a finished baked good. So for instance, in the above picture of two pies, the first one was made without an egg wash, whereas the second one employed one. See the difference Construction of an egg wash. While an egg wash is typically as simple as egg liquid, there are nonetheless many variations that can occur within that simple construct. The egg. An egg wash can be made using both the yolk and the white of the egg, or just the yolk or just the white. Using both the yolk and the white gives you protein from both parts of the egg, plus fat from the yolk, which imparts a glossy sheen and even browning. If you use just the egg yolk, youll still have protein and fat, which means the effect wont be altered too much. If using only the egg white, there isnt any fat, so while it will promote browning, it wont impart that glossy sheen. What is egg wash, and why does your recipe call for it Learn the science and art behind this common baking mix, and a few simple ways to make an egg wash. Egg wash is a beaten egg mixed with water or milk. You brush it onto the surface of pies and breads before baking to give them a golden, shiny glaze. The liquid. A typical ratio of liquid to egg in an egg wash is 1 tablespoon of liquid per egg or  tablespoon if just using part of the egg. Liquid helps to thin the egg wash for easier application. The liquid may be water, milk, cream or something else. Make and share this Egg Wash recipe from Genius Kitchen. An egg wash is a coating applied to baked goods to give them a glazed look. To get the best results with an egg wash, you should. Heres the good news about egg washes You really cant mess them up. What is an egg wash anyway An egg wash is egg white, whole, or yolk beaten with water. Milk or cream add more protein and fat to the mixture, which can further enhance the browningglossy effect. Salt Many chefs like to add a bit of salt to their egg wash. The salt helps break down the proteins in the egg in such a way that it makes it thinner and easy to spread, but still retains its browning abilities during baking. Getting confusedHeres a cheat sheet of some common egg wash constructions and variants, and how they can affect your finished goodies. Egg wash cheat sheet Whole egg water pleasingly browned, slightly glossy finish. Egg white water slightly less browned, no gloss finish. Egg yolk water slightly less browned, slightly glossy finish Whole egg milk more browned, pronounced glossy finish. Egg white milk browned, but slightly less than when using egg yolk as well slight gloss finish thanks to the milk. Egg yolk milk browned, but slightly less than when using egg white as well pronounced glossy finish. Dehydrate Frozen Blueberries. Whole egg cream  the same effect as using milk, but with slightly more browning and glossiness. This is the thickest type of egg wash and can be tough to apply evenly. How is an egg wash applied If youve ever tried to apply an egg wash with a spoon or spatula, you know that its a losing battle. F5/AC085307l.jpg' alt='Egg Wash' title='Egg Wash' />The thick texture of the egg makes it tricky to spread with utensils you might use for other glazes or finishes. The ideal tool for applying an egg wash is a pastry brush. Be sure to wash your pastry brush directly after applying an egg wash so that egg bits dont solidify in the bristlesDownload this FREE PDF guide to master baking essentials, from how why we cream butter sift flour to how to store cake. Download FREE Today.