My first experience with powdered eggs came when I was in Scouts and we did a week-long canoe trip. Our scrambled egg breakfast was less than inspiring — but we were hungry and ate it anyway. And when Dave and I began cruising, I bought a package of powdered eggs as backup. They “worked” in baking, but again I wasn’t thrilled with the results.
Guess what? You can now get REALLY GOOD powdered eggs — or actually, they are crystallized eggs. Thanks to reader Sue McDaniel on s/v Happy Dance, currently in Mexico, having come from Alaska (see their blog) for telling me about these. The brand is OvaEasy and you simply mix the powder with water and you can use it immediately just as you would a whole egg (you can also get it as whites-only). About the only thing you can’t do with it is have a fried egg or boiled egg!
Said Sue, “. . . an awesome product that a fellow cruiser introduced us to. It’s a crystallized egg and is amazing! The eggs come in powdered form, you just add water, and the shelf life is very long. And they taste and cook just like real eggs. Anyway, I thought you might like to give them a try. We love having them onboard as it certainly makes carrying eggs on long passages MUCH easier!”
And it’s not just Sue and I that think they taste just like real eggs — the reviews on Amazon are almost all raves. They work well in baking and taste great even for omelets and scrambled eggs.
You can get them in pouches that contain the equivalent of a dozen eggs, in large pouches with just over 6 dozen eggs and in large cans sold in 2-packs for a total of 12 dozen eggs. In the typical humidity of a boat, I recommend putting even unopened pouches into at least a Ziploc bag or, better yet, a Lock & Lock-type airtight plastic container. These don’t seem to absorb moisture quickly but my experience is that anything packed in foil pouches does pick up some moisture over time.
Okay, these aren’t cheap, costing over 50¢ an egg. You can get cheaper powdered eggs — but you’re probably not going to want to eat them. And they have a number of advantages:
- Need no refrigeration, even after the package is opened.
- Can make up the exact number of eggs you need at a time.
- Lightweight.
- Compact — even if you are somewhere that you can get never-refrigerated eggs, you might prefer these on long passages just because they take so much less space.
- Long shelf life — two years or more.
- No broken eggs!
You can get OvaEasy from Amazon and on the company site (no international shipping). As far as I know, they’re only sold online.
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Sue McDaniel says
OvaEasy is also in Sportsman’s Warehouse stores and REI stores, nationally.
Jennifer Johnson says
Read about these on boat galley last year and ordered some via Amazon prior to leVing for Bahamas. They are wonderful, used a lot and never dissapointed
Carolyn Shearlock says
So glad to hear they worked well for you!
Kathleen Kathe Spidell says
These are quite good for scrambled. Not gritty!
Cyndy Carter says
these got recalled a while ago. Are they back on the market now? I wish I could find them in “2 egg” pouches, even if they cost more. Then I would not have an open container that I don’t use enough to keep fresh.
Carolyn Shearlock says
They’ve been back on the market for a while now.
Eva says
Can you get these in Europe? I have only seen them in “hiking shops”, and they are very expensive there. Thanks!
Carolyn Shearlock says
I don’t have a source, since it’s been quite a few years since I’ve been in Europe, but maybe someone else does.
Byn says
I just did a review in this brand… I was so surprised. Mostly surprised that the picky people in the family choose the’fake’ over the ‘real’
Terri Zorn says
Is this product available on a local level…like a Kroger’s, Walmart?…,. I don’t like to order online if I don’t have to
The Boat Galley says
I’ve never seen them in the stores I’ve been in. Not to say they’re not in any . . .
Jerry Miller says
I know this is a bit late but, yes, WalMart has them shipped free if you use the search bar online.
Dave Skolnick says
Whole eggs don’t need refrigeration either.
Pamela Dakin Harwood says
As long as they’ve never been refrigerated prior to purchase, it’s OK to keep them out. Once refrigerated, they need to be kept refrigerated. I keep mine in an egg skelter so oldest is always the first out. I’ll have to figure out a way to keep them from falling off once we move onto Katie Mack http://www.premier1supplies.com/detail.php?prod_id=119710
Martin says
I saw the Hoosier Hill eggs recommended on a different blog, I cant remember where sorry. Have you tried those ?
Carolyn Shearlock says
I haven’t yet.
Carolyn Shearlock says
The Hoosier Hills were better than some others I’ve tried, but I like the Ova-Easy better.
Lyndon Eves says
Can you hatch them?
Jim Allen says
I have used them on a camping trip, and they are excellent
Bob Grenier says
Carolyn,
These are now carried on Amazon with 2 day delivery. They are pricey, but available without international shipping. Thanks for the heads up on these eggs!
Monika bradley says
REI carries them in store