My Egg White is on strike - Help

lilibeth

Ok now I did do a search and frankly I am more depressed than before because it would appear that no one else has egg whites taking union action against them.

Now I know that not a speck of yolk or fat must get in it and I know that plastic can absorb and retain fat so this morning I mixed in glass.

It goes white, stays completely liquid and just sits there looking at me.

I want mountain peaks of egg white reaching up to the sky, instead I have white liquid with a few bubbles.

I can't be a real woman if I can't whip egg whites. _pale_

Woe is me

P.S. I was going to get a copper bowl (can't find one online) but if it won't whip at all in glass, copper sure as hell isn't going to help much.

troll35

didn't want to look and run so this is what I've found http://www.baking911.com/howto/egg_whites_beat.htm there are a few suggestions for trying to rescue egg whites that won't beat or have been overbeaten but you may have to start again. In which case I would add the yolks to your 'faulty' egg whites and either make an ommlette or bake a cake with them.

Penelope_Penguin

lilibeth wrote: »

P.S. I was going to get a copper bowl (can't find one online) but if it won't whip at all in glass, copper sure as hell isn't going to help much.

Copper will help Without going into the chemistry in too much depth, copper atoms will form a compound with the egg whites, which is more stable at holding the foam than the egg white alone

How fresh are your eggs IME, really fresh eggs make the best meringues (others say they should be a few days old ). I use ones still warm from my hens for meringue :j

Penny. x

Gingernutmeg

You can get lovely copper bowls from Divertimenti, but they're ridiculously expensive. Haven't really seen them anywhere else though, although you could try a good catering supplier.

Betond that sometimes egg whites don't whip well if they're really fresh, older eggs make better meringues

Penelope_Penguin

Gingernutmeg wrote: »

Betond that sometimes egg whites don't whip well if they're really fresh, older eggs make better meringues

Told you there'd be a difference of opinion More opinions in this thread

Penny. x

bronco

make sure eggs are room temp

carriebradshaw

I find fresher eggs make the best meringue as the egg whites are nice and thick already.If you have the tiniest speck of grease in your bowl or on your whisk, egg whites will not whip up properly so try giving the bowl and whisk a rub round with a cut lemon to remove any traces,then rinse them in boiling water and dry with a clean cloth before you start & that should help a bit

oliveoyl

Have a rummage in second hand shops... you're bound to find a suitable copper receptacle sooner or later... or brass, as it's a copper alloy that should also work.

lilibeth

Thanks dudes and dudettes.
(I won't answer the seven posts individually because it will make the thread a mess that does not mean I don't appreciate all your contributions:) )
I am aware of all the stuff in the link as I pointed out in the first post.
And I had already googled and found many similar links.

I had tried adding a tiny bit of lime juice (same principle as the copper bowl).
It didn't help
I had already tried mixing in glass that had been boil washed with loads of washing up liquid and left to air dry overnight so it was spotless.

The first egg white was powder egg white (supercook) so I thought that was the reason. So the next attempt was a real egg white and I was incredibly careful not to let any yolk or shell get in the mix.

I used my new Bamix both times.

Admittedly the egg was rather old but the powdered egg white doesn't have that excuse.

Would the age of the egg white stop it from getting past the 'completely liquid' but 'turned white' stage?

jasmine33

Try using a pinch of salt next time.

tessie_bear

no offence intended but everything has to be spotless and grease free all traces of washing u p liquid need to be removed from bowl and whisk..........try wiping your bowl with a cut lemon........egg whites are tricky in my experience