Techniques

Cooking Eggs

One of the reasons that Hollandaise Sauce is cooked is to thicken it, but cooking eggs to the proper temperature is important as well. Because eggs can have bacteria growing inside the shell, it's very important to be careful in handling them. Some tips:

• Wash your hands well before and after preparation.
• Don’t use eggs that are obviously dirty or cracked.
• Use a clean bowl and if bits of shell get into the bowl don’t use the shell or your hands to remove it, use a clean spoon.
• Don’t taste raw batters or dough that have had eggs added to them until it they have been cooked.
• Egg whites should cook to a white color and be solid, not runny. Yolks should be at least beginning to thicken. Scrambled eggs should be dryer and not have any liquid.
• Cook until the temperature of the center of a cooked egg dish reads 160°F with an instant thermometer.
• Wash dishes, utensils and food prep areas after use.