How to test an egg for freshness…
Fresh: To test if an egg is fresh, gently drop it into a glass of cold water. A really fresh egg will be in a horizontal position at the bottom.
Borderline: If after settling, the egg begins to rise in the water at one end it is not completely fresh but can be used.
Stale: If the egg bobs up towards the surface of the water in a vertical position, it is stale and should be discarded.
How to separate yolks and whites
Break the eggshell by tapping it against the rim of the bowl. Insert your fingers into the break and gently pry the two halves apart. Some of the white will escape into the bowl. Remove any shell that falls in to.
Gently shift the yolk back and forth between the shell halves, allowing the white to fall into the bowl. Take care to keep the yolk in tact. Place the yolk in another bowl and set aside.
These ‘How To’s’ are from The MasterChef Kitchen Bible courtesy of DK Publishing.
