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Baking 101: Why We Use Large Eggs In Baking

October 27, 2013 by Joy the Baker 81 Comments

Why We Use Large Eggs In Baking

Let’s talk about eggs!

Eggs play an important roll in our baked goods.  Eggs add structure, leavening, color, and flavor to our cakes and cookies.  It’s the balance between eggs and flour that help provide the height and texture of many of the baked goods here on Joy the Baker.  It’s a balancing act.

Different parts of the egg pull the weight in different ways.  When whipped egg whites are folded into a batter, they help the cake to rise.  Angel Food Cake is a perfect example of the power of egg whites.  Egg yolks add a really lovely richness and thickening power to custards and ice cream bases. Cookie No-Dough Ice Cream is a prime example of the luscious thickening power of yolks.  Yes… I just said luscious.

When whole eggs are heated, they become firm… we know this from eating hard-boiled eggs for breakfast.  That’s the structure that helps bind our cakes.  Finally, when beaten eggs are brushed onto unbaked crusts, they make the most wonderfully golden and shiny crusts.  That’s a lot, right!?  All from inside that light brown shell.

With all of the heavy lifting that eggs do in our kitchen, we really should talk about why we use a particular size egg in baking.  Why Do We Use Large Eggs In Baking?  Because it matters.  Here’s the deal:

Here in the US we have different size eggs:  medium, large, extra-large, and jumbo.  The large the egg, the more egg goodness inside the egg.

Large eggs are about 57 grams or 3 1/4 tablespoons of egg.  Extra-large eggs are about 64 grams, or 4 tablespoons of egg.  Jumbo eggs are even larger.

Most baking recipes call for large eggs.  If a recipe calls for two large eggs, that means the proportions of the recipe are counting on about 6 1/2 tablespoons of liquid egg.  If we were to use extra-large or even jumbo eggs in place of large eggs, we’d adding far more liquid that the recipe proportions account for.

Now… there is some leeway in baking.  It’s not always that  1 extra tablespoon of liquid will ruin a recipe.  Let’s not get crazy.  But, the more incorrectly sized eggs used in a recipe, the more the proportions are thrown.  Four extra-large eggs instead of four large eggs means adding 3 extra tablespoons of liquid.

When it comes to successful baking (and successful living), we’re just trying to get as many things  right as possible.  Using large eggs, as most recipes indicate, is a part of that success.

If a recipe does not indicate the size egg to use, stick with large.

If a recipe calls for extra-large or jumbo eggs, like many of Ina Garten’s recipes do… raise your eyebrow and follow along.  That either means buying larger eggs or weighing the eggs for accuracy. It’s weird though.  I wish Ina knew that was weird.

There’s more in the Baking 101 game!

Baking 101: How To Read A Recipe

Baking101: Must We Sift This Flour?

Baking 101: Why We Use Unsalted Butter

Baking 101: The Difference Between Baking Soda and Baking Powder

Baking 101: The Difference Between Dutch Processed and Natural Cocoa Powder

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Reader Interactions

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Questions
  1. Claudia

    January 10, 2022 at 8:06 am

    Silly question but… when you weigh the egg do you do so still in its shell or already cracked.

    Reply
    • joythebaker

      January 10, 2022 at 4:09 pm

      already cracked!

      Reply
  2. Beryl

    September 17, 2018 at 4:58 pm

    How do you increase the proportons of a recipe if you use extra large eggs . Above only give the reasoning of liquid of the eggs if increase how do you change the recipe?

    Reply
  3. Taylor

    August 20, 2018 at 11:37 am

    Hi Joy, I’ve recently started raising chickens and ducks and they are finally laying! Yay! It’s hard to determine actual egg size since they are so inconsistent compared to the store-bought options. Having the gram measurements you listed above are so helpful! I generally find that the duck eggs are closer the correct size. My question is related to egg whites specifically as, I’ve heard pasteurized eggs are best for meringues etc.? Do you have any guidance in that space? I have not tested with our fresh eggs yet. THANK YOU!

    Reply
  4. Joel Hilsenrath

    April 17, 2018 at 11:17 am

    Oops, typo. “The large the egg …”, should be, “The larger the egg …”.

    Reply
  5. Diane Milligan

    October 5, 2017 at 6:51 am

    This article is very helpful, as I have been wondering for years how the size of eggs play a role in baking. I guess it is more difficult to “play with our food” in this case, because it really would throw off the entire recipe and desired outcome of the baked good. It is not as easy to just add more flour or baking soda/powder to make up for the lack of or extra liquid that comes from using the wrong size egg. I’ve done that before, and it really does make a difference. That is why baking is more of a Chemistry experiment. :)

    Reply
  6. Summer Slim

    July 24, 2017 at 10:40 pm

    I am impressed with this website, very I am a fan.

    Reply
  7. Janet Allison

    September 29, 2016 at 12:36 pm

    Ina’s Frozen Key Lime Pie calls for six extra Large yolks. I only have large eggs. How many extra large yolks should be used to equal six extra large yolks?

    Reply
    • joythebaker

      October 25, 2016 at 10:17 am

      I would do 7 or 8

      Reply
  8. Ramona McCruden

    August 22, 2016 at 8:27 am

    I have a friend who loves cake, and other baked goods requiring eggs. However, she is sensitive to eggs. Is there another substitute for eggs in baking?

    Reply
    • joythebaker

      August 22, 2016 at 8:30 am

      Eggs do so much work sometimes there hard to replace depending on the cake. Here are my Vegan Egg Substitutes: https://joythebaker.com/2014/09/baking-101-favorite-vegan-egg-substitutes/ and some other help: https://www.egglesscooking.com/egg-substitutes/

      Reply
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  1. Bake my day: Baking “Egg”stasy! | sindygenous says:
    November 21, 2015 at 10:35 am

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  2. Baking 101: Why We Use Unsalted Butter | bediva says:
    September 6, 2015 at 5:55 am

    […] Baking 101: Why We Use Large Eggs In Baking […]

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