Everyone needs to know this quick kitchen hack. It's the easiest way to clean up broken eggs! Doing this one simple things makes cleaning them a breeze.
On Sunday, two-year-old Grace and I baked double chocolate candy corn cookies, and they were amazing.
Before Grace decided to throw handfuls of flour and cocoa powder around the kitchen, she was being a very nice helper. I like when she helps, and I encourage her to do so. (Here are some tips for getting small children involved in the kitchen.)
I always crack my eggs into a bowl. We buy local, free range eggs, and you never know when one of them might be strange inside. I don't want that bad egg to ruin my whole batch of cookies, so I break the eggs into a bowl and then dump the bowl into my batter.
As soon as I got the eggs out, Grace said, My do the eggs!
I cracked the first egg myself, showing her what to do. I narrated the whole thing, giving simple and clear instructions.
"Are you ready to do one yourself?"
Yes! She exclaimed.
I handed her an egg, and I reminded her of the steps.
Grace was so excited. I could see it all over her face. She was excited and proud of herself.
She tap-tap-tapped the egg on the side of the bowl, turned it over, and tried to pry it apart. Nothing happened.
Grace held the egg up, and she inspected it. She brought it down hard on the side of the bowl, splitting it neatly in half. The only problem was that the whack and split happened so fast that the egg ran down the outside of the bowl, between her Learning Tower and the counter, and splattered onto the floor.
The shells fell neatly into the bowl.
That's really an amazing feat, if you think about it. Not a drop of egg white or yolk in the bowl, just the shell.
The only problem was that it left a puddle of slimy eggs on my kitchen floor amongst the sugar and other assorted ingredients she had spilled.
Feeling resourceful, I grabbed the salt from our spice cabinet and poured it all over the raw eggs. Within a few seconds, the egg congealed, as I knew it would. I was able to wipe it up easily, without a bunch of stretching liquid mess.
What happens is that the salt absorbs the water from the egg, as salt does. (This is why you get thirsty after eating salty foods: salt absorbs water.)
Once all the water is absorbed, you are left with a jello-like pile of protein, and this is much easier to clean up than a watery puddle of goo. You can just wipe it up with a paper towel, and your floor is as good as new.
Ann Kroeker says
Dogs help with cleanup, as well (if you happen to have one around)!
Ann Kroeker says
Dogs help with cleanup, as well (if you happen to have one around)!
Jenn @ FFP says
Great tip! I didn't know this! Thanks
.-= Jenn @ FFP´s last blog ..Make Time for CHANGE with Frigidaire & Jennifer Garner =-.
Jenn @ FFP says
Great tip! I didn't know this! Thanks
.-= Jenn @ FFP´s last blog ..Make Time for CHANGE with Frigidaire & Jennifer Garner =-.
Lisa@blessedwithgrace says
You are right- a pretty amazing feat for those egg shells. Ha ha. Great tip, using the salt. Would have never thought of it. Loved the cookie recipes, BTW, too. Just had not had a chance to comment on it. So, two birds with one stone... LOL!
Thanks for the tip. Hope the leg is continuing to heal for Grace, and you and Joe are hanging in there as well!
.-= Lisa@blessedwithgrace´s last blog ..Works for Me... iPhone Apps to make a toddler happy! =-.
Lisa@blessedwithgrace says
You are right- a pretty amazing feat for those egg shells. Ha ha. Great tip, using the salt. Would have never thought of it. Loved the cookie recipes, BTW, too. Just had not had a chance to comment on it. So, two birds with one stone... LOL!
Thanks for the tip. Hope the leg is continuing to heal for Grace, and you and Joe are hanging in there as well!
.-= Lisa@blessedwithgrace´s last blog ..Works for Me... iPhone Apps to make a toddler happy! =-.
Martha says
Grace needs and EZCracker (my daughter and I were just laughing about the commercial yesterday!) Never new about the salt!
Have a good day!
.-= Martha´s last blog ..Mosaic Monday - Mosaic of Mosaics =-.
ErinJeany says
That is an awesome tip! Funny how the egg split! What you didn't realize is Grace did that on purpose, just so you could figure out about the salt and share it with us! hehe She's helping keep your content fresh!
.-= ErinJeany´s last blog ..A Zombie Christmas =-.
Erin Pyle says
That is an awesome tip! Funny how the egg split! What you didn't realize is Grace did that on purpose, just so you could figure out about the salt and share it with us! hehe She's helping keep your content fresh!
.-= ErinJeany´s last blog ..A Zombie Christmas =-.
Martha says
Grace needs and EZCracker (my daughter and I were just laughing about the commercial yesterday!) Never new about the salt!
Have a good day!
.-= Martha´s last blog ..Mosaic Monday - Mosaic of Mosaics =-.
Kaye says
Great tip! This is something new I learned today! Thanks.
.-= Kaye´s last blog ..WFMW - Boil Water Faster =-.
Kaye says
Great tip! This is something new I learned today! Thanks.
.-= Kaye´s last blog ..WFMW - Boil Water Faster =-.
Robyns Online World says
Well that is a handy-dandy tip! Taylor still has trouble cracking eggs sometimes so I will be sure to let him know this tip in case he spills any.
.-= Robyns Online World´s last blog ..Delicious Moments - Can You Vote? =-.
Janet Carpenter says
Loved this post - thanks for sharing the moments of your life! also loved the movie night post....
My daughter (almost four years old) wants to crack eggs too. I recently let her try and there were eggs and shells everywhere. After I cleaned up, not as efficiently as your salt idea!, she said, "try again?". I said "no". A short, sweet "no". She said, "one more?" Again, short and sweet "no". Then we giggled and giggled because I very seldom say no, and usually it's accompanied by a very long involved explanation and conciliatory remarks. This time, the simple "no" was quite enough! Now every time we use eggs,or tell someone the story, we giggle and repeat our little routine. Aren't kids the best?
Janet Carpenter says
Loved this post - thanks for sharing the moments of your life! also loved the movie night post....
My daughter (almost four years old) wants to crack eggs too. I recently let her try and there were eggs and shells everywhere. After I cleaned up, not as efficiently as your salt idea!, she said, "try again?". I said "no". A short, sweet "no". She said, "one more?" Again, short and sweet "no". Then we giggled and giggled because I very seldom say no, and usually it's accompanied by a very long involved explanation and conciliatory remarks. This time, the simple "no" was quite enough! Now every time we use eggs,or tell someone the story, we giggle and repeat our little routine. Aren't kids the best?
Robyn's Online World says
Well that is a handy-dandy tip! Taylor still has trouble cracking eggs sometimes so I will be sure to let him know this tip in case he spills any.
.-= Robyns Online World´s last blog ..Delicious Moments - Can You Vote? =-.
Laurie says
Ooooh, great tip! My kids love to help me and crack the eggs, and we have had our fair share of messes. With this tip, I can let them try to crack eggs again without worrying. I hate cleaning up runny eggs the most - there is never a "good" way to clean it up. We just ran out of salt, so they will have to wait until our next grocery shopping trip until they can try it again. 😉 Very cute post.
Laurie says
Ooooh, great tip! My kids love to help me and crack the eggs, and we have had our fair share of messes. With this tip, I can let them try to crack eggs again without worrying. I hate cleaning up runny eggs the most - there is never a "good" way to clean it up. We just ran out of salt, so they will have to wait until our next grocery shopping trip until they can try it again. 😉 Very cute post.
BradyIvory says
This was quite an interesting solution for a potential messy situation. Salt absorbs very much moisture and pouring it over the spilled eggs allowed you to just wipe them off. I'll keep this pointer in mind for any future kitchen accidents.
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