Do room temperature eggs really make a difference in baking?
You’ve likely seen room temperature eggs listed in the ingredients for various baking recipes. And maybe you’ve followed those instructions, but maybe you haven’t. Does it really even matter? The answer is that it depends.
For most baked goods— cookies, brownies, quick breads, and even some cakes— using eggs straight from the fridge will not make a noticeable difference in the overall product. Although, using cold eggs will reduce the temperature of the batter and dough, and your baked good will likely require a few more minutes in the oven than if you had used room temperature eggs.
Where room temperature eggs really matter is in recipes where the eggs are whipped to incorporate air into the batter. Examples include pound cake, angel food cake, and chiffon cakes. Warmer eggs whip to higher volume than cold eggs, resulting in lighter and more tender cake. For recipes like these, it’s best to let the eggs sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before using them, or follow the instructions below.
How to quickly get eggs to room temperature
If you do have a recipe that requires room temperature eggs, you can get them to room temperature quickly by placing them in a small bowl and covering the eggs with hot (not boiling) tap water. Let them sit for 5 minutes before proceeding.
6 Comments on “Do room temperature eggs really make a difference in baking?”
I need to be more diligent about when I use room temp eggs in my baking. I always get so scatter brained and forget! Good stuff to know!
Ah, thank you! That one always sounded a little suspect to me. Good to know I’m not failing everyone by using cold eggs in my cookies.
Annalise,
I usually bring my eggs to room temperature before baking anyway but sometimes I skip that step.
Annamaria
Good to know. I’ve always ignored it in the recipe….kind of like sifting flour….ignore that one too. 🙂
I never really knew why. Thanks for the info!
I did not pay much importance, and the difference did not see the difference. I always have my eggs in warm water, I taught me that mom. It is possible to rinse eggs in time, they heated a little.
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