Egg shortage in SA: Five great substitutes
South Africa is currently dealing with an egg shortage. Here is what you can use as an egg substitute.
Eggs are used in variety of dishes and they also have several health benefits.
According to South African Poultry Association, eggs remain the fourth largest animal product sector in agriculture in South Africa, after poultry meat, beef and milk.
Lately, consumers have been dealing with the high cost of eggs. Global egg prices have reached an all-time high and are predicted to stay there for the rest of the year, reports Global Food Industry News.
READ: Young chef makes egg sandwich on outside fire
The price hike is as a result of Avian influenza.
The Associated Press reported that "at least 205,000 chickens have died from bird flu in at least 60 separate outbreaks across the country, with more than half of those outbreaks in Gauteng province, which includes the country's biggest city, Johannesburg, and the capital, Pretoria."
In September, SAPA said the nation was contending with two different strains of the virus, the H5N1 and H7N6.
This week's reports show that in total, there has been a loss of 1 426 226 chickens due to the H7 strain.
READ: Bird flu update: Is it safe to eat chicken and eggs?
Egg substitutes
No eggs? No worries. The following foods and ingredients serve as great replacements for eggs.
1. Egg replacer is a popular egg replacement sold in stores around the world. Find it at some health stores or vegan friendly product stockists.
2. Condensed milk is a great egg substitute when it comes to baking. A 1/4 cup can replace one egg. However, if you want something with a little less sugar, yoghurt can also do the trick.
3. Tofu is a popular egg substitute and is a great replica for scrambled egg.
4. Combining flax seeds with water is a great substitute for eggs and is loved by vegans. Just mix one tablespoon of flax seeds with three tablespoons of water and allow to thicken. Easy peasy.
5. Combining bicarbonate of soda and apple cider vinegar serves as a great egg replacement. Combine one teaspoon of bicarb along with one teaspoon of the apple cider vinegar to replace one egg.
6. Lastly, buttermilk is also a great substitute - a quarter cup equals one egg.
Image courtesy of iStock/ @ Muhammad Gunawansyah