Fondant recipe with egg white. Are there health risks?

I use this fondant recipe to make Peppermint creams. The mixture uses one egg white to make 35 candies. The candies are left in the fridge for 24 hours to set.

Questions

1) What makes the candies set? Is it just drying out?

2) Is there any health risk to the raw egg white?

3) How long can you keep the candies in the fridge without ill effects?

Best Answer

Powdered sugar is about 3% corn starch by weight. So the candies set due to a combination of three factors:

Drying
Protein network from the egg white albumen
Thickening provided by the corn starch

There is some minimal health risk from the raw egg, as it is possible it was infected with salmonella. The actual incidence, at least in the US, is very low, but you will have to assess your own risk tolerance.

Given that these confections are close to pure sugar, they should keep close to indefinitely, as long as they are not gotten wet--but they will be very hydrophyllic, and would absorb water even from humid air. So keep them in a sealed dry container.

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Fondant recipe with egg white. Are there health risks? - Crop anonymous cook putting out meringue from pastry bag onto baking tray during cooking process

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Fondant recipe with egg white. Are there health risks? - Closeup of uncooked white meringue dessert with mix of dry spices on top on baking pan

Is raw egg white in icing safe?

Traditionally made from egg whites and powdered (confectioners') sugar, it is an easy icing to prepare but should NOT be made with raw egg whites. It is a well-known fact that eggs may contain a bacteria, Salmonella Enteritidis (SE), that can cause foodborne illness.

Is it safe to eat whipped egg white?

Risks and Dangers Uncooked meringues made with raw egg whites may contain salmonella bacteria, which cause salmonellosis. Symptoms include diarrhea, cramps and fever. When present, salmonella is typically found in the egg yolk, but whites are not considered safe.

How do you make raw eggs safe?

Store eggs in a 40-degree F refrigerator after purchasing. The cold fridge will limit the growth of any bacteria that might be there. Leave eggs unwashed in their original carton in a cold section of the fridge, not in the door.

Is royal icing safe to eat?

Royal Icing with Pasteurized Egg Whites You'll be able to find a pasteurized label on eggs at most grocery stores. Now that you know you can safely eat raw egg whites in royal icing, practice your decorating skills on some delicious sugar cookie cutouts that are tinted to match the season or favorite colors.

Egg white Fondant

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Images: Sarah Chai, Katerina Holmes, Klaus Nielsen, Katerina Holmes