Why do some sorbet recipes call for egg whites?
Frozen sorbet recipes are generally simple, with only a few ingredients. For example:
- fruit puree
- water
- sugar
- egg white!
Why is the egg white present? And why is this not consistent in the sorbet recipes from a single author; what would make you put egg white in one sorbet but not another?
Best Answer
From a food blog:
I often use egg whites to emulsify (smooth) my sorbets. I have also used lecithin and xanthan gum to great success when trying to not add extra liquid or worrying about someone who is allergic to egg whites.
And another one:
Others swear by whipped egg white for a creamy consistency
So it seems it makes ice cream creamy. I guess there are other ways to create the same effect. And maybe you don't want to have the same effect across all recipes.
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What does egg white do to sorbet?
The optional egg white helps to stabilize, emulsify, and preserve the texture of the sorbet if you are going to keep it in your freezer for a few days.What makes sorbet white?
At its heart, sorbet is simply a frozen fruit syrup, but you can ramp it up a level and include whipped egg white or even mascarpone for a creamier result.Does sorbet have egg in?
Sorbet is made from water and fruit puree or juice. It contains no milk, cream or eggs, and is one of the oldest forms of frozen desserts.Why are egg whites not used in ice cream?
Egg whites, however, are mostly water and don't contain lecithin. Adding water to your ice cream base leads to an unfavorable icy texture in the final product and doesn't contribute to partial coalescence of fat. Water is why egg whites are typically left out.More answers regarding why do some sorbet recipes call for egg whites?
Answer 2
Well I do not know anything about Frozen sorbet recipes or egg white as much. BUT... acti white is a replacement for egg white. And I have experimented with acti white in candy. And evety time the acti white was present, the texture I got in the candy was more "spongy" and the appearance of the colour was also more "milky".
So perhaps the egg white is only called for in certain recipes to give a different type of texture that is required for that specific recipe.
Aslo see something I looked up that proves my experience to some degree:
"Eggs are binders which help hold all the ingredients together. Eggs contribute liquid to a recipe and thus serve as a toughener, especially the egg white portion. Egg whites, as mentioned, are often used to produce a light, airy texture, and yolks contribute to the color, flavor, and texture of baked products. But, too many egg whites, such as in a reduced-fat cake recipe make it dry. Including at least one whole egg helps to tenderize. Eggs can also act as leaveners especially when egg whites are beaten separately. The yolk functions to emulsify fat and liquids due to its lecithin content."
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