Why is water added to the egg wash of challah bread?
This recipe for challah bread calls for an egg wash composed of 1 egg and 1 tsp of water (see the final item in the ingredient list).
What is the effect of this small amount of water? It seems like most other challah recipes use egg alone.
Best Answer
Egg white is very gloopy, unless you cut it with some water or milk it's hard to get a good, even layer. With challah this can mean you get a blob of egg white running down into a seam between braids which doesn't look good. A bit of water loosens it up and makes it much more spreadable.
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Quick Answer about "Why is water added to the egg wash of challah bread?"
Egg white is very gloopy, unless you cut it with some water or milk it's hard to get a good, even layer. With challah this can mean you get a blob of egg white running down into a seam between braids which doesn't look good. A bit of water loosens it up and makes it much more spreadable.What is the purpose of the egg wash on the challah bread?
I know how tempting it might sound to just let it do the second proof all at once and just apply the egg wash right before baking, but the egg wash helps apply moisture to the dough which helps it rise and gives it the glossy topping Challah breads are known for!Do you need water for egg wash?
Egg washes can be made with milk or cream instead of water. I brushed bread with three egg washes made with whole egg. You can see that you really can't go wrong here. All of the washes give the bread a shiny surface and pretty golden color.How do eggs affect challah?
Eggs, being a natural source of lecithin, make the perfect natural dough improver. They are also great when included in a dough that contains a lot of fat such as brioche or challah. These loaves of bread contain a lot of butter and milk which makes them extra soft!Egg Wash a Loaf of Challah Bread
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Answer 2
If anything, for egg washes in general, it might be more common to add water (or milk or cream) than not.
Thinning the wash makes it easier to brush on an even, not-too-thick layer. It also tends to get you a more golden color, less dark brown.
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