Frying a food to create a crust usually requires you to dredge the item in flour and egg before coating it in breadcrumbs.
Image Credit: Zbarovskiy96/iStock/GettyImages
Frying a food to create a crust usually requires you to dredge the item in flour and egg before coating it in breadcrumbs. But if you're allergic to eggs or prefer consuming a plant-based diet, this won't be an option. You can use oil as an egg substitute for breading instead.
Egg Substitutes for Breading
Egg is traditionally used to fry foods. Generally, you dredge the food you're going to fry in flour and dip it an egg wash. You then coat it in breadcrumbs or some other type of crust, like tempura, panko or matzo.
However, you can also make fried and breaded dishes without egg. Egg substitutes include buttermilk, tomato paste, chia seeds and even oil. The exact egg substitute for breading you should use is completely dependent on what you're frying and the final flavor you're hoping to achieve.
Using oil can be a particularly healthy choice of egg substitute for breading. However, using oil as an egg substitute for breading is different from using other substitutes. If you want to use only oil, you won't need flour. Ideally, you'll also be frying using an air fryer.
Choosing a Healthy Frying Oil
If you want to use oil as an egg substitute for breading, you'll first need to choose your oil. Many oils have different flavor-based undertones. Coconut and palm oil are both likely to add a sweet flavor to the food you're frying. In contrast, sesame oil, peanut oil and nut-based oils all have nutty flavors.
Olive oil has a wide range of different flavors. The exact flavor of your olive oil will be determined by the way it was processed. Olive oil may also be infused with different spices, like rosemary, thyme, garlic, sage or chili, which can enrich the flavor of your fried food.
Don't assume all plant-based oils are suitable as egg substitutes for breading, though. According to a February 2012 study in the Journal for Preventive Cardiology, oils with low smoke points, like extra virgin olive oil, aren't the best choice for frying.
Other oils, like coconut oil or palm oil, aren't considered very healthy — they have more saturated fat compared to unsaturated fat. The American Heart Association recommends consuming these fats in limited amounts, because excessive saturated fat consumption can be bad for your cardiovascular health.
Oil as an Egg Substitute
Oil is an optimal egg substitute for breading vegan foods. All you need is your chosen oil, breadcrumbs, seasoning and the ingredient you're breading. Your seasoning can be made with just about anything — from a basic salt and pepper to a flavorful curry powder.
You can create fried mushrooms or tofu, for instance, simply by dipping these ingredients in oil and then coating them in the mixture of breadcrumbs and seasoning. This strategy is a very hands-off method of breading and frying; all you need to do is leave this mixture in an air fryer until it's golden brown. The entire process should take around 15 to 20 minutes.
For the best results, you should use breadcrumbs made from a flavorful bread, like garlic bread. This will enhance the flavor and minimize the amount of seasoning powder you need to add. Fine breadcrumbs are ideal, because these stick to the item you're frying more easily.
FAQs
Oil is an optimal egg substitute for breading vegan foods. All you need is your chosen oil, breadcrumbs, seasoning and the ingredient you're breading. Your seasoning can be made with just about anything — from a basic salt and pepper to a flavorful curry powder.
Can you use olive oil instead of eggs for breading? ›
You use olive oil instead of eggs to help the breading adhere to the chicken and it is insanely juicy and delicious. First posted in 2011, this recipe never gets old - we love it just as much now as we did then.
What can I use for breading if I don't have eggs? ›
Editor: One option is just dipping the fish or chicken breast in melted butter before rolling it in the spices or coating, like we did in this Blackened Chicken recipe. You could also try milk or yogurt. For heavier coatings (like panko or breadcrumbs), you might dust the fish with flour first.
Will oil make breadcrumbs stick to chicken? ›
To bake or air fry you will need to add some oil to the breading. A quick, light spray of aerosol oil spray will do. Another alternative is coating the chicken in a layer of mayonnaise and then breadcrumbs. Omit the flour and eggs.
Is it safe to fry chicken in olive oil? ›
Yes, you can fry chicken in olive oil. It's a healthier way to enjoy one of your favorite foods without sacrificing taste! You can both shallow pan fry and deep fry in olive oil. Although, our preferred method is shallow pan frying.
How much olive oil replaces an egg? ›
Olive oil is useful as an egg replacement for cookies, and especially if you are only short one egg for the full recipe. You can pop one quarter cup olive oil into your recipe, stir, and voila!
How to make breadcrumbs stick to chicken without egg? ›
Preheat the skillet and olive oil to medium heat. In the medium size bowl, stir together the breadcrumbs, seasonings and Parmesan cheese. In the small bowl, pour the milk over the tenders. Use milk as a binding agent so bread sticks.
How do you bind batter without eggs? ›
Some common egg substitutes include:
- Mashed banana. Mashed banana can act as a binding agent when baking or making pancake batter. ...
- Applesauce. Applesauce can also act as a binding agent. ...
- Fruit puree. ...
- Avocado. ...
- Gelatin. ...
- Xanthan gum. ...
- Vegetable oil and baking powder. ...
- Margarine.
Luckily cream worked well, adhering the crumbs nicely. THE BOTTOM LINE: We recommend using heavy cream when breading foods if you cannot use eggs. CREAM IS BEST: If you can't use eggs, use heavy cream to hold breading in place.
How do you get breading to stick to chicken without flour? ›
Dredge the marinated chicken in a mixture of breadcrumbs, panko crumbs, or crushed cornflakes for a crispy coating. Cornstarch or Potato Starch Coating:Instead of flour, you can use cornstarch or potato.
When it comes to breading meat, most breading procedures are basically the same. But taking the extra time to soak your meat in buttermilk and let the flour set will ensure that your breading is fully adhered for the perfect breaded pork chops or breaded chicken.
How much oil does breading absorb? ›
The products fried in the normal temperature range absorb 8 to 25 percent oil. Frying time is longer at lower temperatures. Frying at lower temperatures results in lighter color, less flavor development and increased oil absorption. High-temperature frying leads to thinner crusts and less oil absorption.
What causes breading to fall off fried chicken? ›
Here are a few breading mistakes to avoid to keep the breading right where you want it - on the meat.
- Meat is not properly dry. ...
- Not shaking off the excess flour. ...
- Not tossing in enough bread crumbs. ...
- Not patting the chicken. ...
- Don't be impatient. ...
- Pat the chicken dry. ...
- Dredge in flour. ...
- Dip in egg mixture.
For a lot of people, the concern is one of health, specifically that olive oil, with its relatively low smoke point of 325 to 375°F (165 to 190°C), degrades more than other oils when exposed to high heat.
What's the best oil to fry chicken in? ›
Canola Oil
Benefits: With a high smoke point and neutral flavor, canola oil is excellent for frying chicken. As an added bonus, it has high levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which makes it healthier than other options.
Can I fry with extra virgin olive oil? ›
There are many vegetable oils that are used for deep frying food, including sunflower oil, peanut oil, coconut and even canola oil. Although opinions on which is the best oil for frying have always been very divided, extra virgin olive oil is one of the best oils for frying. Providing it is good quality oil.
What to use instead of egg wash for breading? ›
THE BOTTOM LINE: We recommend using heavy cream when breading foods if you cannot use eggs. CREAM IS BEST: If you can't use eggs, use heavy cream to hold breading in place.
Can I substitute oil for egg in bread? ›
For recipes which use eggs primarily as a leavening agent you can try a commercial egg replacement product (see above) or the following mixture: 1-1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil mixed with 1-1/2 tablespoons water and 1 teaspoon baking powder per egg.
Is it OK to use olive oil for eggs? ›
Cooking eggs in olive oil will give you better results. The scrambled eggs will have a silky smooth texture, and if you fry them, they will have fine crisp edges. Moreover, olive oil is healthy for your body, giving you another reason to use it over butter.
Can I use olive oil instead of egg wash on bread? ›
Other plant-based substitutes for egg wash include maple syrup, flaxseed, nondairy milks like rice milk and almond milk, molasses, aquafaba and various blends with olive oil or vegetable oil.
