Egg wash
Beginner Eggs and butter
Beaten egg brushed on dough before baking for shine, color, or to glue toppings in place.
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How do you do it?
- Beat 1 egg with about 1 tablespoon of water, milk or cream and a pinch of salt.
- Brush a thin, even coat over the dough with a pastry brush.
- Keep it off cut edges of puff pastry and avoid puddles in creases.
Why does it work?
Egg proteins and sugars brown in the oven, giving a golden, glossy crust. Yolk gives deeper color, white gives more shine, and the pinch of salt thins the egg so it brushes on smoothly.
What are the common mistakes?
- Brushing on too much — it pools and bakes into patchy, scrambled spots.
- Painting pastry edges — they glue shut and won't rise.
Still stuck? Watch someone do it on YouTube.
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