For some families, getting little ones to eat balanced meals can be difficult. It's so satisfying when you find a creative way to do it. But if you love it,kid friendly food hacksdiscovered on social media, some authorities advise caution. A mom on TikTok has received more than 12 million views for an egg cooking method that her toddler "absolutely loves" - but which food safety experts say could pose a serious problem.
Alexandra Bewicke is the mom behind TikTok's @thatfalzonfamily, who recently shared an egg-making hack that drew applause from her toddler. The currently hyped video was captioned with “EVERY PARENT NEEDS TO TRY THIS!” labeled. In the video she shows that you can freeze an egg in the freezer overnight. In the morning, slice the egg while it is still frozen. You then add it to the pan and it creates really cool mini eggs that your toddler can eat for breakfast.
Since being published on June 17, Bewicke's post has received 12.5 million views and counting. Bewicke's Mini Eggs are definitely a cute twist on fried eggs — but as Fox News discovered, this Tiktok trend poses a health risk. Eggs are already one of the most common causes of food poisoning, and some experts suggest that this mini egg recipe could increase the risk of foodborne illness.
The problem is that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearly advises against freezing raw eggs in their shells.
Healthline explains why: When raw eggs freeze, the liquid inside expands, which can cause cracks in the shell. As a result, the contents of the egg may spoil and there is a risk of bacterial contamination,for example through salmonella. Most people infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, and vomiting 12 to 72 hours after infection.
Additionally, freezing raw eggs can negatively affect the texture by causing the yolk to become thick and gel-like. This can make it difficult to ensure that the eggs are well cooked.
Social media can be a fun diversion, but when it comes to food and safety, it shouldn't always be taken lightly.
It is also not recommendedhard or soft boiled eggsfreeze as the egg whites can become rubbery and watery after thawing.
However, the following types of eggs can be frozen safely and with good results:
- raw egg white
- raw egg yolks – Egg yolks don’t freeze well
- raw whole eggs – whisk together the yolks and whites, then freeze
- cooked mixed egg dishes such as casseroles or quiches
Sources:
1.US Food and Drug Administration
2.Healthline.com/ Which eggs can you freeze?
3.Foodsafety.gov/ Cold Food Storage Chart
