Eggs give quiches, baked goods, and breakfast scrambles that fluffy, airy texture. They’re a hard ingredient to give up, because it can be difficult to find alternatives that will give baked goods the same texture. Though a brownie made with applesauce will taste different from one made with egg, I’ve come to like the consistency of the vegan one much better. As with anything, the more you try eating egg-free meals that taste good, the more you’ll enjoy the taste of them.

The best way to say goodbye to eggs altogether is to learn how to replace them in your favorite recipes. Not every replacement ingredient will work the same in cooking and baking, so it’s important to know which one will hold up best for the particular consistency you desire. Cooking without eggs can be challenging, but after mastering some tricks, you wont miss them at all. Here are 10 ways to giving up and replacing eggs in your diet.

1. Packaged egg replacement

An easy start to replacing eggs is to use a pre-made and packaged egg replacement product that you can find at your local grocery store. Try Ener-G Egg Replacer, a vegan, wheat-free, and gluten-free product that should strictly be used for baking and is ideal for fillings, batter, and custard. Other products on the market include Orgran No Egg Natural Egg Replacer as well as Vegg, which is best used as an egg yolk replacer.

2. Tofu

Some recipes call for more eggs than others. When the aim is a very eggy consistency of quiches and breakfast scrambles, tofu is also a great substitute for eggs. Though tofu will not fluff up quite as much like eggs, it will give a texture that is comparable for dishes that are more “eggy.” To replace one egg in a recipe, purée 1/4 cup of soft tofu.

3. Banana

Using smashed banana instead of eggs will give whatever you’re cooking a slight banana flavor, so be sure to use banana as a replacer in a recipe that would complement that flavor, like certain breads and muffins. Instead of one egg, use one half of a good-sized banana, or one smaller banana. This ingredient is great for keeping food moist, so also try in brownies and sweet things that do well with a chewy consistency.

4. Vegan sour cream or yogurt

For some recipes, you can use a packaged, vegan sour cream or yogurt instead of eggs. To veganize a buttermilk corn recipe, choose four ounces of vegan sour cream or yogurt. These products will help the ingredients bind, as well as moisten the cornbread.

5. Potato starch

When a recipe calls for one egg, use 2 tbsp. of potato starch instead. This ingredient is used in the aforementioned packaged egg replacer products, and is best used in baked goods where you need the ingredients to bind together. Try using it in a recipe that calls for a lot of eggs.

6. Applesauce

Like bananas, using applesauce in baking will give the food a slight apple flavor and it good to retain moisture for muffins, brownies, etc. For one egg, use 1/4 cup applesauce for sweet, baked desserts. Since it can be found in any grocery store and is also easy to make yourself, this is a go-to for vegan dessert baking.

7. Flax seed

Use these seeds as an egg substitute by mixing three tablespoons of flaxseed with ¼ cup of water. Let the mixture sit for 15 minutes. You can find whole or pre-ground flax seeds in any health foods or specialty food store. Many grocery stores that aren’t health-specific also carry flaxseeds these days.

8. Canned pumpkin or squash

Get the vitamin benefits from pumpkin as a replacement for eggs. For one egg, use 1/4 cup of canned pumpkin or squash instead. Try spending the time and effort to make a Butternut Squash, Portobello, and Spinach Casserole with Vegan Sausage. The dish includes many ingredients, but it’s well worth it to impress a crowd of eight to 10 people.

9. Agar powder

If you want to mimic how egg whites cook in specific, agar powder is a good choice. Dissolve one tablespoon of agar powder into one table spoon of water, then whip the mixture and chill. After chilling, give it a quick whip again. The entire mixture replaces one egg white in a recipe.

10. Try mixing your own egg replacer

For one egg, try replacing it with a mixture of two tbsp. of water with one tbsp. oil and two tsp. baking powder.

Image Source: Vegan Green Eggs and Ham