When I found out about my egg allergy, going out to eat was the most intimidating concept in the world. I didn’t even know where to begin. When I finally found the courage to give it try, it was almost more overwhelming than I feared. It turns out that there are a surprising number of foods that contain eggs outside of the classic examples (pancakes, cookies, merengues etc. …). I was shocked and a feeling a little defeated. But, I wouldn’t let that stop me from going out and trying new places.
Experiencing new food in new places is something I’m very passionate about. Food is fun and always has the potential for adventure. I just want to help you adventure safely. Here’s a quick guide to the 7 most common places eggs hide when eating out.
1. Anything with a Binder
In cooking, a binder is something that works to hold everything together. It’s used in a lot of different ways, so this category covers quite a few foods.
First off, you have anything fried. Eggs are used to help bind breading to foods before they go into the oil. This includes things like fried chicken, onion rings, and fried fish. One of my favorite foods is fish and chips, so I always have to double check with the wait staff before ordering. I’ve had pretty good luck with things that are beer battered, but you should double check everything before you order.
Second, you’ll want to watch out for burgers and meatballs. A lot of those recipes also use eggs as a binder. I don’t eat red meat as much, but if you do that’s definitely something you’ll need to watch out for.
Lastly, you also should be wary of things like ravioli. Most stuffed pastas I’ve come across use eggs to hold their filling together. I talk about this more in the pasta section (#6), but I felt it was important to mention it here as well.
2. Salad Dressings
This was a weird one for me to learn about, and is still one of the toughest adjustments. A ton of salad dressings have egg in them. You more so have to worry about creamy dressings like Cesar and ranch, but I’ve seen a vinaigrette or two with egg as well.
It broke my heart, but I had to give up Olive Garden salad because their dressing contains egg. Fazoli’s is the same way. I’ve found that the safest way to go when going out is to see if they just have oil and vinegar. It’s simple, tasty, and very safe.
3. Breads (especially pizza dough!!)
Okay, so before I developed this allergy I used to make bread at home all the time. I never put egg in it, so I assumed that most people didn’t either. I was wrong. Always double check on the bread situation.
Burger buns have been particularly difficult, especially higher quality buns like brioche. This applies to sandwiches as well. Even some restaurants that just have bread on the table have informed me that I can’t eat that. Luckily, Olive Garden breadsticks are vegan so no complaints there.
The other issue I’ve run into is with pizza dough. Again, I never made a pizza dough with egg, but apparently lots of people do.
The big thing with bread is to remember to ask about an egg wash. That sometimes gets in the way between me and a soft pretzel. With this allergy you have to be thinking one step ahead, and remember all of these little details that the wait staff might not consider.
4. Meat Substitutes
The job of most meat substitutes is to give you the illusion of meat while also supplying you with the protein you need. That protein often comes from eggs or egg whites. When it comes to supplementing the protein I’m no longer getting with eggs, I’ve found that chicken and fish are the easiest routes.
This also seemed like the best place to discuss the fact that imitation crab contains egg whites. It’s good for simulating the color of crab and it enhances the protein content. All in all it’s a great business move for them, but very inconvenient for us. The biggest place I’ve run into that has been sushi.
5. Sauces
Now I’m not talking just about pasta sauces here. True, I’ve stumbled upon an alfredo sauce or two that contain egg, but I’m mostly talking about things like aioli.
An aioli is a mayonnaise-based sauce, and mayonnaise is almost exclusively egg. It comes in many different forms. I’ve seen it as a crema drizzled on pizza. I’ve also found it in spicy sauces at sushi restaurants. Assorted dipping sauces for wings or pretzel bites also tend to come with at least one. Again, it’s important to double check with wait staff before ordering anything slightly suspect.
6. Pasta
Unfortunately, a traditional pasta recipe is basically eggs and flour. While many restaurants today seem to be using less expensive pasta that is just water and flour, you always want to double check.
I’ve also pretty much had to completely avoid stuffed pastas because of the filling. Not only is the pasta itself possibly full of egg, but also the filling uses it as a binder. Stuff shells and tortellini will be missed.
7. Ice Cream
The biggest upset of them all for me personally was ice cream. There are plenty of vegan ice cream alternatives, and several ice creams that do not contain eggs. However, some of my favorite ice cream flavors are lost to me forever.
You also need to be careful about ice cream cones. I am mostly a waffle cone fan, so I had to learn that those sometimes contain egg or egg whites. I don’t know for sure about cake cones, but I’m sure that can vary by location.
The bottom line on all of this is to always, always, always double check with the wait staff about the food you want to order. Thank them for their patience and tip well, but do not be nervous or afraid to speak up and find out what’s right for you. You know your allergy better than anyone, so make choices you are comfortable with. This post is meant as a guide, not the be-all-end-all list of things you should avoid.
Please let me know if there’s anything else you’ve found to be tricky in your own experiences. I’d love to hear from you about your restaurant adventures. Let’s build a community here as a resource for others with the same allergy.
Happy dining!