How Did Dried Eggs Come About?

Dried eggs were first produced in the United States and sent to Europe in 1942. During those times fresh eggs were scarce throughout Europe, and a ration policy on fresh eggs was put in place. The shortage was so bad that each person was expected to only eat three eggs per week. It is easy to understand why this rationing policy frustrated people, but it was one of the outcomes of the war.

The Ministry of Food attempted to push the use of dried eggs on the people, though most people did not buy into the idea easily. The people were weary of using dried eggs, which came in a tin can. Each can had the equivalent of 12 eggs and could be used to make scrambled eggs or used in baking. The people of Europe finally came around and started using the product, but it did take a lot of convincing.

How Are Dried Eggs Made?

In simple terms, dried eggs are eggs that have been dehydrated and turned into powdered form. Nothing is taken out of the eggs, except for the moisture and the shells. The eggs still contain all the nutrients that you expect them to have–they are simply dehydrated. The benefit is these types of eggs can be taken on a road or camping trip without the need of refrigeration.

Preparing the eggs is relatively easy because all you need to do is add water. One cup of powdered eggs needs about one and one-half cup of water to reconstitute the eggs, though you can add a few extras like cheese or other ingredients. Milk will definitely make the eggs a little more frothy. Keep in mind that the color of dehydrated eggs is going to look orange-like, but the color will return to normal as the mixture is cooked. Of course, you can only really use this powdered substance to make scrambled eggs.

Now, it is important that you understand each step in more detail to fully understand the process of making this type of egg product.

Cooking the Eggs On a Pan Before Drying

What you should understand is that these eggs are cooked before they are dehydrated. There are a few ways that they are cooked before the moisture is pulled out. The first is by simply cracking them in a cooking pan without the use of any ingredients. Oil, lard, and other types of cooking liquids will cause the eggs to go bad quickly. The eggs are cooked until hard and broken apart before they are dehydrated.

Boil the Eggs Before Drying

The second way they are cooked, which is the method most commercial companies use, is by boiling them. The eggs are hardboiled for about 12 minutes or so before they are cracked open and chopped up. The eggs are dehydrated after they are chopped up.

Separating the Egg Whites and Yolks Before Dehydration

It is important to remember that some companies separate the whites from the yolk. This process is done in two different ways depending on how the eggs are cooked. The egg whites and yolk are separated after the eggs are hard boiled, which is the simplest way. The second way of separating the egg whites and the yolk is to do it before cooking the eggs on a cooking pan. The whites and the egg yolks are cooked separately. Both of these are dehydrated separately.

Steps to Dehydrate the Eggs

The last step is to dehydrate the eggs, which can be done in numerous ways. The first and the most used way is to chop them up in small chunks and dehydrate in a regular dehydrator. The eggs chunks are placed in one single layer to ensure that they dry evenly. The eggs are dehydrated until they are crispy throughout and then processed in a food processor. When they reach powdered form, the eggs are packaged.

The eggs can also be dehydrated in a much more traditional way, which is by solar dehydration. Solar dehydrators do have trays that you can lay the chopped eggs on. The eggs should dehydrate for about 12 hours. The chunks are added to a food processor and made into powder when they reach a crispy consistency. This way of dehydrating is used by people who want to dehydrate their own eggs. It is smarter to use eggs that were just purchased from the store or from a farm. Fresh eggs work better because they have the most amount of nutrients. Understand that eggs that are sourced from free-ranged hens that are fed organically are healthier than eggs sourced otherwise.

That is how easy it is to make powdered eggs or dried eggs as they are more commonly known. The price for powdered eggs is definitely a lot more affordable than fresh eggs, not to mention the fact that they could be used in an emergency or added to your emergency kit.

Tip #1: Maintain a Healthy Diet

A long life for your pet means maintaining proper nutrition and making sure your pet is eating the proper foods and exercising. You have to be in control of this. It’s really not Okay to cook steak for your cat every night. Purchase nutritional, veteranarian-recommended pet food for your little animal. Don’t overfeed your pet. After your pet has eaten food and digested, go for a long walk or get some exercise playing the yard. This helps to keep the animal’s weight in a normal range and aids with digestion and overall health. Finally, take your pet to regular visits to the vet. Only a certified and licensed vet can help assess the true health of your pet and give you recommendations for addressing the specific issues your pet is dealing with over its life.

Tip #2: Socialize Your Pet

Animals are social animals! Each one has a different personality, of course, but at the end of the day, they need interaction and socialization. The right mix for your pet will be specific to your pet. So as you get to know the personality of your pet, remember that you should take time to introduce him or her to other like-minded animals. Go to the dog park so your pet can learn how to play with other dogs. Spend time with your pet every day — once in the morning, once in the afternoon and once at night — if your schedule is a crazy one. Consider hiring a pet sitter or dog walker to spend time with your pet during the day if you have a busy work schedule. The bottom line is that you don’t want your pet to stay inside alone all day. Not only will your pet likely get into trouble in your home, but he or she will begin to feel lonely, isolated and eventually depressed. Pets need socialization, so do all you can to find the right amount for your loved animal!

Tip #3: Encouragement is Earned

Every dog or cat has it’s own level of intelligence and way of being — but they all need praise and encouragement. They want to be loved as much as you want to love them. So it’s really important to reinforce that love through encouragement. But encouragement also can be a great training tool. When your dog does something right — like rolls over or sits — give him or her encouragement and a treat. This is earned encouragement and it not only makes your pet feel loved but it has the added bonus of helping to teach your pet correct ways of being in your home. That leads us to another tip about keeping your pet healthy: guidance

Tip #4: Don’t Let Your Pet Run Wild Too Often

It’s Okay to let your dog go crazy at the dog park, but like children, pets want guidance. They want your guidance to stay healthy and happy. That means rules are good. Consider taking your pet through a training course to learn basics for behavior and to communicate with you when he or she needs to do something specific — like go outside to the bathroom or to take a walk. Guidance and rules gives your pet conditions to experience life in your home in a healthy and satisfying way. They are looking to you for direction, so don’t neglect them in that process. Be a parent!

Love, Life and Laugh Together

In conclusion, when you spend quality time with your pet — and when you are intentional about helping your pet make the best strides forward in life through guidance, healthy dieting and socialization — you are giving your pet the best possible chance at living a long and healthy life. Many animals, like dogs and cats, are social animals and need encouragement and quality time. So the more you are home — and the more you can carve out time to spend with your animal — the happy he or she will be in the long run. No one wants to give up a pet, but consider how much time you really can devote to your furry friend. Sometimes it’s better for the animal to find a home with someone who is around more often if you think you cannot devote enough time to helping the pet live into its healthiest and happiest lifestyle.

Like other components of food such as carbohydrates or fat, protein is source of energy that amounts to about four calories of energy per gram. Like people, dogs need protein to maintain organs, connective tissue, muscles, and bones. Protein is also an essential building block for enzymes, antibodies, skin, fur, and blood cells. The national association that oversees the sale and distribution of animal feeds, otherwise known as the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), requires that the minimum protein content of dog food be no less than 18% and no less than 22% for puppies. Again these are the minimums. But how much daily protein is ideal for dogs?

The amount of protein needed to ensure optimal health varies quite a bit among dogs, depending on their size, activity level, age and fitness. Dogs that are very active everyday will require more protein in their diet in order to perform well throughout the day. Imagine how much energy is required of a police dog that works hard everyday. Herding, hunting or sled dogs require enormous amounts of energy to fulfill their duties. Dogs that require extremely high amounts of energy throughout the day will need at least 25% more protein for tissue repair and muscle maintenance. Additional protein is also needed by puppies as they continue to develop into adults.

Many dog owners worry that they are feeding their pets too much protein and that this may result in kidney damage. For super active dogs as previously described, the additional protein is usually beneficial to good health, where the activity level is very high. These types of dogs metabolize the protein they consume due to the hard work they do for long periods of time.

But let’s address the more common situation for a dog which is low activity. Where a dog is not very active, the diet needs to be modified in order to prevent the dog from gaining weight from body fat. Excess protein for a sedentary dog will certainly result in unwanted weight gain. Under these circumstances, the protein content of the dog’s diet is perfectly fine at 18 percent. Examine your dogs torso and see if you can feel its rib cage. If there is too much padding to feel the ribs and bones, then it may be time to adjust the protein and diet downward in terms of calories.

Common sense dictates that several factors should be taken into account when deciding what to feed your dog. Consider whether your dog has health problems, whether your dog is active, whether the dog is advanced in age, or whether the dog has any health problems. Regarding the age issue, for example, some extra protein is a good idea for an older dog that is healthy. An increase in protein will help an older dog to maintain muscle that naturally diminishes with age. If the older dog suffers from kidney problems, however, the protein levels should be decreased. Otherwise too much protein will likely exacerbate the kidney illness.

While dog owners should consider many factors in determining the appropriate protein content for their dogs, it remains true that all dogs do need protein for optimal nutrition. If you still aren’t sure about your dog’s protein needs, consult with your veterinarian for more information.

Read Dog Food Labels

Dogs need the same kinds of nutrients that humans do, but the labels on dog food are much different than the nutritional labels on human food.

When you read the label on your dog food, you should look for the moisture content. If a dry dog food has 10% moisture, that means you have 90% dry matter. You will divide the percentage of crude protein, fat, fiber, and carbohydrates by the percentage of dry matter to find the real amounts of each nutrient.

Compare your findings to the tips below to select a healthy dog food for your pet.

Calories

Choosing the right amount of calories will keep your dog at a healthy weight. Larger dogs will need more calories than smaller ones. In general, small dogs that weigh less than 20 pounds should get 40 calories per pound. Larger dogs need 30 calories per pound.

Some dogs need different amounts of calories, though. Puppies need a more calorie-rich diet to support their growth. Active dogs also need more. Older dogs (dogs that have reached half of their life expectancy) need fewer calories, and overweight dogs should have their calories restricted.

The calories in your dog’s food will come from protein, fats, fiber, and carbohydrates.

Protein

A dog’s closest relative is a wolf, so it’s not surprising that healthy dog food needs plenty of protein. However, simply feeding your dog meat is not enough. Different dogs need different amounts of protein throughout their lives.

Most dog food contains around 25% crude protein, which is good enough for most dogs. A healthy adult dog only needs around 18% of their calories to come from protein. Puppies, though, need around 28% protein to help them grow, and their moms need the same amount to keep up with milk production. Dogs who are more active need higher amounts of protein, too.

Check the ingredients list for the type of proteins in the dog food to make sure your dog is getting the amino acids it needs. Meat, poultry, and fish and their by-products contain the best nutritional value. Meat and bone meal contain less nutritional value.

Fats and Oils

Fats and oils are an important component to a healthy dog’s diet. Dogs need essential fatty acids, especially linoleic, alpha-linoleic, and arachidonic acids.

A healthy adult dog’s diet should contain around 10-15% fat. Puppies and lactating dogs need a little more at around 17%, and highly-active dogs need even more than that.

Too little fat can cause skin problems and lackluster coats. Too much, though, and you put your dog at risk for digestive issues and weight problems.

Fiber

Fiber doesn’t give your dog energy, but it will help their digestion. Because fiber isn’t considered essential for dogs, there isn’t a recommended level.

Pets who have constipation or diarrhea issues may need more fiber in their diet. Older or overweight dogs may also be put on a high-fiber diet. Look for ingredients that come from plant sources like carrots, peas, and green beans. Starchy fibers may provide too many carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates

Just like in human diets, carbs are a bit controversial for dogs. In the wild, canines do eat a few carbohydrates, but they receive most of their energy from protein. However, carbohydrate energy is cheaper to produce than protein-based foods, so many dog foods are over 30% carbs.

For the most part, soluble carbs won’t harm your dog. Some dogs, though, such as dogs with diabetes or overweight dogs, should be put on a reduced-carb diet. Finding a food that is richer in protein, fiber, and fats will reduce the amount of carbs.

Vitamins and Minerals

It’s important to make sure that your dog’s food contains all of the vitamins and minerals it needs. Giving supplements that aren’t recommended by your vet can cause health problems. Too much calcium, for example, can cause bone problems. Too much iron can reduce the absorption of phosphorus.

The vitamins and minerals your dog needs are the same as what people need, just in different amounts. Macro-minerals dogs need are calcium, sodium, chloride, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium. They need iodine, iron, selenium, copper, zinc, and manganese in smaller amounts.

Dogs also need vitamins A, C, D, and E, as well B-12 to support healthy growth. A healthy dog food will contain all of these vitamins and minerals. Meat by-products like liver are a great source of these. Cooked eggs can also be added to your dog’s diet not only to support a healthy coat, but also to provide vitamins and protein.

Special Needs

Dog owners know that no two dogs are alike. There are many special cases when a dog might need a special diet. You should talk to your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s food or if you notice weight gain, weight loss, digestive problems, lethargy, or dull coats, noses, and eyes.

Remember: a healthy dog is a happy dog!

The very same nutrients and vitamins that are healthful for humans in eggs are beneficial to cats. Eggs are often used in store-bought cat food because they are a “complete protein”. This means that every B vitamin, as well as amino acids, are found in eggs. Protein aids in muscle development, tissue repair, and strengthens hair. One thing to look out for when feeding eggs to cats is possible allergies. While egg allergies are less common in felines than humans, they do occur. It is important to keep an eye on your pet when first introducing eggs to be sure there is no unusual reaction.

The next question people have about eggs: Should they be given cooked or raw? In the wild cats will often eat bird eggs raw, and they have the added benefit of having more nutrients when they are raw versus cooked. However, feeding raw eggs to your cat is not a good idea. The same bacteria that is harmful to humans; salmonella and E. coli are also dangerous for pets. Although not every raw egg will lead to an infection, the possibility is there and is not worth the risk. Secondly, eggs are full of vitamin B which helps keep cats energetic and happy, helps with healthy coats and skin, and can even help to prevent some cancers. There is a protein called avidin that inhibits the absorption of vitamin B. This can cause skin and coat issues in cats. Because of these reasons eggs should always be cooked when given to pets.

Another surprising benefit of eggs is the calcium found in eggshells. Shells can be crushed and sprinkled on dry cat food or even served right along with the egg. The easiest way to achieve this is to simply hard-boil the egg, then chop it up into small pieces shell and all before giving it to your cat. The calcium helps strengthen bones and keeps teeth healthy. Hard-boiling the egg also means no extra fats from butter or oil are added in the cooking process.

Along with Protein, vitamin B, and calcium; numerous other minerals and nutrients are found in eggs that are extremely beneficial. Vitamin D, iodine, selenium, iron, and choline are all contained in eggs. While they are extremely good for cats, eggs should also be fed in moderation as a treat. The maximum recommendation is one egg per day. This is because eggs cannot be the sole source of food for a cat. More than one egg per day would rob them of the other nutrients they need to get from other food sources.

At the end of the day, the conclusion that eggs are absolutely good for cats is an easy one to make. Always be sure eggs are fully cooked to prevent illness. Watch for allergy signs especially when first introducing eggs. Cats are carnivorous, and this excellent source of protein is right in their wheelhouse of foods. They’ve been eating them in the wild for ages and still do to this day. Our domesticated cats can still enjoy eggs as a part of a balanced diet.