Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: neilep on 25/07/2007 18:13:13

Title: Where does the extra volume come from in a cooked egg ?
Post by: neilep on 25/07/2007 18:13:13
Dear Eggsperts,

This is a raw egg:

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.jupiterimages.com%2Fcommon%2Fdetail%2F06%2F45%2F23424506.jpg&hash=bd5d824b1eed3c924f34b457aa842dec)

This is a cooked egg:

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cheapcooking.com%2Fimages%2Ffried-egg.jpg&hash=aa262bdb22a4e21451418e9f4a291705)

Notice how the cooked egg white seems to be larger than it's raw counterpart ?

could I get the cooked egg back into it's shell ?...what has increased the volume of the egg ?

a hug, shmish and an egg dish (of your choice) is given to the answerer !!



Title: Re: Where does the extra volume come from in a cooked egg ?
Post by: kdlynn on 25/07/2007 18:22:08
does it maybe just look bigger because it's no longer clear?
Title: Where does the extra volume come from in a cooked egg ?
Post by: neilep on 25/07/2007 18:24:20
ewe might be right Kadie....perhaps it's an illusion but I do think it expands when being cooked !!
Title: Re: Where does the extra volume come from in a cooked egg ?
Post by: kdlynn on 25/07/2007 18:26:09
hmmm... i've never really paid attention... but if it did expand, wouldn't a boiled egg explode?
Title: Where does the extra volume come from in a cooked egg ?
Post by: neilep on 25/07/2007 19:02:14
Well, I know an egg in the microwave (still in it's shell) goes BANG !!......but because there's nothing restricting the egg in a pan I think it just gradually expands........I'm probably wrong though....perhaps my tummy just wants the egg to be bigger !!
Title: Re: Where does the extra volume come from in a cooked egg ?
Post by: kdlynn on 25/07/2007 19:17:42
perhaps. i could be wrong too though! thank you for reminding me, though, that i bought eggs this morning after work so that i could make a cake. it's in the oven right now
Title: Where does the extra volume come from in a cooked egg ?
Post by: neilep on 25/07/2007 19:30:27
Hmmmmmmmm..cake ........(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fcooking%2F1.gif&hash=01abb4e79043fc19bce9981218559c76)

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sotirov.com%2Fuploaded_images%2Fbirthday-cake-773619.jpg&hash=6ca7266a226912a12c5a4ef688237d34)

Title: Re: Where does the extra volume come from in a cooked egg ?
Post by: kdlynn on 25/07/2007 19:33:24
i guess i could share. do you like strawberries?
Title: Where does the extra volume come from in a cooked egg ?
Post by: neilep on 25/07/2007 19:39:09
i guess i could share. do you like strawberries?

I do like strawberries...but I think they may be raspberries !!.....no worries....I first thought they were strawberries too until I just had a closer look !
Title: Re: Where does the extra volume come from in a cooked egg ?
Post by: kdlynn on 25/07/2007 19:43:55
no... i meant... my cake is a strawberry cake. i just finished cutting them up to put on top. the batter was strawberry flavored.. it smells so good
Title: Where does the extra volume come from in a cooked egg ?
Post by: neilep on 25/07/2007 19:47:25
no... i meant... my cake is a strawberry cake. i just finished cutting them up to put on top. the batter was strawberry flavored.. it smells so good

hmmmmmm...yummy !!..sorry I misunderstood .........hmmmmm strawberry cake........hmmmmmmmmmmmm...*sheepys mouth waters*
Title: Re: Where does the extra volume come from in a cooked egg ?
Post by: kdlynn on 25/07/2007 19:53:11
it just came out of the oven. it has to cool
Title: Where does the extra volume come from in a cooked egg ?
Post by: neilep on 25/07/2007 21:03:47
it just came out of the oven. it has to cool

hmmmmmm........I know this thread has gone (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fsigns1%2F15.gif&hash=bbea8744161eb636da1af9d59c76ecb8)

but can you post a piccy ?
Title: Re: Where does the extra volume come from in a cooked egg ?
Post by: kdlynn on 25/07/2007 21:06:12
no... not until next time i go to my mom's house :(
Title: Where does the extra volume come from in a cooked egg ?
Post by: neilep on 25/07/2007 21:18:08
*sheepy says* (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fsigns1%2F20.gif&hash=0e41482dc0c667249db96fbd47fc6644)
Title: Where does the extra volume come from in a cooked egg ?
Post by: Karen W. on 25/07/2007 22:35:58
When you crack an raw egg note that there is excess space in that egg for the chick to grow. when you boil the egg it still fits in the shell if you did it right and did not crack the eggs by putting cold eggs into hot water to start with! By all rights that egg should fit back into the shell!

BTW I just got a great apple sauce cake recipe moments ago..LOL I think we are all thinking about cake Those are definitely Rasberries YUMMMMMMMM!
Title: Where does the extra volume come from in a cooked egg ?
Post by: neilep on 25/07/2007 22:57:54
So a raw egg has excess space (gimmee cake !)....but when you boil an egg in it's shell (gimmee more cake ) and then crack it..it has expanded to fill the whole egg shell.

This is what I want to know...what is the expansion.....?..where is the more volume coming from !! ?
Title: Re: Where does the extra volume come from in a cooked egg ?
Post by: kdlynn on 25/07/2007 23:00:47
you'll have to come and get it... but it's sitting there with one piece eaten (i ate it... so yummy...)
Title: Where does the extra volume come from in a cooked egg ?
Post by: Karen W. on 25/07/2007 23:11:33
So a raw egg has excess space (gimmee cake !)....but when you boil an egg in it's shell (gimmee more cake ) and then crack it..it has expanded to fill the whole egg shell.

This is what I want to know...what is the expansion.....?..where is the more volume coming from !! ?

Well Kind Sir.. It must change something..steam oil, heat I don't know..Molecules HmmmmmmmmmIt goes ffffrom being semi solid liquid..LOL to solid!!
Title: Where does the extra volume come from in a cooked egg ?
Post by: another_someone on 26/07/2007 03:57:08
When you crack an raw egg note that there is excess space in that egg for the chick to grow. when you boil the egg it still fits in the shell if you did it right and did not crack the eggs by putting cold eggs into hot water to start with! By all rights that egg should fit back into the shell!

A raw egg does have a small air gap in the top, and I was always taught to pierce a hole in the shell at the top to allow the hot air to escape from the shell when boiling, otherwise, the egg shell will crack under the pressure.
Title: Where does the extra volume come from in a cooked egg ?
Post by: neilep on 26/07/2007 14:31:20
When you crack an raw egg note that there is excess space in that egg for the chick to grow. when you boil the egg it still fits in the shell if you did it right and did not crack the eggs by putting cold eggs into hot water to start with! By all rights that egg should fit back into the shell!

A raw egg does have a small air gap in the top, and I was always taught to pierce a hole in the shell at the top to allow the hot air to escape from the shell when boiling, otherwise, the egg shell will crack under the pressure.

yes, I was taught this too....I even remember us having an ' egg pricker '....but nowadays we just put the egg in and by the time the shell cracks the inside is too solid to leak out !


Incidentally (more cooking tips).....when you put the egg in...turn off the gas/electric hob and just let it lay there a couple of minutes longer...this still cooks the egg and saves energy too !
Title: Where does the extra volume come from in a cooked egg ?
Post by: Karen W. on 26/07/2007 16:25:50
I have never heard that one!