Are Eggs Vegan? Overview, Ethics, and Plant-Based Alternatives

Veganism tends to draw clear lines between acceptable and unacceptable foods, and eggs often top the list of what to avoid. Whether from birds, lizards, or snakes, eggs are, by definition, animal products, prompting the overwhelming majority of vegans to skip them at the breakfast buffet.

However, a small number of vegans point to their disdain for industrial farming as the issue with eggs, not the animal product itself. These so-calledveggansinclude backyard eggs in their otherwise animal-product-free diet.

在这里，我们深入研究了有关鸡蛋的道德问题，并探索了商店和餐馆中可用的许多鸡蛋替代品。

为什么鸡蛋不是素食主义者

鸡蛋是动物的副产品，因此不是素食主义者。此外，大多数素食主义者不会食用各种鸡蛋animal welfarereasons.

鸡蛋行业经营密不可分ltry industry at large, and chickens by far are the most slaughtered land animals. TheWorld Economic Forumestimates that 50 billion chickens are killed each year, and as of 2019, about one-third of all meat eaten worldwide comes from poultry.

这些统计数据与卵子养殖相交：屠宰数字不包括出生在蛋农场上的雄性鸡，这些鸡几乎立即被杀死，因为它们没有经济目的。这些数字也不反映出母鸡在不再产卵后不可避免地被屠杀。

除了担心鸡蛋和家禽行业中出生的鸡的灭亡之外，素食主义者认为许多普通的鸡肉养殖做法是不人道的。鸡是食人的，它们经常会互相啄食，吃自己和其他鸡蛋，尤其是在拥挤的条件下。为了避免这种情况，农民夹住喙鸡蛋和鸡饲养的鸡肉。此过程都有短期和长期有害影响on the well-being of chickens, including pain and loss of normal beak function.

Additionally, the living conditions of egg-laying hens are often crowded and filthy, even on farms with free-range or cage-free practices. Chicken feces contains a high amount of氨, which could have numerous adverse effects in a crowded environment.

Other animal welfare concerns include forced molting to induce egg production (caused by either intentional starvation or giving the chickens zinc), high levels of抗生素, cramped cages, andgenetic engineering for fast growth.

什么是“ Veggan”？

A small minority of vegans who consume eggs have dubbed themselvesveggans. These folks generally follow the other tenets of veganism, but they consume eggs that they (or a friend or family member) have raised outside of the industrial system. Since backyard chickens aren’t subject to the same inhumane living conditions as chickens in commercial farms, many veggans believe that eating backyard eggs still aligns with their vegan values.

Asmall study of egg eaters in Australiamay help explain this rationale: People interested in consuming cage-free eggs pointed toward their dislike of the industrialization of food rather than to the welfare of hens as their primary motivation. Other veggans cite thehigher environmental impactof industrially processed plant-based meat and dairy alternatives as less in alignment with the spirit of veganism than eating eggs from a personally owned and maintained hen house.

然而,主流素食者认为,即使这些more humane and sustainable practices constitute animal exploitation and therefore stand in opposition to veganism. These vegans believe even backyard eggs should be left in the hen house as chickens will often eat their own eggs to replenish calcium and Vitamin D levels. (It’s not uncommon for chicken owners to feed eggs and eggshells to their flock for this reason.)

烹饪或烘烤中的鸡蛋的常见替代品

一些食谱需要鸡蛋，而不需要传统鸡蛋的口味或质地。在烹饪和烘烤中，鸡蛋经常增加水分，帮助绑定成分，并使食物具有轻巧的蓬松质地。这些常见的替代品很容易作为基于植物的替代品。

Aquafaba

Aquafaba is the nearly clear, odorless liquid in which canned chickpeas are stored. This versatile kitchen staple makes an excellent replacement for egg whites. Aquafaba can be whipped to create meringue, mousse, mayonnaise, marshmallows, souffle, cocktail foams, and washes. You can vigorously shake aquafaba to achieve the proper bubbly texture, but a hand beater works best if you’re aiming for fluffy peaks that rival traditional chicken egg whites.

Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Egg Replacer

鲍勃（Bob）的无麸质鸡蛋替代品用四种简单的成分制成，在面包，蛋糕，布朗尼蛋糕，煎饼，饼干等中很好地工作。您要做的就是加水。预制混合物可提供马铃薯淀粉，木薯粉和木马果纤维的结合强度。发酵力来自小苏打。

Flax Egg

An excellent choice for baking and cooking, a flax egg is a simple, homemade way to bind baked goods, give them a light and airy texture, and provide the necessary moisture. Replace a single traditional egg with one tablespoon ground flaxseed (also known as flax meal) mixed with three tablespoons of warm water. Stir for about 30 seconds, then let the mixture sit for five minutes while it thickens. If you’ve got aquafaba on hand, you can use it in place of water for extra binding ability.

纯素食蛋的更换

最近，各种植物性鸡蛋都进入了杂货店的货架和餐厅菜单。这些鸡蛋的替代品重新创建了传统鸡蛋的质地和味道相对等效的蛋白质含量，减去动物残酷和胆固醇。

BeLeaf Vegan Fried Egg

Beleaf纯素食鸡蛋在纯素食游戏中独有，复制了炸鸡鸡蛋的味道和质地。这些冷冻，大豆和纤维纤维纯素食卵可以被煎，炒，油炸或烤。将其添加到三明治中，或单独享用纯素煎蛋。

只是鸡蛋

只是鸡蛋simulates traditional eggs so well you may send your food back to the kitchen thinking they got your order wrong. Sustainably grown mung beans provide the base. Use JUST Egg on its own or in frittatas, quiches, French toast, and other baked goods that require whole eggs (but not just egg whites).

Orgran素食主义者轻松鸡蛋

Made in Australia, ORGRAN Vegan Easy Egg is a shelf-stable powder egg replacement made from a base of chickpea and corn flour (and sustainably sourced palm oil). Each pack is equivalent to 15 conventional eggs and makes cooking plant-based quiches, omelets, and scrambled eggs a snap.

Follow Your Heart VeganEgg

用豆浆粉底料，按照您的心脏素食烘焙和烹饪，就像传统的鸡蛋一样。甚至它们的包装都唤起了老式的纸板鸡蛋纸箱。素食主义者是烹饪和烘烤的绝佳活页夹，它可以自己制备，也可以作为争夺，菜肉馅煎蛋饼或煎蛋卷。

Tofu

A staple in many vegan kitchens, tofu makes a great egg replacement, especially for quiches, scrambles, and sandwiches. Add a dash of black salt to give your vegan eggs that familiar sulfur smell, and add a hint of turmeric for a golden hue. Choose firm tofu for recipes requiring a dryer texture, or opt for silken tofu if you’re looking for a looser, creamier consistency.