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Egg Beaters is the one to beat

By KATHY SAUNDERS
Published May 18, 2005

Taster's Choice panelists often are surprised at how store products match up to name brands. That wasn't the case with egg substitutes. Well-known Egg Beaters rules.

Taster's Choice scrambled five varieties of liquid egg substitutes. The fat-free and cholesterol-free liquids are made primarily from egg whites.

Judges were allowed to add salt and pepper for the tasting.

To satisfy our panel, the products had to match real eggs in color, texture and taste.

Two of the four panelists said they would buy Egg Beaters ($2.99), which received 46 out of a possible 80 points.

Egg Beaters is paler than some of the competition, but it trumps them in taste.

"These would be especially good in omelets with peppers, mushrooms or other flavorings mixed in," a judge said.

Publix Eggstirs ($2.29) were a close second with 44 points. Eggstirs scrambled up fluffy and "had a great yellow color like a Meyer lemon," a panelist said. Again, two of the four Kash n' Karry's Eggmates ($1.79) took third, although only one judge said he would purchase this brand.

He described the cooked product as the "real McCoy."

The three other panelists said Eggmates were too wet and weepy. Also sampled: Better n' Eggs ($2.59) and Albertsons egg substitute ($2.29).

Panelists were: Jim Yockey, aesthetician, Tierra Verde Salon and Day Spa; personal chef Julie Overton; Bob Devin Jones, artistic director of Studio620; Nan Jensen, registered and licensed dietitian with Pinellas County Extension; and Janet K. Keeler, Times food editor. All products were tasted blind.

Send suggestions for product testing to Taste section, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731 or e-mail them to krieta@sptimes.com Please put TEST SUGGESTION in the subject line.

No. 1: Egg Beaters.

No. 2: Publix Eggstirs.

No. 3: Kash n' Karry Egg.

[Last modified May 19, 2005, 09:19:34]