Potato salad is one of the most popular dishes at a potluck or BBQ. Moreover, there are innumerable ways to make the dish, some sweet or savory. However, it’s long been debated whether or not eggs should be included, here are 7 reasons why not.
Delicious Potato Salad
Potato salad is a simple and versatile dish consisting of potatoes, usually mayo and mustard, and chopped fruits and veggies like olives, onions, pickles, or celery. It’s a dish with so much versatility that people can basically add or leave out any ingredients they want, and still make a delicious dish.
1. Eggs Change the Texture
Some ingredients of potato salad are standard but one ingredient, eggs, is widely debated. People have argued that adding eggs ruins potato salad. Meanwhile, others insist that it enhances potato salad. While preferences may differ, one major reason people prefer potato salad without the eggs is because the texture changes.
For instance, eggs often add chunks or a thick and rubbery texture, throwing off the texture of otherwise creamy potato salad. Moreover, eggs are used as a binding agent, which is also sure to change the texture of your potato salad.
2. Eggs Change the Flavor
Second, the sulphuric flavor of eggs may overpower the creaminess of the mayo, or the tang of the mustard, changing the integrity of the whole dish.
3. Eggs May Prevent Inclusive Potato Salad
Third, don’t use eggs in your potato salad if you aim for inclusivity. Apparently, eggs are a common problem for people with digestive issues or allergies. Adding the ingredient to potato salad, or most dishes, reduces the number of people who can enjoy your dish.
4. Eggs aren’t Vegan
Next, while some have food allergies, others merely aim to eat cleanly and eco-conscious. Therefore, eggs in potato salad exclude those with a vegan lifestyle. Interestingly, mayo, another of the dish’s common ingredients, has eggs but can be purchased from a health food store in vegan options.
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5. Eggs Have a Short Shelf-Life
Fifth, potato salad won’t last as long with eggs in it. Potatoes, mustard, herbs, and surprisingly even mayo have a longer shelf life than eggs. As such, adding eggs can reduce the shelf life of your dish leading to more wasted food. Moreover, you run the risk of exposing others to foodborne illness.
6. Eggs Have Their Own
Another reason not to use eggs is because eggs are used in egg salad, which is a more fitting place as it was created to enhance the flavor of eggs.
7. Better Uses for Eggs
Lastly, eggs can create delicious frittatas and omelets, cakes and pastries, and more. In fact, there are so many tasty ways to eggs, that putting them in potato salad seems a waste.
Alternative Ingredients for Delicious Potato Salad
Fortunately, numerous other ingredients can be added to potato salad to make it a memorable dish. Some examples include:
Bacon
Ham
Canadian bacon
Prosciutto
Red onions
Green onion
Shallots
Garlic
Parsley
Dill
Chives
A dash of vinegar
While potato salad is a dish that can be served suited to taste, adding eggs may mean some can’t enjoy it. As such, coupled with the flavor and texture changes, eggs are one of the few additions to the dish that should be left out when possible.
