cooking question - WTF is tempering an egg?

[peggy]

You put a tiny bit of the hot liquid in the egg so as to not immediately scramble the egg when pouring it into all of the hot liquid.

[icedcoffee]

Add a small amount of hot liquid to the eggs very slowly so that you bring the temperature of the egg up slowly so it doesn't become chunky. Afterwards you can add the warmer egg mixture into the pot and it won't be scrambled eggs.

ETA:  stir the eggs constantly while mixing 

[bearbaby]

You're pouring eggs/egg mixture into liquid you've already heated up, I assume?

If so, there's the chance that you wind up scrambling egg mixture if you pour it directly into, say, heated milk or something to make a sauce.

Tempering in means you bring some of the hot liquid into the eggs first to slowly bring the eggs up in temperature without cooking them. Once it's been tempered some you can add the full mixtures together.

[dcn]

It's worth it. Alton Browns Mac n cheese is amazing.

[MDmomof2]

I love that Alton Brown recipe and also had to google tempering an egg when I first made it. I reduce the amount of onion I use but otherwise make it as-is. I'm no great cook but I don't think it's too complicated. It makes a lot and is delish!

[cricketwife]

The egg tempering is like an extra 30 seconds in that recipe. It won't make it hard.

[rbp]

May 19, 2016 15:25:19 GMT -5 @this said:

OMG this sounds like so much work.

I JUST WANT MACARONI.

I love Alton Brown (or else I used to, before he became a bitter old man), but I've always thought that he made some recipes unnecessarily complicated.

However, tempering an egg takes like 20 seconds, so I wouldn't let that alone put you off of this recipe!

[redheadbaker]

May 19, 2016 15:30:49 GMT -5 cricketwife said:

The egg tempering is like an extra 30 seconds in that recipe. It won't make it hard.

Yeah, this. It takes no time at all. 

[redheadbaker]

May 19, 2016 15:32:09 GMT -5 @this said:

May 19, 2016 15:29:25 GMT -5 @mrswindycity said:

www.pink-parsley.com/2011/03/classic-make-ahead-macaroni-and-cheese.html

This one involves making your own breadcrumbs!!!

So sub store-bought. I do that all the time in recipes that call for making every single portion from scratch -- like my favorite cheesecake recipe had you make the raspberry swirl from fresh raspberries. I used thinned raspberry preserves. 

[genet313]

May 19, 2016 15:17:00 GMT -5 @this said:

So I'm making macaroni and cheese tonight because duh and I'm using Alton Brown's recipe that someone linked. But the directions say to "temper in the egg." Huh? I googled it and it keeps talking about not scrambling the egg? Like, what? lol

Help me be an adult...

www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/baked-macaroni-and-cheese-recipe.html

@this ,I linked that recipe and I love it.  Easy on the onion!

When I make it, to temper the egg I crack and beat the egg into a cup or bowl (usually the measuring cup where I poured the milk from, since it's right there).   Then I slowly pour small amounts of the liquid milk/flour mixture into the egg while continuing to beat it so it doesn't scramble.   Once the egg has reached the temperature of the milk/flour mixture, I pour the whole thing back into the pan.

ETA:  Also, I rarely make my own breadcrumbs, I just use storebought.  Cento Italian style are my fave!

[niq]

May 19, 2016 15:32:09 GMT -5 @this said:

May 19, 2016 15:29:25 GMT -5 @mrswindycity said:

www.pink-parsley.com/2011/03/classic-make-ahead-macaroni-and-cheese.html

This one involves making your own breadcrumbs!!!

mom made this one once and it was amazing.

www.marthastewart.com/271998/perfect-macaroni-and-cheese

[Ashley&Scott]

This is where I will confess that I tried to make homemade mac & cheese like 7 years ago. Somehow I completely screwed it up & we ended up throwing it all out. I have not tried since then.

So @this, let me know how it turns out & maybe I'll try this one.

[picksthemusic]

And because this needs to be on everyone's mac and cheese recipe arsenal:

www.beechershandmadecheese.com/CheesyInfo/Recipes/FirmCheese/BeechersWorldsBestMacCheese.aspx

It is seriously so good and SO worth it.

[TamiTaylor]

The mac n cheese recipe you need in your life is capscapscaps grandma's recipe. It's the shit.

[drloretta]

Good luck @this!

I swear by my dad's recipe. No egg needed

[kangaroo11]

I wish I could do things like Mac and cheese for dinner. Grumblegrumble lactose intolerant husband.

[djc315]

So? How was the mac & cheese?