Meringue Powder

[eloise forever]

Is meringue powder the same thing as the dried egg whites you can get in a can?

[Leonard]

eloise forever:

Great question! I bought this around the holidays to make royal icing to decorate cookies. Yes, they are the same thing. The brand found in most markets is "Just Whites". I was in a candy supply store so I bought "Wilton" merinque powder. Same thing. What I found interesting is the "Wilton" brand says to refrigerate after opening. It doesn't list an expiration date. I called them and the candy supply store and no one seems to think it has an expiration date. I haven't read the back of the "Just Whites" canister. Let me know if it gives an expiration date. It's good to use in place of egg whites if the people who will eat it have issue with uncooked whites.

[eloise forever]

Thanks for the answer, Leonard! I have a can of the Just Whites. It says no refrigration required and I cannot find an expiration date anywhere. I also have a jar of meringue powder from Martha By Mail. It has nothing on it regarding refrigeration or expiration.

The reason I was not sure if these two things were the same is because the ingredient lists are different. The Just Whites says its only ingredient is pasteurized dried egg whites. The meringue powder lists sugar, egg-white solids, modified food starch, dextrose, vegetable gum, salt, and citric acid. Are these REALLY the same things??

[This message has been edited by eloise forever (edited 02-10-2001).]