preserving
fruit preserving
root
vegetables preserving
eggs in
waterglass preserving
eggs in
isinglass pickling eggs
in salt &
vinegar preparing
runner beans
the old way preparing
runner beans
the easier way preserving
runner beans
by salting

How isinglass was used to preserve eggs

Isinglass, like waterglass, was a way of preserving eggs which was widely used in the past. This page explains what it was and describes its use.

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By the webmaster, based on a firsthand contribution and talking to older people

What isinglass is

Note that isinglass is not the same as waterglass although both can be used to preserve eggs.

Isinglass is a gel-like substance, a form of collagen, used today mainly for the clarification of wine and beer and as a paste for specialised gluing. In the past, though, before ordinary households had fridges, it was widely used for preserving eggs, particularly during the rationing and shortages of the Second World War when it was common practice to keep chickens.

Isinglass was sold in both powder and liquid form, but it was used as a liquid. The instructions for dilution were on the tin.

How to use isinglass to preserve eggs

The following method of preserving eggs with isinglass comes from individuals who actual saw it done on a regular basis during their childhood.

How my mother preserved eggs with isinglass

from Richard Ouston, personal recollections

The eggs were dipped into the isinglass with a special egg clamp which was rather like a pair of spectacles without lenses in thin wire frames, bent toward each other and hinged on the nose bridge. Some of today's kitchen tongs are similar.

After dipping, the eggs were placed on a rack to dry. The rack was simply a flat piece of wood on two legs, with a dozen or so holes in it, each slightly smaller in diameter than an egg. Once the eggs were dry, the rack, its contents were kept in the garage on top of the food safe.

How my mother used the preserved eggs

I don't know how long the eggs would keep, but it was always normal practice to break an egg open over a cup before using it. The smell of the egg would indicate whether or not it was still edible.

An amusing - or not so amusing - story about the preserved eggs

One night thieves broke into the garage and made off with Grandpa's tool case - together with the rack of eggs which must have seemed worth stealing at that time of wartime rationing and shortages. Next morning, the police found the tools and case in a front garden further down the road - as it was probably too heavy to carry far - but there was a trail of broken eggs going all the way down the road!

There are pictures of egg clamps on the internet, but they are very different from what Richard Ouston describes. They look like regular clamps, but with points to do the holding. I suspect that they are used for holding eggs for painting.

If you can add anything to this page or provide a photo, I would be pleased if you would contact me.

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sources: early 20th century material sources: ww2 home front and other material contact
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