Cooking

When should you use pasteurised eggs?

Pasteurised eggs, raw recipes and why national advice differs.

Short answer

Pasteurised shell eggs or egg products reduce Salmonella risk in dishes that remain raw or lightly cooked. Whether they are recommended depends on the country, egg assurance scheme and who will eat the dish.

01

Recipes where it matters

Homemade mayonnaise, Caesar dressing, mousse, tiramisu, eggnog and some ice creams may contain egg that never reaches a thorough cooking temperature. US, Canadian and Australian guidance commonly directs people towards pasteurised products for these uses.

02

The UK exception

UK advice allows raw or lightly cooked hen eggs carrying the British Lion mark, or eggs from an equivalent recognised scheme, for most people including many vulnerable groups. Other eggs should be cooked thoroughly, and severely immunocompromised people need individual advice.

03

Home pasteurisation is not equivalent

A household water-bath method must balance time and temperature precisely throughout the egg. There is no simple visual check that proves the target treatment was achieved. Commercially pasteurised eggs are the dependable option when pasteurisation is required.

Evidence and guidance

Sources for this topic

  1. American Egg Board: egg functionality
  2. USDA: shell eggs from farm to table