I Tried These 4 Egg Substitutes to Save Money. Here's How It Went

Save money on your next grocery trip with a bit of egg-sperimentation. 

Eggs used to be a relatively good value way to eat healthily. They are still a great source of nutrients, but after eye-watering price jumps last year, they're almost becoming more of a luxury than a staple. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows eggs cost an average of $4.21 a dozen (down from a high of $4.82 in January). 

That's more than double the cost a year ago. In fact, eggs have gotten so expensive that in February, Bloomberg showed a dozen eggs cost more than a pound of ground beef. With that in mind, and with Easter around the corner, we looked into some egg substitutes that won't make such a dent in your bank balance. It turns out that you don't have to shell out quite so much to bake some delicious family treats. 

Four money-saving egg alternatives

It isn't easy to substitute the egg if you're making fried eggs for breakfast. But in many other cases, particularly baking, there are some egg-scellent -- and better value -- alternatives. I tested out several in a straightforward muffin recipe to see which came out on top. I steered clear of ingredients that aren't that common or would end up costing more than the eggs themselves.

1. Mashed banana (6/10)

1 egg = 1/4 cup of mashed banana

Before we get into the negatives, it's worth pointing out that all the egg substitutes worked reasonably well. Mashed banana came at the bottom of the ranking because the texture was slightly too sticky. Plus, the flavor of the banana came through too strongly. That said, the muffins rose well and crisped nicely on top.

2. Water, oil, and baking powder (7/10)

1 egg = 2 tbsp water, 2 tsp baking powder, and 1 tsp vegetable oil

The great thing about the mix of water, oil, and baking powder is that I used all those ingredients to cook the muffins, so I didn't need anything that wasn't already on the kitchen counter. The downside was that the muffins rose too quickly in the oven and then sank when they came out. The texture of the final product was almost crystalized rather than soft and chewy. 

3. Fizzy water (8/10)

1 egg = 1/4 cup of carbonated water

This was the biggest surprise in my baking experiment. Who'd have thought that fizzy water would do the same job as an egg at a fraction of the cost? The muffins rose well and -- unlike the oil and baking powder option -- held their shape. My only criticism was that the muffins stuck to the pan slightly and the texture was almost too airy.

4. Applesauce (9/10)

1 egg = 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce

The applesauce poached the top spot on our egg substitute quest. There was a slight apple flavor, but it wasn't too strong. The final product had a moist, chewy texture that held its shape without being overly dense. 

Thanks to Kitchn for egg substitute ideas and quantities.

Other ways to save money on groceries

Substituting expensive ingredients can be a great way to slash your grocery costs. You might use fewer eggs with one of the options above, or even cut back on the meat you eat by switching to beans or another protein for a couple of meals. It's important to find options that work for everyone in your household, otherwise your attempts to save a few bucks could cost you more in wasted food. 

If you have a rewards credit card, use it when you buy groceries. If what you spend at the supermarket makes up a large portion of your monthly costs, consider a credit card that pays high rewards on groceries. You can layer rewards by also using a cash back app. These apps can also be a good way to know the best deals before you set foot in the store.

Never go to the store without a list. It can help you save time and avoid impulse purchases. It also means you'll make less trips to the store. If you have room to store your purchases, bulk buying is often a lot less expensive in the long run. But make sure you'll use everything before the sell by date, otherwise it can actually cost you more.

Bottom line

Few Americans have escaped the impact of increased living costs. If you've been feeling the pressure, look at ways to substitute out expensive ingredients. For example, carbonated water and apples are much less costly than eggs, and you'll hardly notice the difference.