This Egg-to-Milk Quiche Ratio Gives You a Perfect Custard Center Every Time (2024)

Kelli Foster

Kelli FosterSenior Contributing Food Editor

Kelli is a Senior Contributing Food Editor for Kitchn. She's a graduate of the French Culinary Institute and author of the cookbooks, Plant-Based Buddha Bowls, The Probiotic Kitchen, Buddha Bowls, and Everyday Freekeh Meals. She lives in New Jersey.

Follow

updated Aug 15, 2023

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

This Egg-to-Milk Quiche Ratio Gives You a Perfect Custard Center Every Time (1)

Quiche is one of those perfect dishes that’s great morning, noon, or night. Whether you love the classic quiche Lorraine, or you’re a fan of throwing whatever is in the refrigerator into one, you can’t deny its versatility and deliciousness. At its core, the ingredients are simple — pie crust, eggs, milk or cream, and favorite fillings. The key to getting your quiche just right is the custard, and this means having the correct milk to egg ratio.

It’s essential to have just enough eggs to set the dairy, but not so many that the quiche becomes rubbery. When your quiche comes out of the oven, you want to see a little wobble. The wobble is the telltale sign of creamy, silky-smooth custard in every bite. Once you have this quiche milk to egg ratio memorized you won’t even need to look up a recipe (although, we do have this essential quiche recipe on hand if you need it!).

Quick Overview

What’s the Perfect Quiche Ratio?

The best quiche ratio is 1 large egg to 1/2 cup of dairy. The ratio of the fat content from the dairy and the protein from the eggs determine the custard’s final texture. The egg proteins bond to form a soft gel-like texture, while the dairy gives the quiche a creamy flavor.

A Foolproof Formula for Perfect Quiche Every Time

So how do you get a quiche with a smooth, creamy custard? It all comes down to this foolproof formula. Remember this formula and you’ll be rewarded with a perfect quiche.

Quiche Ratio: 1 large egg to 1/2 cup of dairy

This ratio, at its heart, is 1 part egg to 2 parts dairy, by weight. A standard large egg weighstwo ouncesand 1/2 cup of dairy (whole milk) isfour ounces, therefore a handy 1:2 ratio!

You’ll need to increase the amount of eggs and milk based on the size of your quiche, so knowing the basic ratio makes it really easy to scale up or down.

For a standard9-inch quiche:

  • Use 3 large eggs (6 ounces)
  • 1 1/2 cups of whole milk or cream (12 ounces)

This will fill the crust (or the pan itself, if you prefer a crustless quiche).

What kind of dairy should I use for quiche?

The dairy can be whole milk or anything with more fat than that, like half-and-half, cream, or a mix. The fat content of the dairy will affect how thick and firm (or, conversely, how wobbly) the custard will be after baking.

This Egg-to-Milk Quiche Ratio Gives You a Perfect Custard Center Every Time (2024)

FAQs

This Egg-to-Milk Quiche Ratio Gives You a Perfect Custard Center Every Time? ›

The proteins and especially the fat in milk and cream stabilize the custard, as well as adding taste and texture. The higher the amount of fat, the more unctuous and creamy the custard will be; a high level of fat also retards curdling when the custard is overcooked.

What is the function of milk in quiche? ›

The proteins and especially the fat in milk and cream stabilize the custard, as well as adding taste and texture. The higher the amount of fat, the more unctuous and creamy the custard will be; a high level of fat also retards curdling when the custard is overcooked.

Can you put too many eggs in a quiche? ›

The best quiche consists of a custard that's the perfect ratio between eggs and milk. Using too many eggs in the custard results in a quiche that rubbery and too firm when baked, while not using enough will prevent the custard from setting. Follow This Tip: Remember this ratio: 1 large egg to 1/2 cup of dairy.

How many eggs for a 9 inch quiche reddit? ›

5 or 6 eggs plus a scant 1c of milk plus cheese, herbs, seasoning and veg in a 9” or 10” crust.

Is heavy cream better than milk in quiche? ›

Heavy Cream and Milk – For the best tasting quiche, use a combination of whole milk and heavy cream. (Or simply use half-and-half.) Using just heavy cream produces an overly thick filling. Whole milk is great, but a combo of heavy cream and milk is better.

What is the ratio of eggs to milk in a quiche? ›

The ratio maintains your custard's consistency. A good quiche custard typically features: 1 large egg to 1/2 cups of dairy. The dairy can be any combination of milk and/or half-and-half, for example: 1 large egg : ½ cup milk.

What is the function of egg in quiche? ›

Quiche filling should contain just enough eggs to prevent it from being soupy, but the eggs are (literally) a supporting player. It's the butterfat in the cream and milk that is responsible for a good quiche's disarmingly rich texture. In other words: Quiche isn't frittata with crust; it's savory custard with crust.

Can you put too much cheese in quiche? ›

A Few General Rules for Making Perfect Quiches

2. Never use more than 2 cups of cheese. Too much cheese will make the quiche not set properly.

Why is my quiche like scrambled eggs? ›

Quiche will have a texture similar to scrambled egg if it is baked at too high of a temperature or too little fat is incorporated into the custard. Follow your recipe closely and be sure to bake your quiche at a lower temperature for the correct amount of time, using the prescribed amount of cream and whole milk.

What happens if you use too much eggs? ›

Side Effects of Eggs:

Daily consumption of eggs can result in an increase in good cholesterol as well as bad cholesterol, which can predispose an individual towards the risk of cardiac disorders. Consuming eggs in excess can result in weight gain due to the high amount of saturated fats.

What is the best amount of eggs for scrambled eggs? ›

Count on about two eggs per person, so this scrambled egg recipe (which calls for six eggs) serves about three people. Warm butter in a skillet set to medium-low heat. Once it's juuuuust beginning to bubble, pour the eggs in. Stir!

What size egg is used most in recipes? ›

The Large egg is the standard used in most recipe development. Using a different size, without making an adjustment, will affect texture, flavor balance, consistency, and in most cases will give an unsatisfactory result.

What temperature should quiche be? ›

Overcooking it will curdle the eggs. And of course, you know what I'll say next: to prevent this minor tragedy, temp your quiche. The custard in a quiche is done between 165°F and 185°F (74°C and 85°C), with some variation coming into temp based mostly on preference.

Can I substitute Greek yogurt for heavy cream in quiche? ›

If you're low on dairy ingredients, don't fret. Greek yogurt can substitute milk, sour cream and heavy cream. Milk: If you're short on milk, half and half or light cream, Greek yogurt can be used to make up for the difference.

Why isn't my quiche creamy? ›

Too little dairy, and your quiche will be dry instead of creamy.

What to use instead of cream in quiche? ›

Can you use milk in place of cream in quiches? Yes, while the fat in the cream helps the quiche set, if you've run out or forgot to pick some up from the shops, full-cream milk should work as a replacement most of the time. You could also try using buttermilk, crème fraîche or Greek-style yoghurt.

What is the main function of milk in baking? ›

Milk is used in baked products to improve texture and mouthfeel. The protein in milk also gives a soft crumb structure in cakes, and contributes to the moisture, colour and flavour of a baked product. Cakes that contain milk also tend to have a longer shelf life.

What is the purpose of putting milk in eggs? ›

Adding milk or plain water to scrambled eggs is an optional step that affects the texture of your finished dish. For creamy scrambled eggs, you'll add up to 1 tablespoon of milk for every egg. For fluffy scrambled eggs, you'll add up to 1 tablespoon of water for every egg.

What does putting milk on pastry do? ›

About this method: Dairy is a classic pastry wash. The natural lactose sugars gild the crust with a golden hue, and the more fat the milk has the deeper the color you'll get. What you won't get is as high a shine as egg washes give you. As with oil, this wash is easy to apply, but also easy to over-apply.

Does quiche contain milk? ›

Traditional quiche is made with heavy cream and lots of cheese and is served inside a buttery crust. But it's also really easy to make healthier. In our dairy-free quiche, we're swapping the milk, cheese, and butter for healthier alternatives like almond milk, nutritional yeast and a butter-free pie crust.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Terrell Hackett

Last Updated:

Views: 5904

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Terrell Hackett

Birthday: 1992-03-17

Address: Suite 453 459 Gibson Squares, East Adriane, AK 71925-5692

Phone: +21811810803470

Job: Chief Representative

Hobby: Board games, Rock climbing, Ghost hunting, Origami, Kabaddi, Mushroom hunting, Gaming

Introduction: My name is Terrell Hackett, I am a gleaming, brainy, courageous, helpful, healthy, cooperative, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.