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.

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updated Aug 15, 2023

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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? ›

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.

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.

What happens if you put too many eggs in quiche? ›

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.

Can I use 2 percent milk in quiche? ›

The Custard: For your custard to set properly in the oven, use this easy ratio: 1 part dairy to 2 parts eggs. Classic custards use heavy cream, but 2% milk contains a fraction of the saturated fat and is still plenty rich.

What not to put in quiche? ›

Avoid Fillings That Are Too Wet

And if you're using an ingredient such as sautéed spinach, be sure to squeeze the liquid out before adding it to your quiche.

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

Eggs – Use 4 eggs per 1 cup of milk. Some quiche recipes throw in an extra egg yolk or two, but I don't find it necessary with the ratio of ingredients in my recipe. Salt and Pepper – I don't add salt to the filling if I'm using a salty add-in, such as cheese or ham.

How much milk per egg for scrambled 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 can you substitute for heavy cream in a quiche? ›

Can I substitute the heavy cream in quiche? Short answer: Yes. Recommended substitutes: Half-and-half or whole milk. Caveats: Some quiche recipes call for all cream, some call for a mixture of cream and whole milk (with a popular ratio of 1:1), and some call for all milk.

Can you 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.

What makes quiche unhealthy? ›

Is quiche healthy? Quiche is bad news when it comes to a healthy diet. It's usually made with cheese and cream in the filling as well as butter in the pastry case, so it's often high in saturated fat and calories. Ingredients like bacon will add salt and more saturated fat.

Is it better to use heavy cream or milk in quiche? ›

While it is not as traditional for quiches such as quiche Lorraine, you can use milk instead of heavy cream for quiche. While the results are not *as* rich as if heavy cream is used, I find that by the time you factor in the cheese and eggs, the quiche is not at all lacking in indulgence.

What is the formula for quiche? ›

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

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 standard 9-inch quiche: Use 3 large eggs (6 ounces) 1 1/2 cups of whole milk or cream (12 ounces)

Why is my quiche always watery? ›

According to Real Simple, this typically occurs when adding too-wet ingredients to the quiche filling, layering the egg custard with, for example, large slices of raw tomato or raw zucchini. These vegetables, while tasty, have a high water content when raw, which will weep into the quiche as it bakes.

Should quiche be in glass or metal pan? ›

The main draw of glass is that you can easily monitor the bottom and sides of the pie as it bakes. Metal pans conduct heat proficiently and are generally thinner than glass or ceramic, making them champs at browning crusts.

Should crust be prebaked for quiche? ›

And yes, as you'll see, you should always prebake quiche crust to avoid a gummy pastry. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Roll out your homemade or purchased refrigerated dough into a 12-inch circle.

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.

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.

What is the role of milk in muffins? ›

The Role of Milk in Baking

One of the main roles of milk in baking is to provide moisture. It can help to keep baked goods from becoming too dry and crumbly, and can also add tenderness to the texture. In addition to adding moisture, milk can also help to create a softer crumb in breads and cakes.

References

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