This Is the Secret to the Best-Ever Egg Salad Sandwich
Updated: Nov. 01, 2023
This is the egg salad trick we probably wouldn't ever have thought of on our own—but absolutely cannot wait to try
If you’re an egg salad lover, we’ve got a tip for you for making the absolute creamiest of creamy egg salad sandwiches. Actually, Top Chef Carla Hall of Top Chef and The Chew fame has a tip for you that she got from her friend, James Beard Award winner Nancy Silverton. And you know what we do when chefs start spilling cooking secrets? We listen up! So let’s refresh our favorite vintage egg recipe and see how much better it can get.
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What is the secret to the perfect egg salad sandwich?
Drumroll, please. For the ultimate egg salad creaminess, instead of reaching for the knife to slice and dice, you’re going to want to do two things a little differently. First, separate the yolks from the whites. Then, tear the whites, crumble the yolks and combine with mayonnaise and other ingredients.
Carla didn’t say exactly why this works, but the way we see it, there are two things happening here: One is that when the yolks are separated from the egg whites, they will mix more fully with the mayo, producing more of that deviled-egg-filling effect. And the second element at play is that the soft edges created when tearing and crumbling the eggs create a creamy mouthfeel that takes things up another notch, especially when added between high-quality slices of bread. But in the end, the why is not nearly as important as the yummm. And it’s a super easy step to sneak into your recipe. What’s good enough for Carla is good enough for us!
Our favorite egg salad recipes
Ready to give this egg salad sandwich trick a spin? Here are some of our favorite egg salad recipes—both classic and souped-up—that you’ll have a delicious time experimenting with:
- Smoked Salmon Egg Salad: If you love a good smoked-salmon-and-cream-cheese bagel, you’re definitely going to want to try this recipe, which mixes lox with creamy eggs and tucks it all into a flaky croissant.
- Red Potato and Egg Salad: Potato salad and egg salad, unite! Why have just one when you could have both in one bite?
- Curried Egg Salad: To create an egg salad that has a bit more of an earthy taste, try mixing in curry powder. Spread it on your favorite toast, and top with bright heirloom tomatoes.
And don’t forget to try our other favorite egg hacks, like microwaving poached eggs and hard-boiling eggs in the oven. Get cracking!
