But now, laying eggs is no longer a patent for hens, because humans are smart enough to make fake eggs.
In recent years, people have been worried about artificial eggs, so is there a so-called "artificial egg"? If so, how is it made? What's the harm of eating artificial eggs?
With these questions, the reporter found an institution specializing in artificial egg technical training and witnessed the whole process of the birth of an artificial egg.
This hen is going to be fired.
People can also make eggs.
"It's no different from real eggs except that you can't hatch chickens." This is a slogan that the reporter saw after searching for "artificial egg technology" on the Internet. On the internet, there are a large number of institutions that transfer artificial egg technology all over the country, and most of them are under the same banner: fake eggs are exactly the same as real eggs.
From various advertisements, the reporter learned that artificial egg technology existed as early as ten years ago. Under the continuous "research" of counterfeiters, the technology has developed from the first generation of shell-free cooked eggs to the fifth generation of shell-free raw eggs.
According to online information, there are at least a dozen artificial egg technical training institutions in Beijing, most of which are located in the urban-rural fringe of Fengtai District. Training institutions have face-to-face and correspondence training methods. "Face-to-face teaching is to teach technology face to face, and the master teaches it by hand, and learning will not cost money. Correspondence is mailing teaching CDs and teaching materials, followed by video learning. If you really can't learn by yourself, you can come to the company for face-to-face teaching, and there will be no extra charge. " The staff of a training company told reporters.
The training fees of these institutions are generally between 800- 1200 yuan. After shopping around, the reporter chose a training institution named Beijing Zhongnong Chuangyan Technology Development Co., Ltd. located in Majiapu, Fengtai District. This company grants tuition to 880 yuan face-to-face, so you can go to the company to "inspect" before deciding whether to study.
In an office building in Majiapu Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, a 24-year-old staff member received the reporter. His surname is Li, and his position is the business manager of this company. He is also in charge of technical training, and his tone is arrogant.
After carefully asking and confirming the identity of the reporter, Li began to introduce. "Artificial egg is a very simple project of our company, and it is not difficult to learn." The staff patted their chests and said that the eggs made were absolutely the same as real eggs. "Let's just say that it's no different from real eggs except that you can't hatch chickens."
After that, he took the reporter to visit a special training room. A person was learning the technology of extracting enzymes from eggs with plastic pots, beakers and other instruments. The training room was full of raw materials needed for various technologies.
"It takes more than two hours to learn. It's simple. Don't think too complicated. If you can't learn or do it, we won't let you go. We will teach you by hand. "
The same raw materials
Egg yolk protein is added with different pigments.
After the reporter decided to learn artificial egg technology, the other party asked to go through the formalities first, and Li asked to show his ID card or leave his name and address and other personal information.
"We are in a county town and only teach two families. If every household makes fake eggs, no one can make money. One place is controlled in two or three, so that eggs are easy to sell. " Before the reporter asked, he revealed the reason for the registration information.
After the reporter paid 880 yuan the technical training fee, Li began to prepare all kinds of raw materials needed to make eggs.
"It won't be difficult, it won't be difficult." He conveniently printed out a technical data of artificial eggs for "theoretical research". As can be seen from this material, the raw materials for making egg yolk and egg white are: sodium alginate, calcium chloride and so on. The raw materials for making eggshells are paraffin, gypsum and hydrogen powder.
When the reporter saw this material, Li had already boiled the water in the small iron basin with an electric stove. He took some sodium alginate and put it in boiling water, telling reporters the proportion of the mixture. He said this ratio is very important. If you put too little sodium alginate, the eggs will be very thin, otherwise they will be very thick, unlike real eggs.
"You'd better buy a balance when you get home. Just because I don't need it now doesn't mean you don't need it. Because I am a teacher and have done it many times, I know. " He said with some "pride".
Then, he took a chopstick and stirred it in the basin. About an hour later, the white malt extract granular sodium alginate began to dissolve slowly, and the originally clear boiled water gradually became turbid. In a short time, this basin of clear water turned into a sticky and translucent "egg white", which was sticky with chopsticks and slippery when touched by hands.
"If you want to improve the process, you can put a small amount of gelatin, and it is best to use a clean stainless steel basin to avoid impurities." After that, he took the washbasin off the electric stove, let the reporter put it on the ground and cooled it to room temperature. If you want to save time, it is best to dissolve sodium alginate one day in advance.
Egg white and egg Huang Dou are the same substance. Divide the cooled "egg white" into two parts, of which 3/4 is egg white and 1/4 is egg yolk. In order to make the egg more realistic, you can put a little salt in the egg white, because the egg white of the real egg is a little salty, put some orange pigment in the egg yolk, and add some milk powder, so that the egg yolk will look a little yellow with white.
With the help of special molds
Artificial eggs hatch from it.
Egg whites and egg yolks are ready, and the next step is to make eggs from egg yolks and egg whites.
Jae-Il Lee put some calcium chloride in a large basin of water according to a certain proportion, took out a black plastic bag under the table, and took out a mold made of gypsum. There are two grooves on it, a larger oval and a smaller circle. As he talked and did, he made egg yolk with a circular groove, poured it into a mold and shook it back and forth in calcium chloride aqueous solution. Soon there was a film on the surface of the "egg yolk".
He began to pour the egg white into the oval groove, and began to pour half of it. Then he carefully picked up a prepared egg yolk in the basin and put it in, and poured half of the egg white to cover the egg yolk. Shake it in calcium chloride solution in the same way, and a solidified film will soon appear on the outside of protein. Then shake your wrist skillfully, and an egg without eggshell will "hatch". Eggs hatched in water, regardless of size, shape, color and texture, can be completely confused with real ones.
Li peeled an egg by hand, and the egg white and yolk soon flowed out, just like a broken real egg, but the egg white and yolk soon mixed together.
The reporter found that when sodium alginate was added to calcium chloride solution, the two reacted chemically to form a thin film of egg yolk and protein. This substance will slowly solidify at room temperature and accelerate solidification under heating conditions.
The most important part of artificial eggs is the shell. Li took some paraffin wax, added three or four kinds of hard acids, hydrogen powder and other substances in a proper proportion, and added a little pigment. He heated these things in a small pot.
"What we are doing today is red-skinned eggs with orange pigment. If you cook white eggs in the future, put some milk powder in it. If you cook duck eggs, put some green ones in them. These pigments can be bought in chemical stores everywhere. "
Eggshell formation
The cost of 50 cents can be sold for a few cents.
After an hour of cooling, the shell-free eggs and eggshell materials almost reached the "technical" requirements, and then reached the final and most critical "eggshell" stage.
Li put a wet cloth on the table, covered it with a clean plastic film, picked up a shell-less egg in the basin with an iron spoon and completely immersed it in the cooled paraffin solution.
Up and down, up and down ... one in and one out, the egg is slowly wrapped in the shell. After four or five times, he gently took out the egg and put it on the plastic film, and an egg wrapped in the "eggshell" was formed.
The reporter's eyes widened unconsciously. Li said, "There is nothing unexpected. Everything can be faked now, but no matter how well the fake eggs are made, people will not believe them. Therefore, secrecy is the most important thing, even if the neighbors come to the door. I can't say for sure. "
After cooling and air-drying for 24 hours, artificial eggs are exactly the same as real eggs in appearance.
He said that if you want to do better, you can put dozens of eggs on a clean table, fill them with paraffin solution for making eggshells with a sprayer, and spray them several times from top to bottom, which is more suitable for large-scale processing. Finally, you can put some chicken shit on the cooked eggs, and no one doubts it.
When the reporter asked whether artificial eggs were harmful to the body, Li asked, "They are all food additives. What harm can you say? " ? Although it tastes a little different from real eggs, it is very chewy. He said that he had eaten this kind of egg himself.
According to its introduction, the cost of large-scale processing of artificial eggs is only 5 cents to 8 cents, and it can be sold for about 4 cents when mixed with real eggs. Who doesn't want to do such a profitable business?
1. Add sodium alginate into a beaker filled with water and stir constantly to form a liquid as thick as egg white. Adding a small amount of lemon yellow food pigment is the embryonic form of "egg yolk"
2. Put these egg yolk-like liquids into a spherical container, quickly put them into water with calcium chloride dissolved, and quickly form a transparent clot outside the "egg yolk" to form the "egg yolk".
3. Put the solidified artificial egg yolk into the artificial egg white, and a fake egg without shell will be "shaped", similar to a peeled preserved egg.
4. The eggs are soaked in the eggshell solution made of beeswax and calcium carbonate, and repeated several times. After the shell is slightly air-dried, it is immersed in cold water for setting. At this point, the fake egg has put on the coat and you're done.