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albumen

/ælˈbjumən/
IPA guide

Other forms: albumens

The clear, gooey part of an egg that turns white when cooked is called albumen. It's what gives meringues their fluffy texture and cakes their moisture.

The word albumen comes from the Latin word albus, meaning "white." When cooked, an egg's albumen, which surrounds the yolk, turns white. In fact, the albumen of an egg is called the "egg white." Albumen is high in protein. The type of protein in albumen is also called albumen, often spelled albumin. That type of water-soluble protein is in other things, too, like blood, muscle, and milk. In plants, albumen is the nutritive matter inside seeds. The albumen in bird and reptile eggs provides protection and nourishment to the embryo of a fertilized egg.

Definitions of albumen
  1. noun
    a simple water-soluble protein found in many animal tissues and liquids
    synonyms: albumin
    see moresee less
    types:
    ricin, ricin toxin
    a toxic protein extracted from castor beans; used as a chemical reagent; can be used as a bioweapon
    lactalbumin
    albumin occurring in milk
    serum albumin
    albumin occurring in blood serum; serves to maintain the somatic pressure of the blood
    type of:
    simple protein
    a protein that yields only amino acids when hydrolyzed
  2. noun
    the white part of an egg; the nutritive and protective gelatinous substance surrounding the yolk consisting mainly of albumin dissolved in water
    synonyms: egg white, ovalbumin, white
    see moresee less
    type of:
    fixings, ingredient
    food that is a component of a mixture in cooking
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