A shortage of eggs hitting New Zealand supermarkets has people scrambling for an alternative.
But not to fear, Newshub has gathered a list of substitutes for the tasty breakfast favourite.
Poached, fried, sunny side up, scrambled, hard-boiled, over-easy or devilled - eggs are hard to beat.
From breakfast to dessert the staple food item is an essential in many New Zealanders' grocery baskets. But in recent days the versatile food item has been noticeably absent from supermarket shelves.
A drop in supply largely caused by government law changes to the farming industry has meant some supermarkets are limiting the number of cartons customers can buy.
Industry leaders are expecting a minimum of five months to alleviate the shortage as the egg sector reaches cracking point.
Vegans have long figured out ways around using eggs while whipping up some home baking but for the rest of the population here's a way around the adaptable breakfast food.
Mashed Banana
First on the list - and one of the most common substitutes according to Google - is mashed bananas.
One very ripe, soft banana, when mashed, works to replace an egg in baking goods.
The thick, mushy and high-moisture consistency makes a great alternative for eggs, however, it will add a bit of flavour so it's best to make sure the banana is compatible with the dish you are making.
Applesauce
Similar to bananas, applesauce provides moisture to cooking to help make the final product denser. It is a great substitute for sweeter dishes like cakes.
To replace one egg add 1/4 cup of applesauce to make the perfect egg-free dessert.
Chia seeds
Chia seeds can be used to swap out eggs while baking.
It's recommended to mix one tablespoon of chia seeds with one and a half tablespoons of water. When combined, it creates a paste that can help bind baked goods together for dishes like bread and biscuits.
Aquafaba
The liquid leftover from cooked chickpeas, aquafaba, has been taking the vegan cooking world by storm.
The starchy liquid is a great binder and has been used to create vegan food replacements such as vegan cheese, mayonnaise and eggs.
In substitute of an egg, use three tablespoons of aquafaba per egg.
Egg replacers
For the lazy cooks who don't want to make the substitute themselves, supermarkets also sell packets of egg replacers.
The brand Orgran sells a 'No Egg Egg Replacer' at most New Zealand supermarkets for around $6.60 a packet.
It uses ingredients like potato starch and flour to create a similar texture to eggs.
So instead of poaching your neighbour's eggs or skipping out on dessert, try giving an egg-cellent substitute a go.
