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A powdered egg is a fully dehydrated egg. Most powdered eggs are made using spray drying in the same way that powdered milk is made. First the eggs are cracked and separated from the shell. The egg yolk and white are then beaten together before being atomized into fine droplets using a spray nozzle. The spray emits the droplets into a column of hot air, designed to rapidly evaporate the moisture but not cook the egg. The use of a cyclone flow of air allows solid particles to be ejected from the drying column, falling to the sides and base of the drying tower to be collected.
The major advantages of powdered eggs over fresh eggs are the reduced weight per volume of whole egg equivalent and the shelf life. Other advantages include smaller usage of storage space, and lack of need for refrigeration. Powdered eggs can be used without rehydration when baking, and can be rehydrated to make dishes such as scrambled eggs and omelettes.