Is “beaten egg” countable or uncountable?

Hello, Green Tea, and welcome to the Grammar Exchange.

@Green Tea posted:

Is “beaten egg” countable or uncountable?

I understand that many English words used as a noun can be used as both countable and uncountable, and whether the word is used as countable or uncountable depends on how the word is used in a sentence.

Having said that, I still find it confusing.

My understanding is that the word “egg” is countable when it refers to an individual egg while the same word is uncountable when it refers to “beaten egg” as a substance.

You are right—it can be countable or uncountable depending on whether you refer to individual eggs or to a mass ingredient.

If you say:

Add beaten egg.

it is unclear how many eggs are to be included. In this recipe, for example, we can read:

Egg Fry – this is basically a stir fry I do of whatever appropriate veg are in my fridge, along with some good seasoning. I then add beaten egg – usually 2 per person, in a slow steady stream, constantly stirring, so I end up with tiny bits of egg that I cook until crispy. … then just bung the whole thing on a plate.

Hello, Gustavo.

Thank for your explanation with an example.