Composition

Meringue is made of egg whites and sugar whipped together to incorporate air and form soft or stiff peaks. Egg whites whipped without sugar are not meringue; they are simply beaten egg whites.

In the recipes that follow, egg whites are measured by volume rather than by number. This measurement is not only more precise, but also easier to apply in professional kitchens, where a supply of egg whites is usually on hand. There are 7 to 8 egg whites in 1 cup (240 ml). Using the even number (8) makes it easier to divide when measuring fractions of a cup and is simple to remember, as are 4 whole eggs and 12 egg yolks per cup.