Interesting Facts About Eggs Most People Don’t Know About

Eggs are one of those basic foods that we probably think we know everything there is to know about them. From what they can do for our bodies to the many different ways to prepare them, information about this stuff isn't hard to come by. However, that doesn't mean it's always correct.

There are plenty of harmful myths about eggs out there that could be leading us astray. In fact, some of them may even put people off from eating eggs entirely. Luckily, we've debunked the worst of these myths for you, so you shouldn’t be misled anymore.

The color of an egg yolk doesn't signify its quality 

How often have you cracked an egg, seen a deep orange yolk, and believed that you found the best egg in the carton? Unfortunately, the color of the yolk doesn't signify its quality. Instead, the shade is determined by the chicken's diet, with things like stinging nettles, alfalfa, and corn turning the yolk brighter if the hen eats it often.

A more golden yolk doesn't necessarily mean that your chicken is roaming the field eating this stuff, though. That's because food additives can also have the same effect on the color of it. So, dull egg yolks don't mean the quality is any less; it just means that this particular hen isn't chowing down on nettles or even additives.

There's virtually no difference between brown and white eggs

When it comes to certain other foods, we're often told that the brown version is better. Brown bread? Better than white. Brown rice? Better than white. Brown sugar? You get the gist. So, surely that means it's the same case with brown and white eggs, right? According to some studies, that's not actually the case. They're both pretty much identical.

Apparently, they have the same amount of protein, fat, cholesterol, and salt. There really is very little - if any - difference between a brown egg and a white egg. So, if you're torn between the different colors at the grocery store, just know it won't make any difference to your meal or the number of nutrients you get!

Not every egg starts off with life inside of it

Some people are put off by eating eggs because they believe that every egg is - or was going to be - a baby chicken. After all, the notion that a chick might have lost its life for the sake of food isn't that appetizing. However, the truth is that not all eggs are fertilized, meaning you can have a clear conscience.

Most egg-laying hens aren't given any access to a male chicken, and therefore, it would be physically impossible for their eggs to become chicks. So, it doesn't matter how long you keep your store-bought eggs in an incubator; they're not going to become a baby chicken! However, that doesn't mean you can't buy eggs that have been fertilized.

Whether or not you should wash eggs depends on where you live

Whether you should wash your eggs differs between countries. In some places, it's advised that you do wash your eggs and store them in the refrigerator. In others, it's prohibited to wash the eggs! So, where do you stand? Being an American, you'll want to wash your eggs to avoid catching salmonellosis from your food.

It's apparently the same for those in Japan, Australia, and some Scandinavian countries. However, for most places in Europe, it's not necessary because hens are typically vaccinated there. In fact, many Europeans are actually advised not to wash eggs because it can remove their natural protective layer. So, keep that in mind if you ever cook eggs on vacation there.

Most young children can eat eggs without any issues

It's estimated that around 2% of children are allergic to eggs, something that may make many parents worried about giving this food to their little ones. We can't deny the risk or the fact that very young babies probably shouldn't be given egg or egg-based products. However, that doesn't mean that all children under a year should avoid them.

The general rule of thumb is that you can start babies from seven months and above on two tablespoons of egg to see how they get on. This can then be slowly increased to ensure they don't have an allergy. Of course, if you're ever worried about what your baby can and cannot eat, it's worth talking to a pediatrician.

Freezing chicken eggs is possible, provided the shells are cracked first

If you don't get around to eating your eggs quickly enough, they may go off. Did you know that there's a way around this, though? Instead of letting the food go to waste, you can simply freeze your eggs. A lot of people don't realize that this is actually possible because it's not a common thing to do.

If you want to extend the life of your eggs, though, then the freezer is the best place for them. However, you can't put them in as they are because the shells will crack when frozen. Instead, crack your eggs and lightly beat them into an ice cube tray before freezing. Just make sure they're defrosted thoroughly before cooking.

Pasteurizing eggs at home isn't recommended, despite what some tutorials may say

If you have ever seen any guides or videos showing you how to pasteurize eggs at home, we're afraid it may not be as simple as they make it seem. The basics of pasteurizing an egg involve heat, which is why some people think you can do it just by boiling them at a specific temperature.

However, the reality is that you'll require some pretty specialist equipment to be able to pasteurize your own eggs at home. It's not advised to try and do it yourself if you want to make the food safe for those who can't eat unpasteurized eggs, as applying heat may not be enough. Instead, always opt for store-bought ones.

Raw eggs are not as healthy as some bodybuilders make them seem

It seems like every bodybuilder around likes to guzzle down pints of raw eggs, but are these actually healthier than boiled eggs? Not really. While it is unlikely you'll get salmonella poisoning from a raw egg - it's around a one in 30,000 chance - that doesn't mean they're actually as useful as some people make out.

Our bodies can't absorb raw egg whites as well as cooked ones, which is one strike against them. Plus, Vitamin B7 can also become blocked with these eggs. So, it isn't recommended to eat raw eggs, even to pump up those muscles. However, if you have to then at least opt for those that have been treated to eradicate salmonella.

Avoiding egg yolks isn't necessarily the key to losing weight

Egg yolks get a bad rep! Many diet experts will tell you to make food using just the egg whites, such as an egg-white omelet. Will this actually have a significant impact on your weight loss, though? Again, not really. While there are fewer calories in the white - around 17 - compared to the yolk - approximately 55 - the difference is minimal.

Plus, if you exclude egg yolks from your diet, you potentially deprive yourself of plenty of goodness that could benefit your body. After all, these contain tons of useful vitamins, nutrients, and even more protein that you could probably do with. For example, the egg yolk contains Vitamin D, which isn't present in egg whites.

You can test the age of your eggs without needing the carton

Whether you're getting eggs from hens at home or you've just lost the carton, it can be a nightmare trying to work out how fresh your produce is. Instead of cracking them open and hoping for the best, there is a smart method that shows how old your eggs are. Simply float them in a glass of water and watch.

If they sink to the bottom and lay flat, they're really fresh. If they float to the top of the water, then they're pretty old. Anywhere in the middle is still fine to eat, though you probably shouldn't wait too long to enjoy them. So, try the floating test and avoid throwing out eggs that are still good!

Pastured hens' eggs might actually not be better than caged hens' eggs

It may be a controversial statement to say, but it is actually a myth that pastured - or free-range hens' eggs - are better than caged hens' eggs. In fact, it's very much a 'six of one, half a dozen of another' situation. For example, free-range chicken eggs contain more of vitamins A, D, and E, along with more omega-3.

However, they are also far more likely to suffer from diseases and injury than caged hens – believe it or not! There's also a myth about the conditions that free-range chickens live in, but we'll get to that a little bit later on. So, if you're looking for quality from your eggs, don't naturally assume that free-range is best.

There's apparently no proof that pregnant women shouldn't eat cooked eggs

There has been a myth going around for quite some time that soon-to-be-moms can give their child an allergy to eggs. This can supposedly happen if they eat them while they're expecting, suggesting they should avoid the food before giving birth. However, this has never been proven, meaning women should be free to eat eggs throughout their pregnancy.

After all, eggs are packed full of vital vitamins, nutrients, protein, and amino acids that make them perfect for those who are growing a tiny human inside of them! Of course, the only danger does come from raw or undercooked eggs. However, this is the same rule that applies to everyone, whether they're pregnant or not.

The way you cook eggs can influence their nutritional value

Eggs offer the same benefits regardless of how you take them, right? Unfortunately not. How you cook them can apparently make a big difference to their nutritional value. For example, if you whip your eggs up and bake them in the oven at 355° F, they'll lose around 45% of their Vitamin D within just 40 minutes.

However, eggs that are fried and boiled will keep approximately 90% of their Vitamin D. You can use apps like MyFitnessPal to see the nutritional values of eggs cooked in different ways. Of course, adding things like oil when frying will also add more calories, so be aware of that when you're cooking if you're trying to be healthy.

Quail eggs are only minimally better for you than chicken eggs

Some people may tell you that quail eggs are better for you than chicken eggs. Is this true, though? It is, and it isn't. You will find more vitamins, nutrients, and protein in quail eggs than in chicken eggs. However, it's by such a minute amount that it would be difficult to notice much difference unless you ate them frequently.

Besides, with the significant price difference between the two, you'd be better off eating more chicken eggs and saving yourself a big wad of cash. Plus, quail eggs are a lot smaller, so you'd likely have to eat more of them to get the same satiated feeling that you would from eating regular hens' eggs.

White and brown eggs aren't the only colors available

It's very unusual to see eggs in any colors other than brown or white, but that doesn't mean they aren't out there. We usually see leghorn chickens producing white eggs and Rhode Island chickens producing brown eggs, and that's about all we see in a typical grocery store. However, there are definitely other varieties if you know where to look.

Some egg colors you can find that aren't brown or white are green or even blue. These might be produced by breeds of chicken like the Ameraucana or Araucana. No matter the color of the shell, though, it doesn't have an impact on the quality of the egg inside. See if you can hunt down a green or blue egg!

Egg whites aren't the wrinkle-free solution they might seem

If you regularly peruse YouTube or Pinterest, then you may have seen the latest craze sweeping the beauty world – egg-white face masks. It seems as though everyone has tried making their own face masks to try and get rid of wrinkles, and they're willing to use dairy products to do it. Does this really work, though? Yes and no.

The whites can form a thin membrane on the surface of the skin that may reduce the appearance of wrinkles, but it can also be easily washed away. This means that it really is only a very temporary solution. Instead, eating eggs will give you much-needed vitamins and nutrients that are far better at keeping you feeling young and healthy.

The fridge door isn't actually the best place to store your eggs

Why would manufacturers create an egg compartment in the refrigerator door if it wasn't supposed to be used for eggs? What else are you going to put in there if not this food? Unfortunately, while we don't know the answer to one of life's biggest mysteries, we do know that you shouldn't store your eggs in the fridge door!

It's best to store eggs at a consistent temperature to keep them fresher for longer. However, the door of your refrigerator tends to be the warmest place because it sees constant changes in temperature whenever you open and close it. Therefore, it is actually better to store your eggs on the middle shelf of your fridge.

Eggs might not be as dangerous for cholesterol as initially believed

It has been long thought that those with high cholesterol should avoid certain products because of the risk that these will increase their levels further. One thing that used to be on the list of banned foods was eggs, and they stayed there for a while. However, new research now suggests that they might not actually be that bad.

While yolks may contain more fat and cholesterol than egg whites, it's worth remembering that not all fats are bad. Plus, the cholesterol in yolks doesn't necessarily increase levels of it in your blood. It's always a good idea to check with your doctor first, but it's thought that one egg a day won't do any harm.

Eating eggs every day could actually be good for you

There seems to be so much conflicting advice out there about how often we should eat eggs. Some say that eating this food every day could actually be bad for us, so we shouldn't overdo it. However, various studies have also shown that those who eat eggs every day tend to have a better diet than those who don't.

Eggs are great as a filling breakfast and stop those mid-morning hunger pangs. Staying fuller for longer should then mean we don't snack on unhealthy food later in the day. Of course, some people should try to avoid eggs every day, but only if they have certain medical conditions. Otherwise, studies have shown that around 4-5 eggs daily are fine!

Free-range chickens might not be as free as you think

It's one of the most common misconceptions about free-range, cage-free, or pastured hens that they're simply left to roam around a field all day. Unfortunately, this just isn't the case. While the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires cage-free hens to have access to outdoor areas, it doesn't actually specify how much space or time they should be given.

This means that free-range hens tend to spend a lot of their time cooped up in sheds or pens, just like caged hens. Of course, having some outdoor space is better than absolutely no outdoor space at all. However, this is something to bear in mind if you think these chickens have free-range of a field all day.

An egg's sell-by date doesn't dictate when it goes bad

There is a lot of confusion about the different dates that come on food packaging, particularly when it comes to eggs. On most egg cartons, you'll find two dates. One is the sell-by date, and the other is the use-by date. The sell-by date simply means when a store has to have sold the product before it goes to waste.

However, that doesn't mean that the eggs will have gone off by this time. Instead, you should look at the use-by date, which tells you when it's safe to eat the eggs. There are also other ways you can test how fresh an egg is, too, but we'll get onto that a little bit later!

There's reportedly no proof that fertilized eggs have more protein

Some people out there actually seek out eggs that have been fertilized in the hopes that these will increase their protein intake. However, there is no proof that these eggs are any better or worse for you than normal hens' eggs. There is a way to tell if the egg you're eating has been fertilized, though.

Whether you're eager to eat fertilized eggs or want to avoid them entirely, it's worth knowing this trick. Fertile eggs will have a dark spot around the middle, with almost spider-like veins coming out of it. You can check this without cracking the egg by holding a torch up to it, which will enable you to see through the shell.

There is a way to poach eggs properly without specialist equipment

Poached eggs are one of the most popular ways to eat eggs in a restaurant. However, at home, most of us will avoid making them entirely. Why is that? Well, because it seems almost impossible to poach an egg properly without some kind of gadget to do it for you. However, we're here to tell you that it is possible.

Start by boiling some water in a large pot and then add a little bit of white vinegar. This will help keep the whites stuck together. Afterward, decant your egg into a cup and gently tip it into the boiling water before swirling away to help the egg stick together further. After two minutes, you'll have a perfect poached egg.

Certain egg recipes are great for those with busy schedules

We're always told we should eat more eggs, especially as they can fill us up at breakfast time. However, how is anyone with a busy schedule supposed to find the time to make eggs in the morning?! Luckily, there are plenty of recipes that will ensure this nutritious food is accessible for even the busiest of people.

One thing you can do is to try and make egg muffins the night before. Simply whisk up some eggs and pop them in a muffin tray, along with some veggies and cheese. Bake for around 25 minutes and leave to cool before putting them in the fridge. They'll last about three days in a sealed container.

Hormone-free eggs are apparently just a marketing tactic

There are so many different types of eggs out there, including free-range, organic, and now hormone-free. The latter are probably some of the most expensive of the lot, but are they actually worth it? Well, studies have shown that there is no difference in the nutritional content of hormone-free eggs and regular eggs. Do you know why, though?

This is because added hormones aren't actually allowed to be given to any poultry at all. It's merely a marketing tactic to try and get you to spend more money. As this makes it sound like the hens are raised in a more humane or old-fashioned way, people might be more willing to buy their produce.