Interesting article on eggs
Here is an article from Time about a study on whether free-range, organic eggs are healthier than factory eggs. The answer is “no” as related to — as I’m taking it — the amount of protein in the white of the egg. The part that intrigues me is the claim that some free-range eggs can actually be worse due to the fact that the hens are walking around eating whatever, including PCBs. A Brazilian study found that free-range eggs had really high levels of DDT, even though the use of it was banned 9 years ago it just degrades slowly and the hens are eating it.
I don’t buy organic eggs, but I do have a particular kind that I like after trying a few different ones. My favorite are by far local farm eggs. Eating eggs that are only a few days old before you get them is quite a difference.
So, there you go. If you aren’t buying local eggs where you can possibly find out what the hens are eating, then perhaps you want to give free-range ones a pass? You know, if you don’t feel morally obligated to not eat eggs from boxed in hens. It is something to look into, if you care about the food you eat.
Have you noticed that the local eggs don’t peel as well when you boil them? I even wait a week after buying them because I know fresh eggs don’t peel well. But geez, even the week-old fresh eggs are a bear.
No, they don’t boil well. There isn’t enough of a gas build-up in the egg to provide a cushion between the egg white and the shell. Eggs hardboil best when they are about 1 month old.
Another trick I’ve heard is to allow the fresh egg to age at room temperature for a few days. Then boil it and allow it to sit in the fridge for a few hours before peeling.
I’ve read somewhere that The USDA allows grade A and AA eggs to be label as “fresh” if is is not older than 45 days from packing. However, I could not verify this claim through the USDA grading documentations, which just lists shell shape and quality as well as yolk shape and quality as standards for determining grades. It wouldn’t surprise me if grocery store eggs are about 1 month old before you buy them.
You can set some eggs aside and let them age before boiling. You can judge when gas is building up in the egg by putting in a glass of water. As soon as the whites start to dehydrate, gas builds up in the egg and it will start to float.
Awesome tips! Thank you! I like buying the local eggs ‘cos you know me and buying local…I didn’t realize that I should be waiting a month before boiling. And thanks for the room-temp tip! Hurray!