How to Select Eggs

For many of us, eggs are part of our daily routine. Eggs are actually considered a superfood since they're full of vitamins A and B and are linked to a reduction in heart disease according to Healthline. With that kind of pedigree, these little spheres provide endless possibilities. Eggs can be scrambled, boiled, fried, or poached for breakfast. They can also be mashed up for a filling lunch, and sometimes eggs are part of dinner. Eggs are used to make cakes and cookies and every so often, egg whites are included in cocktails. But, have you ever thought about what kind of egg you should use? 

Do you prefer white or brown? Do you like large or jumbo? What about fertile or infertile? These are all things you might never think about when choosing the perfect egg, but each consideration is just as important as how you're going to use that egg. Here are just a few tips from the experts on how to pick the best egg possible for your next dish.

Egg color isn't Important

Believe it or not, the difference between brown or white eggs has nothing to do with quality or flavor, and one isn't healthier than the other. It's actually all about the chicken. Cristo Silva of La Bahn Ranch says egg color depends on the breed of chicken. For example, Chicken Scratch explains that Rhode Island Red and New Hampshire Red chickens lay brown eggs, while the White Leghorns and Egyptian Fayoumi tend to lay white — just to name a few. 

Even though the color doesn't matter when it comes to quality, there are differences between the two. Silva finds that brown eggs tend to have a thicker shell, are heartier, and the yolks are usually a darker, more orange color. That thicker shell also makes brown the egg harder to peel when hard boiled. But, both red and white chickens are fed the same things, so either egg will have the same nutrition. Silva says they also should have the same taste. But, he explains some people say that "brown tastes better." 

Pay attention to what the chickens eat

What a chicken ingests will not only effect the nutrients and flavor of the bird, but according to Medical Daily, it also effects the eggs. While chicken feed is usually comprised of soy beans and corn, which is the most common choice, the food can be supplemented with vegetables and fruits, as well.

But, if the chickens are kept on a vegetarian diet, "disaster" could strike according to the Washington Post. Because chickens are omnivores, it's important that the animals eat plenty of meat, as well as grains. Now, the meat doesn't have to be a steak."They'll pretty much eat anything," says Cristo Silva of La Bahn Ranch. So, getting fowl protein is as simple as guaranteeing the birds can uncover bugs and worms while pecking for food. Those creepy crawlers will supplement the protein chickens need to be a healthier animal and, thereby, produce a healthier, higher quality egg.

Silva says chickens that are pasture raised, not only have access to meaty protein from nature, but at La Bahn, the team supplements their diet with organic grains — something not all chicken farmers do. According to Silva a lot of chicken farmers will feed the chickens "the cheapest grains they can find."

How chickens are raised affects quality

What the chicken eats goes directly to how the chickens are raised. There are three distinct ways to raise a chicken: cage-free, range-free, and pasture raised. The techniques are all very different, says Cristo Silva of La Bahn Ranch. Cage-free is exactly what it sounds like: The chickens aren't kept in cages. But, Silva says there's a "legal loophole" with the definition of cage-free eggs. 

Silva says the chickens might "technically" not live in cages, but the animals are still "crammed into a small area, cooped up." So, odds are, they're getting those cheaper grains Silva was talking about. Range-free means the farms have a certain amount of square footage per chicken, says Silva. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the chickens aren't going outside and don't have the chance to walk around and hunt for grubs. The clinic explains there's no guarantee on how much time the animals spend out doors. 


Cristo Silva from La Bahn Ranch says age really does matter when it comes to the quality of an egg. The sooner you use an egg, the better off you'll be. But, how can you tell how old an egg is? Check the expiration date. Most cartons, whether from the store or the farmer's market, come with a "sell by" or expiration date that tells you how fresh the eggs are, according to Healthline. The website also says that while eggs can still be eaten a few days after the expiration date, the quality will start to decline. 

But, the best way to find out about the egg's freshness is to ask the farmer. Silva says that La Bahn Ranch only sells eggs that have been laid in the past one or two days. While the eggs will keep for at least a couple weeks after, there's no guarantee of the freshness or quality if you don't know how long the egg has been sitting in the carton before it was sold.

Sometimes, you might find a dimpled or wrinkled egg in your carton. These eggs are still fresh and fine to eat, according to Poultry Keeper, it just means the hen is older and so its shells are thinner, or the hen was startled while laying the eggs.

Smell eggs for quality

Believe it or not smelling the eggs is another great way to tell, if your eggs are of good quality. It really is true that eggs past their prime start to give off an unpleasant odor. According to Saunder's Eggs, it doesn't matter if the egg is cooked or raw, if it's bad, it's going to smell like sulfur. Healthline says this trick is the oldest and most reliable test out there.