What is the best way to store eggs?

It's best to store eggs in their original carton that shows the Sell-by (or Best-by or Exp date) on a shelf in the fridge. If eggs are not stored in their original carton (in a refrigerator door), there is no way of knowing their age, and they can absorb odors from other foods.

How do I know if an egg is fresh?

There are a few ways to tell if an egg is fresh. The thicker the white of the egg, the fresher; the more firm or higher the yolk stands up, the fresher the egg. A fun test for egg freshness is to put an egg in water. If it sinks and rests horizontally, it is very fresh. If the larger end starts to rise, your egg is typically one to two weeks old. An egg that floats is a very old egg.

How long will an egg last?

If properly refrigerated, the Sell-by, Best-by, or Exp-date on each carton can be a good guide. They are generally good for a week or two beyond these dates.

What is the white string-like substance in my egg?

This is called the chalazae. It is a ropey strand of egg white which anchors the yolk in place in the center of the thick white. They are neither imperfections nor beginning embryos. The more prominent the chalazae, the fresher the egg. Chalazae do not interfere with the cooking or beating of the white and need not be removed, although some cooks like to strain them from stirred custard.

Why do I sometimes find blood spots in eggs?

This is rare, and happens when a blood vessel ruptures during the production of an egg. The egg is still edible, and the easiest way to remove the spot is with the tip of a knife. Blood spots are not signs of fertility and they do not mean that the egg is bad.

 Any tips on whipping egg whites?

Yes:  older eggs at room temperature whip best.

Why do some eggs have darker yolks?

Yolk color is determined by what a chicken eats. Thus, a darker yolk usually means a diet that contains more corn or alfalfa in the feed. Yolk color does not affect nutritive value or cooking characteristics. Egg yolks are a rich source of vitamin A regardless of color.

What is the green ring that occurs after hard-boiling an egg?

This is a chemical reaction caused by overcooking eggs or cooling them too slowly.

Are Oakdell's eggs Fertile?

No. Roosters (males) are not allowed in our hen houses.

Why are there different eggshell colors?

The breed of the chicken determines shell color of an egg. Because brown chickens are usually larger and require more food to make an egg, brown eggs cost more than white eggs. In general there is no difference between brown and white eggs, but Oakdell's Brown Omega-3 specialty egg is different because of added flaxseed, a marine algae, Vitamin E, and because we do not feed any animal by-products to the birds that product these eggs. Some say that these eggs even taste better.

What is a double yolk?

A double yolk occurs in an egg when a chicken releases two yolks into the same shell. These eggs are perfectly safe to eat, and are said to bring good luck when you find them. In fact, you may occasionally find an egg with three or even four yolks - if you're lucky!

What about cholesterol? 

This is an interesting issue that has possibly incorrectly implicated eggs. In February 2011 USDA data revealed that eggs actually have 14% lower cholesterol than previously recorded - the new reported level is 185 mg per large egg. 

There are two kinds of cholesterol: blood serum and dietary. Blood cholesterol is naturally occurring and can increase risk of heart disease. Dietary cholesterol comes from food we eat, like meat, eggs, dairy, and seafood. Our bodies do not automatically convert dietary cholesterol to blood cholesterol. Research shows that dietary cholesterol does not significantly increase blood cholesterol levels in most people. Saturated fats seem to be a bigger culprit. Studies published in an American Heart Association journal showed that 20 healthy young men and 13 healthy young women with normal blood cholesterol levels were able to consume up to two eggs per day while on a low-fat diet without significantly raising their blood cholesterol levels. The outcome of this study suggests that an egg or two daily may be acceptable for people with normal blood cholesterol levels. (Courtesy of the American Egg Board at www.aeb.org)

Can I eat raw eggs?

It is not recommended. Properly refrigeration and thoroughly cooking the eggs is always better.

How can I tell if an egg is already boiled?

Spin it on a countertop. If it spins quickly, it is boiled; if it spins slowly, it is not boiled. Try it! There will be no question when you do this test.

What are the dark spots in some eggs?

Brown chickens have not been genetically improved over time like their white counterparts. That's why a brown egg will occasionally have paprika-looking spots of dark red in the egg. These may surprise you, but they are harmless. Scientists report that most of these spots are simply the pigment or coloring from the shell.

Do you "De-beak" Your Chickens?

Of course we don’t cut the beaks off, but we do “trim” the tips of their beaks.  This is for a similar reason that we all trim our finger and toenails: if we don’t, we can injure ourselves, or those around us. Cats and dogs have their nails trimmed for the same reason. 

Does it hurt the animals, in our case the birds, when we trim their beaks?  It probably does a bit, in a similar manner to when you trim your fingernails too close.  This is typically now done at the hatcheries with a laser beam before we ever buy our birds.  When we used to do it on the farm, as a preventative measure, the birds are fed extra vitamin E and K to enhance coagulation (to prevent bleeding), if bleeding were to occur.

You might be interested to know that chickens raised for commercial production that do not have their beaks trimmed exhibit a very troublesome characteristic:  they become cannibalistic.  Their inherent “pecking order” comes out with the strongest ones picking on, and often causing very serious injury to others.  This is particularly true in non-caged systems where more birds co-mingle with each other.

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