With so many different labels, certifications, and claims, it can be tough to know what they all mean! This guide offers details on how to select quality eggs.
Selecting Quality Eggs
Large, organic, free-range, Grade A, humanely raised EGGS. Sound familiar? Walking into the dairy aisle of your grocery store promises a peppering of various claims, certifications, and loud advertising that may just leave you cross-eyed. What do all these labels mean? How do I know what eggs are right for me? In this guide, I offer details on the various types of eggs you’ll likely see in your grocery store, and how to differentiate between all the options.
Egg Grades: What Do They Mean?
Let’s start with the different grades of eggs available. The shield-shaped grademark indicates the quality of both the exterior of the egg as well as the interior. The United States Department of Agriculture offers a voluntary program for farms that grade eggs based on their quality and size. If a farm chooses not to pay for this voluntary program for whatever reason, they may still include verbiage on their packaging that states, “Grade A”, however, it will not bear the USDA shield.
There are three grades that eggs can be given that are saleable. The following graphic from the Egg Safety Center clearly outlines the difference between the different grades!
White Versus Brown Eggs: Which Is Better?
A common misconception is that brown eggs are in some way healthier for you than white eggs. This is not true! The color of the egg laid actually is determined by the hen that laid it! Typically, white hens lay white eggs, and brown hens lay brown eggs. Of course, there are breeds of chickens that lay beautiful blue, milky light brown, pink, or green eggs too. However, those that are commonly available in grocery stores are white or brown.
Please Translate The Label!
Most grocery stores today carry an impressive collection of different types of eggs. Pasture-raised and pasteurized. Free-range and hormone-free. Organic and humanely raised. Which option is best? Which is worth the price? Read on to learn more about what different labels mean on those egg cartons.
Pasture Rasied
“Pasture-raised” is an unregulated term. While it may induce visions of happy chickens frolicking in a field living their best chicken lives, this may not always be the case. However, according to Vital Farms in the article titled, “What’s the Difference Between Pasture-Raised and Free-Range Eggs?“, making the “pasture-raised” claim means that the hens are given 108 square feet of space to roam, peck, and eat.
Pasteurized
Pasteurization is a process that is regulated by the FDA. During this process, eggs are heated and held at a minimum temperature to eliminate any bacteria. All egg products sold in the United States are pasteurized, while in-shell eggs are not necessarily pasteurized (thank you to the readers who have commented on this post and informed me that I previously had incorrectly stated that all in-shell eggs are pasteurized!).
Free-Range
Free-range is a term used to describe animals that have the freedom to “roam vertically and horizontally in indoor houses, and have access to fresh food and water, and continuous access to the outdoors during their laying cycle”, according to the USDA website. The eggs of free-range chickens are said to have a richer yolk color: vibrant orange as opposed to pale yellow, which is indicative of higher levels of vitamins.
Hormone Free
Federal law requires that no hen is to be raised with supplemental hormones. That said, even if your carton doesn’t tout this claim, rest assured that all eggs are hormone free.
Organic
The cartons that sport the USDA Organic symbol are those that have been certified and follow strict guidelines for how the hen is housed and fed. The diet is to consist of 100% organic feed, and these animals are to be given access to the outdoors year-round.
Humanely Raised
There are a number of certifications surrounding animal welfare and the conditions in which they’re raised. ASPCA has an incredible graphic that compares multiple labels, certifications, and claims that I highly recommend reviewing for yourself!
Conclusion
When it comes to selecting the perfect carton, it really comes down to what you find important! I personally opt for organic, free-range eggs that include a certification that indicates humane practices. I’m also lucky enough to know a few people who raise their own chickens, so fresh-laid eggs are a common treat in my kitchen. Farm fresh eggs are common at Farmer’s Markets, so keep your eyes peeled!
If you found any of these details helpful, let me know by dropping a comment below!
Find this guide for selecting eggs helpful? Check out my “So Happy In The Kitchen” page, where I share helpful roundups of products, ingredient and cooking method education, and recipe tips and tricks! You can also shop all of my favorites here.
Sources
Organic Standards – www.ams.usda.go
What Do Labels on Egg Cartons Mean? – www.uepcertified.com
What’s the Difference Between Pasture-Raised and Free-Range Eggs? – www.health.usnews.com
Understanding Egg Labels – www.aspca.org
Types of Eggs – www.eggsafety.org
Only egg products (not eggs inside their shell) are pasteurized.
All egg products (eggs inside their shell are NOT egg products) are pasteurized as required by United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). This means that they have been rapidly heated and held at a minimum required temperature for a specified time to destroy bacteria. Further cooking is not required.
Certain commodities (freeze-dried products, imitation egg products, and egg substitutes) are not considered egg products and are under the Food and Drug Administration’s jurisdiction. Inspected, pasteurized egg products are used to make these commodities, and they may be re-pasteurized. For information about egg substitutes contact the manufacturer or the FDA (888-723-3366).
Came to comments JUST for this.
Colleen, you are right.
OP you can go right to the FDA.gov website and read up that in shell eggs are NOT required to be pasteurized in the USA and they even recommended if one is concerned about food safety to purchase in-she’ll pasteurized eggs.
Thank you both Colleen and Bren for your comments! I really appreciate you calling out my incorrect statement that in-shell eggs are pasteurized. I have updated this article to reflect the fact that only egg products are pasteurized!