How fresh are the eggs you eat?

What’s a good egg?

How do you know they are fresh?

Where to Buy Fresh Eggs

Have you ever bought eggs that later turned out not to be as fresh as you hoped? Me too. Over the years, I’ve learned to be a lot choosier about where I buy them. Fresh eggs from a local farm are always my first choice. If that’s not an option, I look for organic eggs from a trusted grocery store such as Whole Foods, Sprouts, Publix, or Trader Joe’s. When I shop in a store, I usually prefer pasture-raised, organic eggs.

What Makes a Good Egg?

So, what makes a good egg? And does color matter? I start by looking at the shell. A strong, hard shell often suggests the hens are well cared for and getting enough calcium in their diet. That diet can include ingredients such as roasted soybeans, peas, limestone, and oyster shells, which help strengthen the shell. Hens also benefit from a balanced mix of grains like wheat, oats, and barley. Just as important is how the hens are raised and treated.

Are they cage-free? Do they get to forage for bugs? Bugs are a natural source of protein, and pasture-raised or free-range hens also eat leafy greens and grass. In my opinion, hens that have access to a more natural diet and environment tend to produce better eggs.

Does Egg Color Matter?

So, does egg color really matter? You’ll see many varieties, including blue, white, goose, and quail eggs. Blue shells come from specific chicken breeds with a natural pigment in their genetics. But shell color says very little about the quality of the egg itself. What matters most is the inside. Size can vary too, which is part of what makes smaller eggs, like quail eggs, so appealing.

Beautiful organic Eggs from the Knoxville Farmers Market!

What to Look for Inside

When you get home and crack open an egg, you want to see a nice, tight egg white. Ideally, the white should hold together well rather than spread out and look watery.

The yolk should be plump and round. I tend to think the deeper orange the yolk, the better, because it often suggests a nutrient-rich diet. Eggs with rich orange yolks can contain more vitamin A and sometimes more vitamin E. That can be a sign that the hens were pasture-raised or free-range. And if they’re good for your eyes too, that’s a bonus.

If you enjoyed my thoughts on fresh eggs, let me know. And if you’re curious, my recipe for “Simple Poached Eggs in Hollandaise” is linked below the picture.

Simple poached eggs in a bed of Hollandaise Sauce.