Experts Say This Is the Only Label on an Egg Carton That Really Matters

I feel like the egg section of my local grocery store keeps getting bigger and bigger. With so many choices and ever-confusing labels, deciding on a dozen feels as confusing as shopping for a car. To make things easier on me (and you), I checked in with an expert to find out what they look for when buying eggs. As it turns out, not all labels mean what you might think they do.

What Label To Look for When Buying Eggs, According to a Chef

According to Nick Korbee , chef, former owner of Egg Shop, and author of Egg Shop: The Cookbook ,  he looks for two labels when buying eggs to help ensure the best quality: pasture-raised and organic. 

Pasture-raised eggs typically come from hens that are free to roam outdoor pastures, foraging on a diet of grasses, insects, seeds, and worms, before retreating to a coop at night. Organic eggs, on the other hand, usually come from hens raised on feed free from synthetic pesticides, GMOs, and antibiotics.

"I find pasture-raised eggs to have deep yellow yolks and firm whites. The diversity of a chicken's diet from foraging greatly impacts flavor," he explains, noting that flavor resides primarily in the yolk, while texture is defined by the white. Additionally, research shows that organic egg yolks contain higher protein content than those of conventional eggs, which generally come from caged hens with no outdoor access.

While the official green-and-white U.S. Department of Agriculture Organic seal guarantees strict federal standards, including soil quality and animal welfare practices, standalone terms like 'organic' or 'pasture-raised' aren't federally regulated on egg packaging. This means claims don't always guarantee a healthy environment or diet, or how much time hens actually get to spend outdoors. 

Korbee notes that the most reliable way to gauge egg quality is buying directly from a farmer. When local sourcing isn't an option, look for brands with high transparency standards so you can verify the flock's diet and living conditions yourself.

More Expert Tips for Buying High-Quality Eggs

A lot can happen from farm to supermarket shelf, making it important to look beyond the organic and pasture-raised labels when buying eggs.

Check for Freshness

"Aside from diet, freshness is key! Some supermarket eggs were laid months before they hit the shelf," says Korbee. "I always ask when the eggs were laid when buying from a local farmer. The freshness of an egg will [also] dictate its flavor quality and the overall texture and protein composition of the white." If you can't buy direct from the farm, check the best-by date on the carton. Once home, you can use this simple, grandmother-approved method to further test for freshness.

Look for Clean, Smooth Eggs

Korbee says to look for uncracked eggs with an even shell texture and no visible debris. Not only does the USDA warn that bacteria, including salmonella, can enter eggs through cracks in shells, but unevenly textured or oddly shaped shells can impact an eqq's quality . For example, abnormal speckles can indicate too much calcium in a hen's diet, while hairline cracks can mean the hens experienced a nutrient deficiency.

Read the original article on Simply Recipes