All of us have surely noticed the variety of eggs in our local grocery stores. There are brown eggs, white eggs, jumbo eggs and more, which can make it overwhelming when selecting which ones to buy. In honor of National Egg Month, The OrganWise Guys are here to help you learn about the difference (if any!) between white and brown egg varieties!
Egg Color – Let’s address the debate over brown eggs vs. white eggs. What’s the difference? Actually, there is NO difference in nutrition between brown and white eggs. The difference between brown eggs and white eggs is simple; the color depends on the type of hen that lays the egg. Brown hens lay brown eggs, and white hens lay white eggs. It’s as easy as that!
Egg Size – So, what determines the size of an egg? The government does by deciding the weight classes of eggs. For example, if you see the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grade shield (a red, blue or black shield with a letter in the center) on an egg carton, you know that a trained individual has checked the quality and size of the eggs. If the USDA shield is missing, but you still see a letter, this means that the eggs meet state requirements. Egg size does NOT tell you how big an egg appears; rather it tells you the minimum weight requirements per one dozen eggs. The requirements are:
Jumbo – 30 oz per dozen
Extra-Large – 27 oz per dozen
Large – 24 oz per dozen
Medium – 21 oz per dozen
Small – 18 oz per dozen
Peewee – 15 oz per dozen
