Introduction:
Egg is rich in phosphorus, calcium, potassium, and contains moderate amounts of sodium (142 mg per 100 g of whole egg)
Top 10 interesting facts about egg:
1. Storing eggs upside-down makes them last longer:
- Did you know that turning your eggs upside down before stashing them in the fridge will make them last longer? It may seem like an old wives’ tale, but it’s true. Placing the pointy end down in the carton will prevent air pockets inside the shell from coming in contact with the yolk, which helps slow down the aging process.
2. Every chicken egg is white in the beginning:
- Eggs come in a wide range of colors, from creamy white and speckled brown to pastel blue and blush pink. With so many colors out there, you may be surprised to learn that only three pigmentations determine the ultimate color of a chicken’s egg. But even though different chicken breeds carry different levels of pigmentation, which results in different colored eggs, every egg begins its journey white. The pigmentation comes later.
3. Chickens lay lighter colored eggs as they age:
- You probably wouldn’t notice this with a chicken who lays white eggs. But many chicken owners with birds who lay brown eggs have noticed egg coloration changes as their hens age. In addition to less saturation, particularly on the tapered end of the egg, some chickens will lay lighter colored eggs when they’re experiencing more stress than usual.
4. Yolk color:
- The hen’s diet determines the color of an egg’s yolk. Some producers feed their hens natural supplements such as marigold petals, so they lay eggs with brighter yellow yolks.
5. Floating eggs are older than sinking eggs:
- The short and sweet of this is that fresh eggs sink and old eggs float. Why? Because eggs contain air pockets. The more air that has penetrated the egg, the older the egg is. And the more air inside an egg, the more buoyant it becomes. Freshly laid eggs will lie flat on the bottom of a water-filled jar, while eggs that are older than three months (and should be discarded) will float straight to the top.
6. You can freeze or water glass eggs for long term storage.
- Yes, you can freeze eggs! You can technically freeze them for up to a year, although most people recommend eating them in the first four months for optimal freshness. If you don’t have space in the freezer or want to keep your eggs fresh for even longer, you can water glass them for shelf stable storage up to 18 months. Water glassing is simple, but you only want to use farm fresh eggs, not grocery store eggs (which tend to be much older).
7. Washed eggs need to be refrigerated:
- When a hen lays an egg, with that egg pops out with a nearly invisible coating called a bloom. This bloom helps prevent air and bacteria from permeating the shell and prematurely aging the egg. That’s why fresh eggs — straight from the chicken — are often placed in bowls or baskets on the kitchen counter. Grocery store eggs, on the other hand, have been washed, thus removing the bloom and requiring refrigeration to keep them fresh.
8. Salt draws moisture out of eggs:
- Next time you make a pan of scrambled eggs for breakfast, leave out the salt until the very end. Salting your eggs while they cook will draw out extra moisture, resulting in a plate of dry eggs instead of tender, fluffy ones. Make this one minor adjustment in your breakfast routine to seriously up your scrambled egg game.
9.Hard-Boiled vs Fried:
- Hard-boiled eggs are made by placing unshelled eggs in a saucepan filled with cold water, then boiling until the yolk solidifies. They’re cooked without any additional butter or oil. On the other hand, fried eggs require supplemental butter or oil, which contribute additional calories and fat. For example, one large hard-boiled egg has 77 calories and 5.3 grams of fat, compared to 90 calories and 7 grams of fat in one large fried egg. Other than the fat and calorie content, hard-boiled and fried eggs have very similar vitamin and mineral profiles. They don’t differ in their amount of protein and nutrients.
10. The Bottom Line: Hard - boiled eggs are a low-calorie, nutrient-dense food. They’re an excellent source of high-quality protein and rich in B vitamins, zinc, calcium and other important nutrients and antioxidants like choline, lutein and zeaxanthin. Though high in cholesterol, eggs don’t appear to increase heart disease risk in most people. Hard-boiled eggs are prepared without additional oil or butter, so they’re lower in calories and fat than fried eggs. They may just be one of the easiest and most nutritious additions to your diet.
Nutritional Facts:
Hard-boiled eggs are loaded with nutrients, protein and healthy fats. One large hard-boiled egg (50 grams) provides,
- Calories: 77, Carbohydrates: 0.6 grams, Total fat: 5.3 gram, Saturated fat: 1.6 grams, Monounsaturated fat: 2.0 grams, Cholesterol:212 mg, Protein: 6.3 grams, vitamin A: 6% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), vitamin B2 (riboflavin): 15% of the RDA, vitamin B12 : 9% of the RDA, vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid): 7% of the RDA
Health benefits of Egg: High in Cholesterol, but Don’t Increase Heart Disease Risk. Over the years, eggs have gotten a bad reputation due to their high cholesterol content. It’s true that eggs are packed with cholesterol. One large hard-boiled egg provides 212 mg of cholesterol, which is 71% of the RDA. However, recent research shows that dietary cholesterol has very little effect on blood cholesterol.
Promote Brain and Eye Health:
Eggs provide important essential nutrients and antioxidants that support brain and eye health.
Choline: Choline is an essential nutrient for many critical processes in your body. Your body does produce some choline on its own, but not in large quantities. Therefore, you must get choline from your diet in order to avoid deficiency. Choline is crucial for maintaining a healthy nervous system, as it helps produce acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in memory and learning. Choline is important across your lifespan. It promotes fetal brain and memory development, as well as cognitive function in older adults. It’s also vital for pregnant women, as adequate choline levels may decrease the risk of neural tube defects in the fetus. Choline is found in the yolk — one, large, hard-boiled egg contains 147 mg of choline, which is 27% of the daily value. In fact, eggs are the most concentrated source of choline in the American diet.
Lutein and Zeaxanthin: Lutein and zeaxanthin are two antioxidants best known for their role in eye health. They combat harmful, oxygen-induced free radicals that can accumulate in your eyes. Lutein and zeaxanthin have been shown to slow the formation of cataracts and protect against age-related macular degeneration (AMD). They may even protect your eyes from detrimental blue light. Egg yolks are an excellent source of these two carotenoids. Furthermore, due to the yolk’s fat profile, your body appears to absorb the lutein and zeaxanthin very well.
Raw eggs are nutritious:
Just like cooked eggs, raw eggs are extremely nutritious.
They’re rich in:
- High-quality, protein, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, eye-protecting antioxidants, various other nutrients.
One whole, large raw egg contains:
- Protein: 6 grams, fat: 5 grams, magnesium: 6 mg (1% of your Daily Value), calcium: 28 mg (2% of your DV), phosphorus: 99 mg (8% of your DV), potassium: 69 mg (1% of your DV), vitamin D: 41 IU (5% of your DV)
Raw eggs may decrease protein absorption: Eggs are one of the best sources of animal protein out there. In fact, they contain all 9 essential amino acids. For this reason, they’re often referred to as a “complete” protein source. However, according to one very small, much older study, eating the eggs raw may decrease your absorption of these quality proteins. The study compared the absorption of protein from both cooked and raw eggs in 5 people and found that 90% of the protein in cooked eggs was absorbed, while only 50% of the protein in raw eggs was absorbed. This issue with absorption is something to consider if eggs are your main source of protein, but the size and date of the study make it impossible to draw any real conclusions.
Eggshell:
About 95% of the dry eggshell is calcium carbonate, weighing 5.5 grams. The average eggshell contains about 3% phosphorus and 3% magnesium and traces of sodium, potassium, zinc, manganese, iron and copper.
Uses of eggshell : Use eggshells as a calcium- and mineral-rich additive to wild bird feed and chicken feed. Add them to ground coffee before brewing. The shells help reduce any bitterness. Wash the shells thoroughly to remove any egg residue, dry, then crush and add to your ground coffee. As a soil additive for houseplants, they add minerals and help keep soil loose and aerated. Love camping? Use those shells with soapy water as a natural abrasive for pots and pans, especially when cleaning products and really hot water are at a premium. Bake clean eggshells at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. Let cool and grind to a fine powder. Add as a calcium supplement (a teaspoonful does it) to juice, smoothies, etc. Add to your garden to keep cats away that may be using it as a litter box. Cats will not like the sharpness under their tender paws. Their smell can also reportedly deter deer and repel slugs, snails, and cutworms without resorting to toxic chemicals. Maybe tantamount to that, mineral-charged eggshells can be crushed and scattered into each hole before planting. Sprinkle additional crushed shells around your plants every couple of weeks. Use them to start your seedlings! Here’s how. Skin irritations? Folklore tells us to drop an eggshell into some apple cider vinegar for a couple of days. Apply to skin irritations or itches. Unclog drains: Placed in your sink strainer, they can trap errant solids. When they ultimately break down, they will serve to clean pipes on their way out. Doggie defense: Dry eggshells in a 250-degree F oven for 30 minutes. Place in plastic bag and roll/crush with a rolling pin to a fine powder. Add to dog food as a supreme calcium supplement (be sure to check with your vet for the proper amount). Looking for a fun art project? Crush and add to paint for decorative textured walls or furniture!
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