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I promised a while ago, (a long while), to write a post on which eggs are the most nutritious to buy. I have been a little busy growing, and then birthing a new babe! (Yay for babies!! They are amazing!) So in lieu of a long post about eggs that I was going to write, I found
this really great article. It includes some really great words of wisdom on cooking eggs as well.
And a word of advice: if you don't have access to a farmers market, look for the word 'pastured' on the label of the eggs you buy from the grocery store. I won't lie, they are more expensive. The health benefits are worth it! As the good doctor who wrote the above article states, the words 'free-range' don't necessarily mean what they seem...
I remember the eggs i ate in Sicily were a deep red-orange. I haven't seen eggs like that here so I'll have to watch for the "pastured" label. It was unclear to me in the article if the organic label is generally more humane for the chickens than cafe-free or if it merely depends on each farm.
ReplyDeleteIn this case, "organic" means several things: 1) the hens are fed organic feed (including no GMOs or animal byproducts), 2) antibiotic use is prohibited, 3) the hens must have outdoor access (which does not necessarily mean grass, often it's just cement), and 4) their production is monitored by animal welfare audit system, so mistreatment of the birds is a no no.
DeleteGiven these requirements, I would look for the organic label even over free-range, as the requirements are more stringent. As Melissa said, pastured is best. We get our eggs straight from the farm. This way I get what's important to me (organic, pastured, no soy...) at a price I can afford. If you don't have chickens, see if you can get them direct from someone who does.
Great article Lissa! I eat three delicious (deep yellow) eggs every morning... a complete addict.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the explanation of organic eggs, Nonie. I was wondering if the antibiotic free requirement and organic feed were the only conditions that were required for the organic label, and now I know more about the treatment of the birds. I have to say that I bought some farm eggs at Real Foods this week and was disappointed to see that the yolks were the same pale yellow color I an accustomed to seeing in this country. I guess I'll have to make some friends who have chickens!
ReplyDeleteI've had similar experiences. The best brand I've found is the Vital Farms label sold at WholeFoods. I have to budget for them when I get them, they are about $7 a dozen (ECH!), but the yolk is a deep orange. They are delicious!
DeleteAlso, there is a local farmer in West Jordan who sells good ones. Let me know if you want their address! They have a little store behind their house open on Thursdays and Saturdays, where they sell raw milk, pastured eggs, and more. (If you go there, make sure you grab the eggs in the styrofoam egg packages. This farming family co-ops with other farmers to sell their wares, and the eggs in the cardboard packages, (which are from a farm in Tooele), don't have the deep color of the eggs in the styro, (which are from the West Jordan family).)