Presently, more individuals than ever are raising chickens in their own backyards to provide fresh eggs for their loved ones. But are fresh eggs really more healthful than the store bought variety? What are the differences between store bought and organic farm fresh eggs? Read on to find out!
Store Bought vs. Organic Farm Fresh Eggs: Store Bought Eggs
The majority of the eggs sold in supermarkets come from chickens that live in sickeningly overcrowded conditions. In fact, many commercial egg producing hens’ feet never touch the ground. Instead, they are forced to live in what amounts to an overcrowded cage with dozens of other hens, rarely, if ever, seeing bonafide sunshine. In their natural habitat chickens feast on nature’s bounty of beetles, caterpillars, crickets, flies, grasshoppers, grubs, spiders and ticks. Captive commercially raised chickens, on the other hand, are fed a diet consisting of GMO grain. They also have an increased risk of contracting diseases like influenza, enteritis, and hepatitis
Store Bought vs. Organic Farm Fresh Eggs: Free-Range Eggs
Unlike the factory raised hens, whose feet may never touch terra firma, and whose eyes may never see actual sunlight, eggs that are labeled free range at the grocery are laid by hens that, per industry standards, must be allowed access to an outdoor space for at least six hours daily, though there are no parameters regarding the type of outdoor space that is made available, Their outdoor space is often sterile ground that offers the hen no chance to forage. Hens that produce eggs that are labeled free-range, are required to have a minimum of .185 square meters (2 square feet) of space to call their own, which, even if fertile, does not provide adequate sustenance for a hen, requiring supplemental feed, which can take many different forms.
Store Bought vs. Organic Farm Fresh Eggs: Pastured-Raised Eggs
Eggs that are marketed as pastured-raised must meet certain industry standards. For example, laying hens must be outdoors during the daytime for at least six hours, in a pasture with ample vegetation and 10 square meters (108 square feet) of pasture space for each hen. Because the pastures are required to be fertile, foraging can meet the majority of the hen’s nutritional needs, though their diets might require seasonal supplemental feed.
Store Bought vs. Organic Farm Fresh Eggs: Organic Eggs
Organic eggs are simply eggs that were laid by a hen that was fed an organic diet. Whether she foraged in an organic pasture, or was given organic chicken feed while in the cramped confines of a factory cage, matters not. Organic eggs can be commercially raised, free-range, or pasture-raised.
Store Bought vs. Organic Farm Fresh Eggs: Vegetarian Eggs
Vegetarian eggs are laid by hens that eat a vegetarian diet exclusively. Hens who lay eggs that will be marketed as vegetarian must be kept indoors. If allowed outside to forage, hens, who are omnivores naturally, could eat any of a number of different insects that are staples of their natural diet. Hens that are forced into a vegetarian diet are prone to a host of physical maladies, a result of the diet not meeting the hens’ nutritional needs.
Store Bought vs. Organic Farm Fresh Eggs: Key Differences
Flavor
Most people seem to prefer the flavor of farm-fresh eggs.
Appearance
Farm-fresh eggs tend to have darker yolks and thicker whites than mass-produced commercial eggs.
Shelf Life
Because it’s hard to know exactly when the eggs you purchase at the store were laid, the USDA recommends keeping them no longer than two weeks when refrigerated. Farm-fresh eggs will keep up to two weeks unrefrigerated, and up to three months when refrigerated. Regardless of which type of eggs you choose, and no matter how you decide to prepare them, one thing is certain: You are in for a delicious gustatory experience, because eggs are delicious!
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Do not wash your eggs, especially if they are farm fresh. because the outer layer of the eggshell is absorbent, bacteria can enter the egg membrane; the bacteria-ridden egg can make one very sick. What are the 3 things you should consider when buying eggs? Look for eggs that are clean and not cracked. Most importantly, check that your eggs are not out of date. How long can you store fresh eggs? Fresh eggs can last up to 2 weeks if kept in a cool area. These refrigerated eggs can last a maximum of 2 months.
