Which is more nutritious, free-range eggs or commercial eggs? Learn how to tell free-range eggs apart

When it comes to which kind of egg is more nutritious, many consumers generally believe that free-range eggs have higher nutritional value, because they are laid by “free-range hens” raised in the traditional way. So what is the nutritional difference between free-range eggs and commercial eggs?

People are used to dividing eggs into free-range eggs and commercial eggs.

Free-range eggs: these are eggs laid by chickens that are raised freely in rural open fields and fields, move around in the woods every day foraging, and live on natural foods such as live food and wild grasses; they are smaller in size.

Commercial eggs: in a completely different growing environment from free-range eggs, so-called commercial eggs are produced by hens raised in large chicken farms through centralized management and centralized feeding with formulated feed; the output is relatively large, and the eggs are a bit bigger.

Since commercial eggs are currently the main force on the market, we now call them ordinary eggs.

Whether there is a difference in nutrients between free-range eggs and ordinary eggs has always been a focus of attention for the many food lovers, although folklore says free-range eggs are more nutritious than ordinary eggs, and the fact that there is also a relatively large difference in price between them is indisputable.

What is the nutritional difference between free-range eggs and commercial eggs?

But test results from nutrition experts show that there is almost no great difference in nutritional composition between free-range eggs and ordinary eggs; because ordinary chickens have a scientific feed formula and a balanced supply of nutrients, the eggs laid by ordinary chickens are generally larger in size, and the nutrients they contain (protein, trace elements, etc.) are not at all inferior to those of free-range eggs.

On the contrary, because free-range chickens have unbalanced nutrition, the eggs they lay are relatively small in size, and due to the poor growing environment, the eggs are easily contaminated.

However, under free-range conditions, free-range chickens eat more green leafy vegetables, and the content of carotenoids and vitamin B2 in the yolk is high, so the yolk is larger and darker in color.

So there is no conclusion on judging which is better or worse between free-range eggs and ordinary eggs; eggs laid by chickens raised in different environments may differ in taste, and this is entirely judged by each person's own perception.

How do you tell free-range eggs apart?

Color: provided they are fresh, the yolk color of free-range eggs is generally cauliflower yellow or light orange.

Yolk: the yolk does not break easily and is also very thick.

Albumen: the albumen has a high degree of cohesion and looks very firm.

Egg white:

The egg white of free-range eggs is thick.

Eggshell: not very regular, generally relatively thick.

Price: because the cost of raising them is relatively high, the cost price of each purely free-range egg is about 1.5-2 yuan, so those sold relatively cheaply are very likely to be passed off as free-range eggs through chemical means or to be imitation free-range eggs.

How should eggs be chosen?

First, look at the shell: if there are moldy spots on the shell, do not choose it;

Second, touch the shell: if the surface of the eggshell feels powdery or frosted, then it is a fresh egg; if it is very smooth, then it is an egg that has been stored for a relatively long time;

Third, look against the light: a fresh egg will appear semi-transparent;

Fourth, shake it a little: only one with no sound of water after shaking is a fresh egg.

In addition, you can also put the egg into water: if it sinks to the bottom, then it is a fresh egg; if it floats at a slant, then it has been stored for 3-5 days; if it floats upright, then it has been stored for about 10 days; do not buy eggs that are not fresh.