25 Facts about eggs - nutrition, traditions and clever tricks

Interesting facts about eggs! Which came first, the chicken or the egg? We can't answer that, but we've gathered some other interesting facts about this superfood.

Thoughts on eggs

Eggs are truly an amazing food. It's bursting with vitamins and minerals, it's filling, you can cook it in endless ways and it's delicious. Around the world, chickens and eggs help put food on the table. We love eggs and actually eat eggs every day. As we approach Easter, we thought it would be a good time to share some facts about eggs!

Facts about eggs

Here are some interesting facts about eggs. Enjoy!

1. Eggs come mainly from birds, but also from reptiles.

If we talk about eggs as food, these are mainly from different types of birds, but we also eat fish eggs. The fish eggs are usually referred to as roe.

2. You can eat eggs from many different birds.

We humans eat by far the most eggs from chickens, but you can eat eggs from many other birds as well. In the case of domestic birds, you can eat eggs from ducks, quails, geese and ostriches. One ostrich egg is equivalent to about 25 chicken eggs and weighs about 1.7kg. You can also eat eggs from wild ducks, geese and sea birds.

3. Eggs can be prepared in many ways

It is common to boil or fry eggs. You can also make poached eggs (lost eggs) and scrambled eggs, or use eggs to make pancakes, waffles, crepes, omelettes, pies, soufflés and various cakes.

4. Egg whites alone are used in many baked goods

Egg whites alone are used in many baked goods, such as meringues, marshmallows, almond biscuits and macarons.

5. We have been eating eggs since time immemorial

It is believed that humans have been eating eggs throughout our time on this planet. When we lived as hunter-gatherers, we could collect eggs from wild birds, and later we learnt to domesticate birds such as chickens.

6. Egg yolks coagulate at 65-70 degrees.

Egg yolks coagulate, i.e. solidify, at 65-70°C but the coagulation temperature is raised when the yolk is mixed with other foods. When mixing egg yolks with starch, such as potato flour, the yolks coagulate at 85 degrees. Egg whites coagulate at 60-65°C.

7. Sometimes eggs have double yolks

Sometimes an egg can have two yolks, which is more common in younger hens than older ones. The reason is that two egg cells have been released simultaneously from the hen's ovary.

8. Chickens are efficient feed converters

A modern laying hen lays about one kilo of eggs from two kilos of feed.

9. Chickens lay many eggs

On average, a hen lays around 320 eggs per year. So you get a lot of food from just one hen.

10. White eggs come from white hens

White eggs usually come from white hens and brown ones usually from brown hens. In Sweden, about 95 per cent of all eggs are white. Another fact about eggs is that the colour of the yolk varies depending on the feed the hen has been given.

11. Egg allergy is most common in children

Egg allergy is most common in younger children, and it is common to outgrow the allergy as you get older. It is usually the proteins in the egg white that people are allergic to, but they can also be allergic to proteins in the egg yolk.

12. Eggs last well beyond their expiry date

Swedish hens' eggs stored in the refrigerator with the pointy end down will stay fresh for about 2-3 months after production, which is about 1-2 months after the expiry date.

13. you can test how fresh the egg is

Want to know how fresh an egg is? Then you can do a simple test. Place the egg in a bucket filled with water. If the egg stays on the bottom, it is very fresh. If it starts to rise, it is about a week old. If it floats to the surface, it is older.

14. The amount of lime in the shell is always the same.

The amount of calcium in the eggshell is almost always the same, which is why small hens' eggs have thicker shells than large eggs.

15. The eggshell provides triple protection

An egg consists of about 12.5 per cent shell, which is mainly composed of calcium. The shell has about 10 000 pores through which the egg 'breathes'. Just below the shell is a thin membrane. There is also a protective layer on the outside of the shell, which is destroyed if the egg is washed or cooked.

Despite this triple protection, eggs are not protected against odours. To prevent odours from other foods in the fridge, eggs should be stored in sealed containers such as egg trays or egg cartons.

16. Young hens lay small eggs

Young hens lay small eggs and older hens lay larger eggs. This explains why there are different sizes of eggs.

17. A size guide determines whether the eggs are called large or medium.

A size guide determines whether the eggs are called small, medium, large or extra large:

• Extra large eggs (Extra large) >73 grams
• Large eggs (Large) >63-73 grams
• Medium-sized eggs (Medium) >53-63 grams
• Small eggs (Small) ≤53 grams

18. The pink code tells you which country the egg comes from.

When you buy ordinary chicken eggs in Swedish shops, they are labelled with a pink code that tells you in which country the eggs were produced, which farmer was responsible for the hens and their housing:

0 = Organic production 
1 = Free-standing outdoors 
2 = Free standing indoors
3 = Furnished cages 

19. Eggs are extremely nutritious

Eggs contain lots of different nutrients, such as vitamin E, selenium, riboflavin, vitamin A, zinc, vitamin D, folate, niacin and vitamin B12. Eggs are a real vitamin bomb, and the only vitamin missing is vitamin C. Positive facts about eggs, right?

20. You can't always eat raw eggs abroad.

In Sweden, we are used to being able to use raw eggs if we want to, as raw eggs here do not make us sick. In many countries, salmonella is common and you have to be more careful. More than 20 per cent of all eggs in the EU carry salmonella, so many EU countries advise their citizens to cook their eggs properly.

21. Easter eggs symbolise rebirth

Eggs symbolise rebirth and fertility, which can be linked both to spring and to the resurrection of Jesus. Eggs are therefore well suited to Easter for several reasons. In addition, in the past, Easter was celebrated after a long period of fasting, when people did not pocket eat eggs. Therefore, when it was time for Easter, people often had many eggs in stock.

22. Egg painting is an art form in some countries

Painting eggs has become a major art form in Europe. Ukraine and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe. An egg decorated according to traditional Ukrainian custom is called 'pysanka'.

23. Egg consumption in Sweden is increasing

Egg consumption in Sweden has increased by over thirty per cent in the last decade. In 2010, Swedes bought 75,606 tonnes of fresh eggs, and by 2019 this had increased to 100,261 tonnes, an increase of 32.6%.

24. 64 per cent eat eggs several times a week

Eggs are a favourite food among the Swedish people. According to a survey by the industry organisation Svenska Ägg, 64% say they eat eggs several times a week.

25. Egg Day falls on the second Friday in October.

Egg Day takes place every year on the second Friday of October and is sometimes accompanied by events, art exhibitions and recipe competitions. Egg Day was established by the IEC (International Egg Commission) and has been celebrated since 1996.

More fun facts about eggs

• Freezing eggs will only work if you crack them first. Otherwise the shell will crack.
• Egg picking is an old game dating back to the Middle Ages. Participants are each given a hard-boiled egg, which they are free to paint, and then tap the top of the egg against the opponent's egg. The person who avoids damaging their eggshell for the longest time wins.
• The Easter Bunny is sometimes associated with Easter eggs. According to some countries' traditions, the hare brings Easter eggs to children. Sometimes families hide the eggs in the garden, for example, and pretend that the Easter Bunny put them there.
• Red painted Easter eggs is a tradition in Orthodox Greece. The colour is supposed to be reminiscent of the blood of Christ, and the eggs are used for decoration.

More facts about eggs?

Do you know any more interesting facts about eggs? Or perhaps you can share some exciting egg stories?

Factual sources: Swedish eggs, Alsbo eggs, Wikipedia and various recipe sites.

Image sources: FREEDOMtravel and Pixabay.