These days eggs are no longer just white or brown, you can choose from conventional eggs, organic eggs, free-range eggs, cage-free eggs, and more.
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Conventional Eggs – These are eggs that are laid by hens living in cages with access to feed and water. The colors of these eggs are either white or brown, while the sizes can be Jumbo, Extra-large, Large, Medium, Small, and Peewee.
Free-Range Eggs – These are eggs produced by hens that are allowed to go outdoors for at least part of the day, rather than being confined to cages or crowded indoor spaces. Outdoor access might vary by time of day, weather, or farm setup. These hens are fed with grains, and may forage for wild plants and insects when going outside.
The colors of these eggs are either white or brown, while the sizes can be Jumbo, Extra-large, Large, Medium, Small, and Peewee.
Cage-Free Eggs – These are eggs laid by hens that are not kept in cages, but instead live inside large open barns or poultry house, with unlimited access to fresh food and water
Unlike free-range hens, cage-free hens don’t necessarily have access to the outdoors—they stay indoors but are free to walk around and stretch their wings, engaging in more natural behaviors than caged hens.
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Organic Eggs – These eggs are produced according to national U.S. Department of Agriculture organic standards or USDA, including the methods, practices and the food given to these hens. Organic eggs are produced by hens fed with food that were grown without conventional pesticides, fungicides, herbicides or commercial fertilizers, and without hormones or antibiotics.
The hens are range-free and are given access to graze outdoors at least 120 days per year.
Omega-3 Enriched Eggs – Hens are fed a special diet rich in omega-3s so the eggs laid by these hens have more omega fatty acids, from 100 mg to over 600 mg per egg.
Egg size classification according to the USDA:
Jumbo: over 30 ounces or 63 grams
Extra-Large: 27 ounces or 56 grams
Large: 24 ounces or 50 grams
Medium: 21 ounces or 44 grams
Small: 18 ounces or 38 grams
Peewee: 15 ounces or 32 grams
You may also have noticed that eggs are given grades such as grade AA, grade A, or grade B and are wondering what that means.
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Grade AA eggs have thick and firm whites and yolks that are round and defect-free. Grade A eggs have similar yolks but their whites may not be as firm. Grade B eggs have whites that are thinner, the yolks are less round, and with stains on the shells.