In order to distinguish an organic egg from another that is not, no matter how much chickens appear running free through the field on the packaging, the trick is to look at its shell (and on the packaging), where a series of numbers appear that tell us the "History" of that egg: how the hen that laid it was raised and what it fed on.
And the fact is that although the saying goes that of "resembling like an egg to another egg", in reality not all are equal. A good egg is obtained from a hen raised in freedom and fed in a natural way: fresh, tasty and of quality. That is why it is preferable to choose organic or free-range eggs . These tips will keep you from making a mistake:
Check your "license plate"
A slogan with a hook that speaks of the natural benefits of that egg or a packaging that conveys the sensation of being raised outdoors are not guarantees that the egg is really ecological. To be sure, always check the code, that string of digits that is printed on the shell.
The first digit is the one that allows us to know how the hens have been raised.
- 0: hens of organic farming, fed with organic grains and not medicated.
- 1: free-range chickens, raised on non-overcrowded farms and with the possibility of going outside.
- 2: Hens raised in houses where there may be 12 hens per square meter, with no room to move.
- 3: Hens raised in crowded cages. Sometimes their beaks are cut off to reduce aggression between them.
The next two letters correspond to the code of the EU member state from which the eggs come.
And the remaining digits are 2 of the province code, 3 of the municipality and 3 of identification of the farm where they have been produced.
Choosing the best egg
Check the best before date. In the fridge they can last 10-14 days, as long as you do not subject them to changes in temperature.
Take a look at their appearance. Never buy eggs with cracked or dirty shells. It is also not recommended to wash them, unless they are to be consumed immediately, because the peel loses its natural protection and it is easier for bacteria and dirt to penetrate inside. In terms of color, whether it is white or brown, it has the same nutritional value. The color varies depending on the breed of the laying hen and does not affect its composition.
Has it been in the fridge for a long time and you don't know if it's fresh …?
The infallible test. If you have doubts about whether it is fresh or not, put it in a bowl with water and salt. If it stays in the background, it is cool. Otherwise it will float. Also, a slightly fresh egg has the most liquid white and its yolk is less consistent.
