Europe has had domesticated hens since 600 B.C. Chickens came to the New World with Columbus on his second trip in 1493. Eggs were colored, blessed, exchanged and eaten as part of the rites of spring long before Christian times. While it is customary to throw rice at weddings in many countries, French brides break an egg on the threshold of their new home before stepping in- for luck and healthy babies. At the time of the French Revolution, the French already knew 685 different ways of preparing eggs (including, of course, the omelet).
About 280 million laying hens produce some 60 billion eggs each year in the United States. That's roughly one hen for every man, women and child in the country. There are now 200 breeds of chickens. White shelled eggs are produced by hens with white feathers and ear lobes. Brown shelled eggs are produced by hens with red feathers and red ear lobes. There is no difference in taste or nutrition between white and brown eggs.
To produce one egg, it takes a hen 24-26 hours, and to do so, she requires 5 oz. of food and 10 oz. of water. Thirty minutes later she starts all over again. Occasionally, a hen will produce double-yolked eggs throughout her egg-laying career. It is rare, but not unusual, for a young hen to produce an egg with no yolk at all. Artificial color additives are not permitted in chicken feed. Yolk color depends on the diet of the hen. Feed containing yellow corn or alfalfa produces medium yellow yolks while feed containing wheat or barely produces lighter color yolks. Natural yellow-orange substances such as marigold petals may be added to light colored feeds to enhance the yolk color.
During the packing process, eggs are separated by size. Minimum weights per dozen are : Jumbo (30 oz.), Extra Large (27 oz.), Large (24 oz.), Medium (21 oz.), small (18 oz.), and Pee Wee (15 oz.).
The egg shell may have as many as 17,000 tiny pores over its surface. Through them, the egg can absorb flavors and odors. Storing eggs in the carton helps keep them fresh. Eggs are placed in their cartons large end up to keep the air cell in place and the yolk centered. Eggs age more in one day at room temperature than in one week in the refrigerator Eggs can be kept refrigerated in their carton for at least 4 to 5 weeks beyond the pack date.
A hard-cooked egg will peel more easily if it is a week or two old before it is cooked. To tell if an egg is raw or hard-cooked, spin it! If the egg spins easily, it is hard-cooked but if it wobbles, it is raw.
A cloudy white is a sign of freshness, not age, because of a high carbon dioxide content put in when the egg is laid. If an egg is accidentally dropped on the floor, sprinkle it heavily with salt for easy clean up.
A greenish ring around a hard-cooked egg yolk is due to either overcooking or a high iron content in the cooking water. This can be avoided using proper cooking time and temperature, and by rapidly cooling the cooked egg. In cooking, eggs are "the cement that holds the castle of cuisine together." because of their ability to bind, leaven, thicken, emulsify, clarify, and more in all types of recipes.
The egg yolk and white separate best when cold.
Eggs contain the highest quality protein you can buy. Egg protein has just the right mix of essential amino acids needed by humans to build tissues. In addition, eggs have thirteen essential vitamins and minerals. Eggs contain the highest quality food protein known. It is second only to mother's milk for human nutrition.
Egg yolk is the major source of the egg's vitamins and minerals. A large egg contains only 75 calories and 5 grams of fat. Egg yolks are one of the few foods that naturally contain Vitamin D. Eggs have no vitamin C because the chick can produce it from food it eats.
The largest single chicken egg ever laid weighed a pound with a double yolk and double shell. The most expensive egg ever sold was the Faberge "Winter Egg" sold in 1994 for $5.6 million. During the spring (vernal) equinox (about March 21), it is said that an egg will stand on its small end. Although some people have reported success, it is not known whether such results were due to the equinox or to the peculiarities of that particular egg. The entire month of May has been declared "National Egg Month". This is the time of the year to celebrate the many benefits of the egg. American Egg Board's Howard Helmer, Omelet King, topped existing Guiness Book of World records for omelet making in 1990. He emerged with 427 two-egg omelets in 30 minutes.