Eggs-ucation
Eggs-ucation
Choosing Eggs with Confidence
At any given time, Kowalski's offers nearly a dozen different styles – not brands – of eggs to choose from. That can be more than a little overwhelming! We have an egg for everyone. Here we break down the key differences to help you find the egg that best fits your lifestyle.
Brown Eggs
The color of an egg's shell has nothing to do with its nutritional value, quality or flavor. Hens with white feathers usually lay white eggs, and hens with red or brown feathers lay brown eggs. Brown eggs aren't necessarily pasture raised, humanely raised, free range or cage free.
Cage-Free Eggs
According to the USDA, cage-free chickens simply need to live their lives outside of cages. They are not actually required to have access to the outdoors. This means some eggs labeled "cage free" may come from hens living wing-to-wing in enclosed barns. Sometimes labeled "free roaming," cage-free eggs are not the same as free-range or pasture-raised eggs, and they're not necessarily humanely raised.
Conventional Eggs
The most common type of egg sold is laid by hens raised "conventionally" in cages, with access to feed, water and protection from predators. These are typically the most affordable eggs.
Duck Eggs
As the name suggests, these eggs come from ducks. Duck eggs have a higher yolk-to-white ratio, making them richer and tastier than chicken eggs. Kowalski's offers duck eggs from Utopihen Farms, where ducks are allowed access to the outdoors whenever they want and are provided only non-GMO feed. Generally, two duck eggs are equivalent to three large chicken eggs.
Enriched Eggs
Laid by hens fed nutritional supplements in a high-quality, all-vegetarian diet, these eggs from Eggland's Best provide significantly more omega-3s, vitamins B12, D and E, and lutein than most other eggs, among other health benefits.
Free-Range Eggs
Free-range hens have access to the outdoors, but it doesn't guarantee they actually go outdoors. In fact, chickens are communal animals and sometimes prefer to stay close together near shelter. They are not necessarily humanely raised.
Heirloom Eggs
These eggs come from one of a few heirloom breeds of chicken established before the middle of the 20th century. Although they look different than regular chicken eggs, they generally taste and perform the same. The shells may be pale blue or other pastel shades due to the genetics of the hens, and the yolks may be a more vibrant orange. Heirloom eggs are not necessarily pasture raised, humanely raised, free range or even cage free.
Non-GMO Eggs
Non-GMO eggs are produced by hens fed a diet of ingredients not derived from genetically modified organisms. Unless specified on the package, they are not necessarily pasture raised, humanely raised, free range or cage free.
Pasteurized Eggs
Pasteurized eggs are gently heated in their shells to a temperature just below the coagulation point, effectively destroying pathogens. They're safer in recipes where the eggs aren't cooked, but they may not whip as well in recipes like meringues and may also be slightly less firm in cooked recipes.
Pasture-Raised Eggs
Under some third-party certification standards, pasture-raised chickens must have at least 108 square feet of pasture for each hen. Their eggs tend to have darker, richer yolks because the extra roaming space lets hens diversify their diets as they forage for bugs and plants. Technically, pasture-raised hens are also free range, but not all free-range hens are pasture raised.
Good to Know:
Kowalski's Certified Humane Pasture-Raised Eggs come from hens with at least 300 square feet of pasture per hen, roughly the size of a single-car garage. That's nearly triple the space required for pasture-raised designation – 178% more room to roam.
Soy-Free Eggs
These eggs are laid by hens with no soy in their diets. Customers who are soy sensitive, allergic to soy or avoid soy for dietary or other personal reasons may prefer this egg selection. Check the label for other potential product claims.
USDA Organic Eggs
To be eligible for the USDA's Organic seal, farmers must comply with national standards regarding agricultural methods, practices and substances used in producing and handling crops, livestock and processed agricultural products. Organic eggs are laid by hens whose feed rations contain ingredients grown without most conventional pesticides, fungicides, herbicides or commercial fertilizers.
Unless specified on the package, organic eggs are not necessarily free range, cage free, non-GMO, humanely raised or pasture raised – and vice versa.
Good Question: What about hormone- and antibiotic-free eggs?
When it comes to poultry production, hormones and steroids have been banned by the FDA since the 1950s, and very few hens are administered antibiotics. Eggs laid by hens that receive antibiotics are diverted from human consumption.
Selection and availability of products vary by market.
