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Original poster

Does anyone else notice something different about eggs?

59 replies

coldiris · 09/07/2023 15:08

Hello everyone,

I am wondering if it's just me or if anyone else also noticed anything different about supermarket eggs. They somehow seem different from what they were before, and I've tried them from different supermarkets now: they seem more liquid if I can describe them that way and I can't seem to get either the soft boiled or poached eggs to come out right. It's as if they all cook in what I can only describe as record time and seem to come out overcooked no matter what. When I make poached eggs, they just don't hold their shape no matter what I do. I mean I wouldn't say I am a Michelin star chef but I've never had those issues with eggs before!

Anyone else noticed the same or anything similar at all?

Thank you!

OP posts:
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PickAChew · 11/07/2023 23:04

I just buy the mixed size eggs which tend to be big at this time of year, anyhow. Not had any quality issues.

To the pp, double yoke eggs tend to be laid by young hens that haven't quite got the hang of it. yet!

MajorDanger · 11/07/2023 22:55

@SpidersAreShitheads could you rethink the XL eggs for the welfare of the chickens?

Poultry veterinarian Ian Jones explains that in a commercial environment many hens are encouraged to lay larger eggs through selective breeding, their feed, and the number of hours of light they get. The large eggs some lay can cause stress and lead to health problems and even death
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/eggs#:~:text=Poultry%20veterinarian%20Ian%20Jones%20explains,and%20even%20death%2C%20he%20continues.

Is it time we fell out of love with large eggs?

Is it time we fell out of love with large eggs?

We look into whether buying large and very large eggs has a negative impact on the chickens, and the farmers.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/eggs#:~:text=Poultry%20veterinarian%20Ian%20Jones%20explains,and%20even%20death%2C%20he%20continues.

YackyDah · 10/07/2023 07:51

AlfietheSchnauzer · 09/07/2023 22:57

You BOUGHT 6 large eggs. Not brought

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Being pedantic, condescending and pointing out grammatical mistakes like that doesn't make you look smart, just rude.

caringcarer · 09/07/2023 23:29

AlfietheSchnauzer · 09/07/2023 22:58

Problem with that, is that those hens may well not be vaccinated against salmonella and so you're at higher risk of catching it

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Yes they are vaccinated, it's advertised that they are.

CrustyWingshield · 09/07/2023 23:00

I think the quality of most foods have gone downhill lately. Another Brexit bonus.

I heard the food we are now importing is much poorer quality when they checked what was coming into the country, unsafe even.

AlfietheSchnauzer · 09/07/2023 22:58

caringcarer · 09/07/2023 16:11

I'm lucky because I buy fresh eggs from a farm. I get them once a fortnight and they are lovely. I only use supermarket eggs for making cakes or Yorkshire puddings. Can't say I've noticed a difference in those but when eggs aren't very fresh they go as you describe. Maybe the supermarket has stored them for a while.

Problem with that, is that those hens may well not be vaccinated against salmonella and so you're at higher risk of catching it

AlfietheSchnauzer · 09/07/2023 22:57

This reply has been deleted

This user is a troll so we have deleted their posts and threads.

You BOUGHT 6 large eggs. Not brought

AlfietheSchnauzer · 09/07/2023 22:57

eurochick · 09/07/2023 15:22

There has been a bird flu flock down for ages.

Flock down! 🤣🤣🤣

BashfulClam · 09/07/2023 22:38

Not so much this but the shape is different. I wonder if the quality has dropped as birds have had to be shut in due to avian flu. They seem more elongated now.

YackyDah · 09/07/2023 22:19

Mine always seem to have a bit of an umbilical cord lately 🤢🤢

UncleBryn · 09/07/2023 22:19

We have chickens and the eggs are still lovely. Check whether the eggs are fresh, you never know how long it's been since they have been laid...

Does anyone else notice something different about eggs?
SpidersAreShitheads · 09/07/2023 18:35

HappyAsASandboy · 09/07/2023 17:44

Yes, I noticed too. Thin shells, thin yolks that split, and watery whites.

Could it be because the chicken have been inside for so long because of Avian Flu?

^yes to all of this!

I love poached eggs and regularly have them for dinner but I only like the XL eggs, and they have to be very fresh to get the yolks that hold their shape well.

The egg yolks are collapsing as soon as they're in the pan, same goes for fried eggs which I do for DD occasionally.

DS adores scrambled eggs and they're taking longer to mix, plus it's harder to get them out of the shell.

I actually thought it might be the warm weather as I don't keep my eggs in the fridge, so yesterday I said to DP that I was going to try putting eggs in the fridge to see if it makes a difference. Now I'm thinking that it's not that at all - and actually, thinking about it, during last year's heatwave the eggs were kept out as usual and were absolutely fine!

Really glad you posted this OP - I was thinking that I was doing something wrong!

EmeraldFox · 09/07/2023 18:11

Kindofcrunchy · 09/07/2023 16:36

All chickens, regardless of what the egg box says, are kept in stressful captivity and not permitted the amount of movement they need to be healthy. "Free range", "organic" and "barn" eggs all go to the same factory to be sorted. The only way of ensuring you actually get so-called free range eggs is to keep chickens as pets and let them roam in a big, enclosed garden.

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Or you can buy locally from small farms where you know how the chickens are kept.

HaveToSaySomethingHere · 09/07/2023 18:04

In Ireland, yes I definitely noticed that last Winter but seems to have improved since start of Summer. Though it didn't seem to be a problem for all of the suppliers.

larkstar · 09/07/2023 17:57

I eat a lot of eggs and I have just been through a phase of realising that most eggs are tasteless. I've gone through eggs from Sainsbury's, M&S, Waitrose, and even the local farm shop - now I'm not saying they were all terrible but on the whole I'm disappointed with the taste - I keep trying different places but haven't hot upon any that really stand out.

EmeraldFox · 09/07/2023 17:55

Bullshot · 09/07/2023 16:14

Maybe now is a good time to stop eating eggs then

Or find another supplier? I buy mine locally and they are as delicious as ever.

EmeraldFox · 09/07/2023 17:53

FuckYouEzekiel · 09/07/2023 15:18

Eggs have the consistency of phlegm.

How is this relevant?

blobby10 · 09/07/2023 17:52

I’ve noticed the eggs from my local farm are much smalller with thin shells- it’s to do with them not being allowed out during the bird flu lockdown . Had a great discussion with the lady about how to cheer up the hens and she said they tried a variety of music and they def prefer classical 🤣- they also didn’t like the dull and damp weather in April and may

User10486743 · 09/07/2023 17:51

I generally only buy the Clarence Court ones, they are always good

supercali77 · 09/07/2023 17:48

Yes! In this house they're mostly boiled eggs and it's impossible. The outside of the egg is almost rubber, really difficult to get the shell off. In the end the egg looks like I've hacked it to shreds taking the shell off

StefanosHill · 09/07/2023 17:46

No but eggs are the one thing I’m loyal to. The expensive ones. They’re still good imo

HappyAsASandboy · 09/07/2023 17:44

Yes, I noticed too. Thin shells, thin yolks that split, and watery whites.

Could it be because the chicken have been inside for so long because of Avian Flu?

Peletontwat · 09/07/2023 17:07

@Kindofcrunchy nope I get my eggs fresh from a woman who rescues barn chickens and they are kept lovingly. They peck and play. But when they do get there some of them look horrendous and so unwell you think they would keel over.

TroysMammy · 09/07/2023 16:42

I've noticed thin shells when cracking. The egg only has to touch boiling water and the shell cracks immediately. I have noticed some eggs are "watery" too.

Kindofcrunchy · 09/07/2023 16:36

Peletontwat · 09/07/2023 15:29

Yanbu mind you I can tell the difference between free range and barn eggs (shudder)

All chickens, regardless of what the egg box says, are kept in stressful captivity and not permitted the amount of movement they need to be healthy. "Free range", "organic" and "barn" eggs all go to the same factory to be sorted. The only way of ensuring you actually get so-called free range eggs is to keep chickens as pets and let them roam in a big, enclosed garden.