Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Eggs - Get the Most for Your Money

 I know eggs have gone up in price all around.  I am still getting a dozen large eggs for less than $2.  I know that many are paying much more.  I would pay more, especially if I could get farm fresh eggs.  I like eggs, although I don't eat every day.  I will continue to buy them.  In my opinion there are a few things that I will keep buying regardless of the cost.  For me - milk, eggs and cheese are must haves!
                                                                        not my picture

There are ways to stretch the use.  You can substitute other things for part of the eggs in baking goods.
I think many of us have heard about using applesauce to sub for an egg.  Actually, most fruit sauces will work, and add flavor as well.  Below is a chart of some other subs - click on the picture to enlarge for easier reading.
You can stretch eggs when scrambling by adding crushed crackers.  We used to do this all the time when we went camping.  There were always lots of mouths to feed (we did group meals), so we needed to stretch things.  We would beat up the eggs, add a bit of crushed crackers (flavored can be used too) and add a bit of water - and then scramble.  You could never tell there were crackers.  They were light and fluffy.
*Another tip I have learned and use now - don't use milk, when making scrambled eggs - use water.  You will end up with fluffier eggs and they won't be wet and hard to cook.
**I ALWAYS buy large or extra large eggs.  I can use one instead of 2 when baking - I always do that.  Buy the bigger eggs if you can.  Get the most for your money.

If you find a good deal on eggs - stock up!!!!!  You can freeze eggs easily.  I have done this many, many times.  Then I have eggs for cooking, when I might not have fresh or they are hard to find at store.  I freeze in muffin tins - one egg peer hole.  Pop out when frozen and put on freezers bags.  You can fry or bake with these. (I grease the tins first - but if difficult to remove - just set the bottom of pan in warm water for a moment - boom out they pop).

I know people use the float method to determine the freshness of eggs.  Honestly, I have only had 2 eggs that were bad in my entire life!!!!!!  I don't do the float test - never have.  I crack over a separate dish (just in case).  My counter and sink in right next to a window - so each time I get ready to use an egg - I simply hold it up to the light of the window.  IF it were icky inside - it will be dark.  Otherwise it will look light.  This hasn't failed me yet!!!!!!

                                                      In case you are interested.

You can also cook your eggs (scramble the best) and freeze, so all you have to do is re-heat and many people dehydrate cooked eggs.  I have not tried that yet.
I see lots of people who water glass eggs to preserve on the shelf.  Mixing fresh (unwashed) eggs with water and lime.  Another thing I have never tried - as I do not have fresh eggs.

You can fry eggs and make biscuits, sandwiches or burritos for quick and easy meals or breakfasts.  Wrap separately and simply warm when ready to eat.  Fast food from home!!!!

You can buy egg replacer for baking.  It is not really an egg product (vegans often use).  It is purchased in the baking aisle of the store.  I always have this on hand as well.  It lasts a long time on the shelf and it only takes a little to bake with. 

If you know someone who has chickens - maybe work out a deal to get eggs from them.  You may be able to barter other goods for eggs.  Fresh is wonderful.  It is also helping a local economy if you buy from a local person.

Eggs are full of protein, and if you are able to (or choose to) eat them, they provide nutrition for your body.  Use them wisely and substitute now and them and you can stretch your egg dollars a little more.
Have an EGG-cellent day!!!!!!! 

44 comments:

  1. Debby in Kansas USAAugust 23, 2022 at 9:01 AM

    Egg prices are killing us here. I don't get it because we're surrounded by farms!! Aldi had eggs last week at $3.49 dozen.
    Trader Joe's had them for $1.99 dozen. Neither place is very convenient. I wish I could find a local farmer. The few I knew have passed on.

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    1. Sorry you are still high prices. Both Kroger and Aldi in my area are both under $2 doz. It amazes me the difference in pricing. Maybe make a trip to Trader Joe's and stock up and freeze some. May help down the road.

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    2. Debby, are you seeing shortages there, too? Most times we're in a store, the egg selection is scant. Crazy.

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    3. Debby in Kansas USAAugust 23, 2022 at 4:53 PM

      Cheryl, I was thinking about a trip to Trader Joe's this weekend to do exactly that. Paying $3.xx makes me twitch! Just last year, we were only paying 58¢ at Aldi! Home Depot isn't too far from there and I was wanting a lilac! I'd even love a sale lilac more!!

      Elise, our Kroger store is always short on eggs and we often have to pick and swap to put a dozen together. It's a total mess. Their produce has also really declined in quality by my standards. It's hit/miss a to whether something will be good or even fair. Got 2 cukes on Sunday that were terrible. They used to be the best!

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  2. Eggs in my area here in Indiana are so high. Not sure why like another poster put have lots of farms but the price is crazy at aldi and my local grocery store and even walmart.

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    1. Amazing. I am in central IN and Kroger and Aldi near me are still less than $2. There are lots of egg farms in southern IN, not sure why the price is so high, especially in those big egg producing states. Hope you can find some decent prices - then stock up!!!!

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    2. Same for me, Anne. It IS crazy when the pricey Eggland's Best are cheaper than regular at Walmart.

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  3. Good morning, Cheryl. Like Debby and Anne, our eggs here are running very high ($3.49-$3.89 per doz.) and they're often sold out. Go figure. I'm surprised, because we're so rural and many folks here raise chickens. The next door neighbor never built a chicken coop or pen, so all his chickens are gone now. Seems his own dogs like them for breakfast. His next door, neighbors, though are starting a homestead lifestyle. They have chickens and goats. Soon, their chickens should be laying and I hope to buy from them. It's been years since I've had freshly laid eggs.

    Thanks for the tips, especially on freezing them! Do you remember when eggs were maligned as "bad for cholesterol"? And now they're a super food! LOL! --Elise

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    1. It is amazing the differences in price. I know there are supposedly less due to many chickens being destroyed because of bird flu.
      Hope your other neighbor is successful and you can soon buy fresh eggs.
      Yep - it seems medical advice changes every few years!! Go figure.

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  4. QUESTION for those who raise chickens for eggs, especially in areas with cold winters... do you find it cost effective? We have a full acre and I've been wondering. --Elise

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    1. I hope you get an answer - I know fresh is best - it just seems considering taking care of chickens and feeding (unless selling eggs), it would not be cost effective. At least not for me!

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    2. I’ll chime in…we spoil our chickens but, even so, after we started raising chickens for eggs, it would be hard to go back to factory eggs. The money we spend to spoil them is worth it to us! In our area (Midwest), chicken feed has not gone up (yet) so we figure we still break even. We do free range them during the day, so that cuts down on the amount of feed we feed them.
      When our daughter was younger, we once ran out of eggs. I bought some at the store and made scrambled eggs with them one morning. She took one bite and said, “I can’t eat these!” Pam

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  5. I'm lucky to get local back yard eggs for $2.00 a dozen. So many people raise chickens around here which keeps the price low.

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  6. Good info on eggs, Cheryl, as I eat egg salad on toast for bkft. I believe eggs have been given a bad rap. Even at the price/doz, they're still a good bang for the buck. Consumers will pay >$3 for a bag of potato chips yet I haven't heard anyone complain about that! I paid $4/doz (CAD) to a local producer. I've eaten frozen eggs before. I lived in a cabin with no central heating and the eggs in the fridge would freeze on occasion when we went away. No worries; just pop them in the frying pan. I'm also a big fan of pickled eggs.

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    1. THANK YOU! Exactly, people complain about the price - yet will spend good money all day on junk!!!!!!! I don't get it. I will buy the good food and pay the price.
      Frozen eggs work wonderfully.

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    2. Debby in Kansas USAAugust 23, 2022 at 5:01 PM

      Mona, I squawked when I saw $5.29 for a bag of name brand chips several weeks ago. FIVE dollars?!?! That's unbelievable!! We avoid potato chips in this house. Fortunately, the tortilla chips for our taco salad was only $1.25 and I had a 40¢ off coupon!!

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    3. Mona is exactly right! I complain about the price of eggs as much as anyone, but they are still the cheapest source of protein we can buy. I can still get large eggs for a little under $2 dozen. By law, a dozen large eggs must weigh at least 24 ounces. That's a pound and a half! What other protein can I buy for that price??

      Also, eggs last MUCH longer than the date on the carton. When I was younger, we used to get cold storage eggs in the winter that were months old...and usually they weren't even refrigerated. I've been known to buy 4 or 5 dozen eggs when they were cheap, keep in the fridge and eat for 2-3 months. I'm 76 and I've only ever had one rotten egg (they're black). It came out of a new carton.

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  7. Thank you for the tip to look at the egg to see if it is dark or light.

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    1. You are welcome - you really can see the insides! It works for me.

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  8. An egg-cellent day to you too, my friend! We still have some eggs from the leghorns who went to live in a chicken paradise. Our Rhode Island reds probably won't lay for another few weeks. The eggs we have gotten from our chickens the last few years have been jumbo with those lovely dark yellow yolks. We have bought a two dozen pack of organic eggs at Costco and they are very good. Chicken feed is not cheap these days and that may contribute to higher prices. Overall, eggs are versatile and actually a bargain. Miss Mona is right, folks will pay for junk food (or carbonated drinks and booze) and not bat an eye.

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    1. Those beautiful yellow yolks!!!! Fresh does taste different too, IMO.
      No it isn't cheap - feed, shelter, gas for transport - it all goes in the price. I agree, still a good deal even with higher prices.
      Yep, it is all about priority!!!!!

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  9. I had no idea one could freeze eggs. We go through about 18 every 10-14 days so I don't think I've ever needed to check for freshness but that's an interesting method. I cook with them, and we usually have breakfast for dinner once a week. My son can eat 4-6 eggs on his own!

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    1. I think most people use their eggs pretty quickly - so I agree, most have no need to check for freshness.
      Yep, freezing is a great idea, especially if you think there will be a problem with supply in your area.
      My hubs was the same way - he loved his eggs.

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  10. Eggs offer so much nutritional value, I have to keep a supply on hand at all times. Like you, I've only had a handful of bad eggs (from the carton, that is) since I've been cooking. Prices in the Chicago 'burbs are still on the climb, but most are in the $2.50 to $3.00 range. Aldi has routinely had the best prices on eggs, but on occasion Meijer has had them on sale for $1.87 - $1.99/dozen. I don't know that the size of the egg -- Large vs. XLarge makes that much difference in my cooking, so I buy whatever is cheapest. I'm investigating local egg farms right now, to check on the economics of local purchasing makes sense. If prices continue to rise and go over $3.00/dozen, I'll buy direct from the farm.

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    1. I know a lot of folks prices are still rising in their areas. I actually thought ours had become a little better of late.
      Buying local sure would help a local producer vs. the mega producers. They are always so yummy - with wonderful deep yellow yolks. Hope you find someone.

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  11. I had never heard about the crushed crackers. I am filing that away for later! Eggs were down 50 cents at the store today so hopefully they will go down now instead of up. I used to be allergic to eggs so I have done plenty of replacing and the thing to keep in mind is that egg is a binder so if there is a lot of fat in the recipe it will not work. Brownies made with applesauce will come out of the oven with all the fat floating on top which is pretty disgusting a real waste. You don't need and egg in meatloaf at all and the fat really cooks out of it without one.

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    1. The cracker trick really works. We always had enough eggs to feed the crowd and no one was the wiser!
      I always throw an egg or 2 in my homemade dressing. Mom always did as a binder - that works great.
      Yep, many ways on meat loaf. Thanks for the tips!!!

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  12. Thank you for another handy chart, Cheryl! I raise chickens for eggs and it is NOT a way to save! Ours cannot free-range (too many predators - mountain lions, bobcats, etc) so their food comes from the local feed store (plus veggies from our garden). Because I believe in feeding animals well, a 50# bag is now costing $45 (3 years ago it was $24). I have 7 laying hens and go through a bag of feed in six weeks. Also, my chickens lay for about 6 months a season for 2-3 years and can live 10 years so……(“Have a chicken ‘retirement plan’ before you get them!). Mine are allowed to stay on the dole until they naturally pass😁
    Also, regarding water glassing eggs (I have 80 eggs in lime solution at present), Rose Red Homestead did an excellent YouTube video this week on the science (more aptly LACK of science) behind that practice…I’m rethinking the issue.
    Thank you, as always, for your dedication, time and transparency. I have enjoyed your blog for years!

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    1. Thank you - that may help Elise on her chicken question. I didn't think it would be a cheap endeavor - especially if you can't free range.
      I sure know a lot of people that water glass - and they have no problems with their eggs at all. Some things just work, when there is no common reason why it should. Her videos are highly regarded - but I also know a lot of people around the world use the method.
      Thank you so much for being here. I always appreciate the kind words!

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  13. Good info. Of course, we have chickens so don't buy eggs, but we sure are popular with those that have to buy eggs. I added cream cheese to stretch my eggs when the kids were little, and they loved the flavor. Eggs are so versatile, and I think we always keep chickens even if they cost us.

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    1. It would be handy to walk out the door and have eggs!
      That sounds tasty - never would have thought about cream cheese. Great tip.
      There are a ton of recipes using eggs - yummy and good for you!

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  14. Debby in Kansas USAAugust 23, 2022 at 5:06 PM

    In more praise for eggs, we would've starved without them when we had COVID. For more than a week, we ate nothing but scrambled eggs, applesauce, cottage cheese, saltines, yogurt and toast!

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    1. Glad you got your protein! Surely hoping you are all mended.

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  15. Thanks to all with experience raising laying hens for sharing! I buy eggs at whatever price. We used to go through a dozen a week when I was raising our sons; sometimes more, and during those years, in the last recession, I remember egg prices climbing to $5 per dozen where we lived at the time. Now that we're retired, we go through about a half dozen eggs per week. Occasionally more, especially when I bake quiche.

    Safeway's flier came in the mail today... 18 count large eggs for $3.27 each, limit of 2 and bone in pork sirloin chops (value pack) 97 cents per pound. Yes. Less that $1. I'll be there with bells on tomorrow!
    --Elise

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    1. I remember a lot of things costing more as well. It seems so many people have forgotten. I guess we are in the present and forget the past often.
      Those are fantastic prices. I sure hope you got the limit! $1 a pound for meat sounds like the good old days!!!!!!

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  16. We have chickens too and I calculated a few years ago that an egg costs $0.50 for us. I’m sure more now with inflation. However, our chickens make us laugh every day and they have very happy lives so I can’t complain!!!

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    1. Well worth the cost! I've been thinking about raising chickens since just before our move here, when the neighbors' chickens came over to introduce themselves, then followed me around the building site. My husband called me "the chicken whisperer." --Elise

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    2. I think things that give one joy are well worth the expense. Like me and the squirrels and birds and all the kitties - I enjoy them all so. Sure, I could save a lot of money of feed - but life needs some enjoyment and fun as well!! If it is what you want to do - then do it!!!!!

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  17. A few months ago, you explained the freezing of eggs so the next time I went shopping I bought several dozen. We don't use many eggs at a time so I figured these would be for my husband's weekend breakfasts for the next several months (when he has scrambled eggs). I was sooo excited I got a "bargain" as they were $2.59 a dozen. Only to have my daughter a couple of days later call me to say she'd found eggs for $1.99. Oh, well. LOL
    I found freezing to be messy. I didn't think to spray the muffin tins and they were hard to get out. Anyway, I did manage to get several dozen in the freezer with the thought I'm never doing this again! But the oiling first might help! So I may try again.
    Anyway, I haven't used those eggs yet and I now once again have a bargain because eggs are $3.79!
    I'm the only one in the family who doesn't eat eggs and I have done plenty of baking without eggs. For anyone, who wants to save the cost of eggs check out a vegan baking website or a vegan baking cookbook from the library. My favorite brownie has no eggs. I don't make it often because, yes, I could eat the whole pan.(I often use flax seed meal as a binder. I buy it at Aldi.)
    When I ate eggs and the budget allowed I bought eggs from a local farmer for $6. This was 7-8 years ago. Farmer eggs now are about $8 per dozen here.
    My neighbors just constructed a chicken coop. They are generous folks so I have no doubt eggs will be coming this way in the future. (We often give back & forth to each other.)
    ~margaret

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    1. Sorry you found it messy - but yes a light oiling of the panns helps. I also sit the pan in a bit of warm water for a moment and they pop right out.
      You can also just pop say 2-3 eggs in a baggy. I would mix them up and then drop in the bag and freeze. Perfect for baking or for scrambled or fried eggs.
      Hope that helps.

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  18. When I had four hens, I could not eat all the eggs. I froze them in Ball jars, little four ounce jars and 2 ounce jars or in an 8 ounce jar, depending what I was planning to use them to cook. It was so easy and so good to open the jar with five eggs to make a pound cake. Eggs are worth every dollar to me. I love scrambled eggs.

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  19. I had not heard of the egg replacer...I hope I can retain that in this brain of mine.

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