What is
the History of the Egg?
Eggs existed long before chickens,
according to On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen by
Harold McGee. These all-in-one reproductive cells, incorporating the
nutrients to support life, evolved about a billion years ago. The first
eggs were hatched in the ocean. As animal life emerged from the water
about 250 million years ago, they began producing an egg with a tough
leathery skin to prevent dehydration of its contents on dry land. The
chicken evolved only about 5,000 years ago from an Asian bird.
How Often Does a Hen Lay an Egg?
The entire time from ovulation to
laying is about 25 hours. Then about 30 minutes later, the hen will begin
to make another one.
How Does Salmonella Infect Eggs?
Bacteria can be on the outside of a
shell egg. That’s because the egg exits the hen’s body through the same
passageway as feces is excreted. That’s why eggs are washed and sanitized
at the processing plant. Bacteria can be inside an uncracked, whole egg.
Contamination of eggs may be due to bacteria within the hen’s ovary or
oviduct before the shell forms around the yolk and white. SE doesn’t make
the hen sick. It is also possible for eggs to become infected by
Salmonella Enteritidis fecal contamination through the pores of the shells
after they’re laid.
What Part of the Egg Carries Bacteria?
Researchers say that if present, the
Salmonella Enteritidis are usually in the yolk or "yellow." But they can't
rule out the bacteria being in egg whites. So everyone is advised against
eating raw or undercooked egg yolks, whites, or products containing them.
Don't Eat Raw Eggs
This includes "health-food" milk shakes with raw eggs, Caesar salad,
Hollandaise sauce, and any other foods like homemade mayonnaise, ice
cream, or eggnog made from recipes in which the raw egg ingredients are
not cooked.
Refrigerate Eggs
Take eggs straight home and store them immediately in the refrigerator set
at 40°F or slightly below. Store them in the grocery carton in the coldest
part of the refrigerator and not in the door.
Eggs should not be frozen in their
shells. To freeze whole eggs, beat yolks and whites together. Egg whites
can be frozen by themselves. Use frozen eggs within a year.
If eggs freeze accidentally in their shells, keep them frozen until
needed. Defrost them in the refrigerator. Discard any with cracked shells.
Source: USDA
My Favorite Recipes
Egg Custard
4 eggs
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. milk
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
Beat eggs with egg beater until blended. Beat all ingredients well. Bake
in pan of water until silver knife comes out clean, 35 minutes at 350
degrees.
Makes 4 servings
Old Fashioned
Egg Dumplings
2 eggs
8 tbsp. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
Beat the eggs with a fork; add the flour gradually. Stir quickly and
blend. Add the salt. Mixture will be sticky. Drop from teaspoon into
boiling soup broth or stew. Cook for 2 minutes. Use about half teaspoon
each time or less if a smaller dumpling is preferred. For a harder
dumpling, just add a bit of flour.
Serves 4.
Deviled Egg
Potato Salad
9 hard boiled eggs, peeled
1/2 c. chopped onions
1/4 c. shredded pimentos
1/4 c. shredded green pepper
1/2 c. mustard
1 Tbsp. salt
6 c. boiled potatoes, cubed
1/2 c. shredded dill pickles
1/4 c. shredded celery
1 c. mayo.
1 Tbsp. paprika
Cut 6 boiled eggs in half; remove yolk. Place yolks in bowl and mix with 1
tsp. pickles, 1 tsp. mustard, 1 Tbsp. mayo., dash of salt; stuff eggs with
the yolk mixture. Set eggs aside. Mix potatoes with remaining ingredients.
Add eggs (flaked with fork) last. Top with paprika & arrange deviled eggs
around top of salad for decorative look.
More Egg Recipes
|
