Should eggs be washed before being put in the refrigerator? Are free range eggs really more nutritious? Finally there is an answer!

Eggs should be one of the common foods on everyone's table. They are a good source of protein and can also supplement lecithin, vitamin A, lutein, choline, etc. They contain almost all the nutrients needed by the human body and are known as "complete nutrition food".

Moreover, it is cheap and can be cooked in a variety of ways, such as boiled eggs, tea eggs, egg custard, scrambled eggs, egg drop soup... However, when it comes to storing eggs, many people have made mistakes.

01 Should eggs be washed when placed in the refrigerator?

Sometimes the eggs you buy will have some chicken poop in them. Do you put them directly in the refrigerator, or wash them cleanly before putting them in the refrigerator?

Copyright image, no permission to reprint

In fact, these practices are not appropriate!

There may be bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pseudosporus, and Escherichia coli on the eggshells. These bacteria can still grow and reproduce at low temperatures. If they are placed directly in the refrigerator, they will pollute the refrigerator environment, possibly cause cross-contamination, and affect the safety and hygiene of other foods.

If you wash the eggs, although they will be clean, it will accelerate their deterioration.

There are actually many small holes on the surface of the eggshell, and there is a layer of "protective film" on the surface of the egg that is invisible to the naked eye, which "closes" these small holes. This "protective film" can prevent bacteria from entering the egg and prevent the water in the egg from evaporating, keeping the egg liquid fresh and tender. If the eggs are washed with water, the protective film will be washed off, and bacteria and microorganisms will easily enter the egg, accelerating the deterioration of the egg.

Correct storage method:

①Put the purchased eggs in a clean packaging bag and store them on the egg rack in the refrigerator. If you feel that the surface of the eggs is too dirty, wipe them gently with a dry paper towel.

② The big end is facing up and the small end is at the bottom. The air chamber of the egg is mainly concentrated at the big end. Compared with the small end facing up, the big end facing up can better keep the egg fresh.

③ Fresh eggs taken out of the refrigerator should be eaten as soon as possible and should not be left for a long time or refrigerated again. Because in the process of entering and leaving the refrigerator, there will be a layer of condensed water droplets on the surface of the eggs, and the bacteria and microorganisms in them may quickly penetrate the eggshell and penetrate into the inner layer of the egg liquid.

④Don’t overstock eggs; they can be refrigerated for no more than one month.

02 Boiling, stir-frying, or frying, which way of eating is healthier?

Boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, and fried eggs are all commonly eaten, so which one is better?

Copyright image, no permission to reprint

Among the many cooking methods, boiled eggs retain nutrients to the maximum extent because of their low cooking temperature and lack of oil. They top the list of egg eating methods such as "vitamin preservation ranking", "easiest protein digestion ranking", and "heart-friendly ranking".

But it should be noted that some boiled eggs also have hidden risks:

1. Tea Eggs

Tea and eggs are both good foods, but in the process of making tea eggs, the tannic acid in the tea will combine with the protein in the eggs to produce tannic acid protein, which inhibits intestinal peristalsis and prolongs the excretion time of feces.

Copyright image, no permission to reprint

2. Soft-boiled eggs

Many people deliberately make runny or soft-boiled eggs when boiling or frying them, but this way of eating is actually not recommended.

Generally, eggs may carry salmonella. If they are not fully cooked during the cooking process, there may be residues, which may cause diarrhea, vomiting, fever, etc. Therefore, if you really like to eat hot spring eggs, soft-boiled eggs, etc., it is recommended to choose sterilized eggs that can be eaten raw.

However, raw eggs are not as nutritious as cooked eggs. Raw eggs contain an anti-trypsin substance that hinders the absorption of protein in the eggs. The egg white of raw eggs also contains ingredients that hinder the absorption of vitamin B7.

I would also like to remind everyone that the longer the eggs are cooked, the better, otherwise the yolk will turn green - the ferrous ions in the yolk combine with the sulfide ions in the egg white to form ferrous sulfide which is difficult to dissolve. It will not be absorbed by the human body and is prone to malabsorption after consumption.

Copyright image, no permission to reprint

The correct way to boil eggs:

After the water boils, cook for three minutes, turn off the heat, and simmer in the pot for two minutes. The eggs cooked in this way have the best sterilization effect and a delicious taste.

03 Are free-range eggs or uncultivated eggs more nutritious?

People have different opinions on egg varieties, such as: free-range eggs are more nutritious than ordinary eggs; red-shelled eggs are better than white-shelled eggs; hairy eggs are more nutritious...

1. Egg test

Previously, a program tested various eggs on the market, and the results showed:

In every 100 grams of eggs:

①White-shell eggs have the highest protein content;

②The highest fat content is in black-bone chicken eggs;

③DHA eggs have the highest vitamin A content;

④White-shell eggs have the highest cholesterol content.

But in general, the ingredients in various eggs are similar, and the nutritional content does not increase with the increase in price.

Experts say that different varieties of eggs are actually because different ingredients are added to the chicken feed, and the chickens will lay eggs with different flavors and elements after eating them. So there is no need to pursue high-priced eggs excessively, just choose the ones you like.

2.Are raw eggs a great nutritional supplement?

Many people think that "raw eggs have high nutritional value" because they contain embryos.

Copyright image, no permission to reprint

The fact is that during the incubation process, the nutrients in the fertilized egg, such as protein, fat, trace elements, sugars, inorganic salts and vitamins, have changed, and most of the nutrients have been consumed during the embryonic development.

From a health perspective, unpolished eggs may contain a large number of pathogens, such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus, Salmonella typhi, Proteus, etc. Eating unpolished eggs not only has low nutritional value, but is also prone to food poisoning, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis and other diseases.

04 How many eggs should you eat in a day?

Like other foods, eggs are good but you can’t eat too much. According to the 2016 edition of the Chinese Residents’ Dietary Guidelines, if other foods (dairy, meat, fish and shrimp) are consumed normally, you should not eat more than 7 eggs per week. In other words, an average adult can eat 1 whole egg per day if they have a balanced diet.

1. People who can eat two

For lacto-ovo vegetarians who have no other sources of meat cholesterol, they can increase their intake of eggs and milk appropriately.

For elderly people with normal blood lipids, considering the nutritional value of eggs and their convenience and ease of eating, they can eat up to 2 eggs a day while maintaining a healthy diet.

Copyright image, no permission to reprint

2. People who need more restrictions

People with high blood lipids and high cholesterol, especially those with diabetes or heart failure, should be cautious when eating foods rich in cholesterol. If your diet already contains high-cholesterol foods such as fish, shrimp, and meat, you should limit your egg intake according to your actual situation.

Review | Li Nannan Director of the Hunan Science Writers Association Deputy Director of the Research and Publicity Department of the Hunan Science and Technology Association Second-level Researcher Chinese Science Expert (Medical Field)

Source: I am a great doctor official account

The cover image and the images in this article are from the copyright library

Reproduction of image content is not authorized