How long do eggs last?
Our eggs are fresh for 28 days from day of laying.

-

Why aren’t your eggs washed?
Class A eggs aren’t allowed to be washed, as it removes the natural protective “bloom.” By leaving it intact, our eggs stay fresher for longer. Just wash them before you use them.

-

How should I store them?
Keep refrigerated once purchased just bring to room temperature before cooking (We can’t advise you to, but we keep ours out on the side). 

-

Can children and pregnant women eat them soft-boiled?
We eat our’s runny. If in doubt, cook thoroughly.

-

Why are some shells blue and some brown?
Different breeds lay different coloured eggs – the taste comes from the hen, the feed, their happiness and not the shell!

-

What does the egg stamp code mean?
The first number relates to the Farming Method: 0= Organic, 1=Free range, 2=Barn, 3=Cage, then the country of origin: e.g. UK, then the Farm ID: A specific code denoting the actual farm where the eggs were produced. Our producer code is: 1UK24264 - our hens Free range in the Surrey Hills.

-

Egg sizes explained
We kindly ask our hens to lay a certain size egg, but like us we vary in size. So our eggs are a mix of sizes. Information from EggInfo VL: very large 73+g, L (large) 63-72.8g, M (Medium) 54-62.8g, S (small) below 53g.

-

Can I freeze eggs?

Cooking with eggs: Eggs should not be frozen in their shells but when broken out they will keep for up to six months safely in the freezer. Freezing temperatures affect egg yolk proteins with the result that the yolk has a glutinous texture when thawed, this can be prevented by adding half a teaspoon of sugar or a teaspoon of salt per egg prior to freezing.

-

Can eggs be cooked in the microwave?

Eggs can be cooked quickly and successfully in a microwave oven; however they should never be cooked in their shell

-

Should I restrict the number of eggs I eat?

No, for most people there is no need to restrict eggs. Neither the Department of Health nor the British Heart Foundation recommend a limit on the number of eggs you can eat. It is now recognised that eating too much saturated fat is more likely to raise blood cholesterol than eating foods rich in dietary cholesterol. Eggs are not high in saturated fat. 

-

How can I tell if my egg is fresh?

As you’re buying direct from the farm, you’ll generally have 3-4 weeks from purchase, but we often find they last longer. One simple test of freshness is to place the egg in a jug of water:

• if it sinks= very good

• If it floats in the middle=ok but needs using soon

• If it floats to the top = stale.

• Why? This is because as the egg gets older, the size of the air sac increases, making it float.

Can I use raw eggs?

Food Standards Agency no longer advises against the consumption of raw eggs, even by vulnerable groups.To minimise any food safety risks,use before the best-before date. 

-

Why are some egg yolks paler or different colours?

The colour of egg yolk is dictated by what the hen eats. We don’t use artificial colourant, so their colour comes from natural food they eat like lucerne or maize and also fresh grass or or marigolds can give a deeper coloured yolk.

-

Why is there a red or brown spot in my egg yolk?

This is most likely to be what is called a ‘blood spot’ or “meat spot”, which comes from either a ruptured blood vessel or tiny pieces of the reproductive systems. They are relatively common and quite safe to eat. But generally you won’t find one with Joy Farms eggs and we check each egg using a technique called candling.

-

What is candling? 

Every day we manually check each egg once laid for cracks, dirt and any spots in the yolk with a technique called candling. We hold each egg over a light to identify any with spots and remove those eggs, but sometimes we can miss the odd one.

-

What are double yolked eggs?

Double yolkers (eggs containing two yolks) tend to come from younger hens whose hormone systems are still naturally developing. It is very rare for an egg to be ‘double yolked’ and rarer to get a ‘tripple yolker’ but we’ve had a few.
-

What can I do with egg shells? 

Egg shells are rich in calcium, so we feed some to our dogs by crumbling shell in with their food. 

Some gardeners suggest sprinkling crushed egg shells around plants to deter pests such as slugs. Also, adding ground eggshells to compost is another way to improve soil health by increasing its calcium content.

-
What can I do with boiled egg water?

Some gardeners use the water from boiled eggs, as eggshells release calcium in a soluble form into the water. Calcium is used by plants to strengthen stems and leaves while providing structural support for cell walls. Supplying a sufficient amount of calcium can support healthy plant growth.