Is There a Risk to Eating Eggs?
Eggs are one of the most versatile foods. They can be cooked in many ways: fried, grilled, scrambled, or hard boiled. They’re also used as in ingredients in both sweet and salty dishes, and can be used in omelettes, sandwiches, hamburgers, and stews. Is there a risk to eating eggs?
Given all this, eggs seem like a star food, but why are we afraid to eat eggs? If we have a leftover sauce that contains egg, we might wonder if it will keep in the refrigerator? When the shell has some imperfections, alarm bells may ring, as to whether it is safe to eat or not?
Keep reading to learn how to tell if eggs are in good condition, and when it’s dangerous to consume them.
Are there any dangers from eating eggs?
Eggs are a food with many myths. Surely you’ve heard, on more than one occasion, that consuming them raises cholesterol levels? What is the truth about the risks of eating eggs?
- Eggs increase cholesterol levels. This statement is totally false. The only foods that increase cholesterol levels are meats and their derivatives, such as sausages. In addition to not increasing cholesterol levels, eggs actually contain healthy fats.
- It’s dangerous to eat raw egg. This phrase is true! During the cooking process, all the bacteria that eggs contain are eliminated. Consuming a raw egg can lead to salmonella. The main symptoms of this food poisoning, are gastroenteritis, abdominal pain, and fever.
- Depending on the color of the shell, the properties of the egg vary. This last sentence is totally false, and lacks any foundation. The color of the shell has no relation to the properties of the egg.
Therefore, there may be some risks with eating eggs. But these are the same risks that exist when eating any type of food. Eggs don’t present any additional risks. Throughout our lives, there will always be the possibility of consuming food that’s in poor condition, or having an allergic reaction.
Consuming eggs is not dangerous. In fact, it’s the opposite! Eggs have many beneficial properties and are very versatile. They are suitable for everyone: children, adolescents, adults, pregnant women, the elderly, etc.
Above all, remember that just because information is circulated, it’s not always true. It’s necessary to do your own research. Otherwise, myths such as those that we have discussed, deprive us of benefiting from eating healthy foods.
How to know if an egg is in bad condition?
If you suspect that an egg is in poor condition you can easily check this. Always try this test to make sure it’s in good condition. Although usually, eggs are in good condition, as they pass strict quality controls before being available for sale. Some of the ways to verify that an egg is in perfect condition are:
- Submerge it in water. One of the easiest ways to check if an egg is in a bad condition is by filling a glass of water. If the egg floats in the water, it means that it’s in a bad condition, and you should throw it away.
- Check the preferred consumption date. Before doing any tests, you can look at the recommended consumption and expiration dates, that are found on the container and on the shells of the eggs.
- Observe the shell. Another sign that the egg may be in poor condition, is the state of its shell. This is the only protection that the egg has, and if it’s cracked, bacteria may have contaminated the egg.
- Impurities in the egg white or the yolk. If eggs contain “stains”, which are usually brown or red and found in the yolk, this may also indicate that it’s in bad condition.