Yolks flat and breaking

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We have had our own chickens for over 20 years and feed them on crushed grain and laying pellets and they eat greens in the fields. The fresh eggs have always been plump in the centre when cracked. Lately the yolks are flat and even if carefully broken into the pan they tend to rupture and leak as the egg is frying. Just like old eggs. what could be the explanation?



Best Answer

Age, pure and simple. I used to be a free range egg producer and our chickens were retired to homes happy to have them as pets and occasional layers by the time they were two years of age.

Eggs become larger as they age but as they get beyond two, most hens lay a lot less and quite frequently the eggs can show their age on the inside as well as outside.

Like humans, hens have only so many eggs they are born with and once those have all been released everything starts to slow right down until it stops completely.




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Quick Answer about "Yolks flat and breaking"

If the egg yolk bulges and the white is viscous and gathered tightly round the yolk, the egg is still fresh. If the yolk is flat and the egg white runny, the egg is old. The protein chains (various substances linked together) in the egg white break up over time.

Why do my egg yolks keep breaking?

Breaking refrigerated, cold eggs, into a hot pan can cause the yolks to break upon contact. This is easily remedied by allowing the eggs to reach room temperature before cooking.

How can you tell if egg yolks are bad?

What Does a Bad Egg Look Like? It's hard to tell if an egg is off just by looking at the shell. A fresh egg should have a bright yellow or orange yolk and a thickish white that doesn't spread too far. If it's off, the yolk will be flatter and discoloured and the egg white will be far runnier.

Is a broken egg yolk safe to eat?

Since bacteria can be introduced to the yolk or white through cracks in the shell, it's important to examine your eggs at the supermarket. Avoid any containers with cracked eggs, suggests the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. If you purchased eggs that were already cracked, do not use them; throw them away!



The Biggest Mistakes Everyone Makes When Cracking Eggs




Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Vlada Karpovich, Vlada Karpovich, Karolina Grabowska, Vlada Karpovich