For those who buy Costco Eggs - do you buy Cage Free or Organic?

[cyber888]

We've been buying organic eggs from Costco at $8.89 for a while.

However, a few days ago, there were no organic eggs, so we bought the $4.99 Cage Free Eggs that is from vegetarian-fed chickens and it says 'No hormones'.

Both packs are 24 eggs (2 dozens). The price difference is big ($4.99 vs $8.89) while the eggs may not be that different at all.
Is organic really worth it ?

 

[MC Rider]

Imho, no it's the same darn thing.

 

[jimbee]

Not worth it to me.

 

[Midpack]

Cage free isn’t what most people think it is, barely worth buying over caged. https://www.bhg.com/recipes/trends/difference-between-egg-labels/

We’ve only been buying pasture raised eggs, but those have disappeared while the egg shortage is on again. Happened to buy eggs today and cage free in 5 dozen boxes was all they had.

 

[sparky08]

We've been buying the Cage Free Costco eggs for 10+ years.

 

[Aerides]

I buy neither after I learned that cage free is BS. The official standards for cage free and free roaming are far from the nice environment those tags would have you think.

Pasture-raised is the way to go if you want eggs from chickens that have nicer lives. But otherwise, the organic vs. not should mean the food on which the chickens are raised. Not pumped with antibiotics and processed feed. Whether that means anything to you is a personal decision.

 

[Chuckanut]

I have never found a difference in eggs other than size.

 

[Happyras]

Costco 24 pack used to be extra large, what happened. Cage free, well maybe, seems the eggs have a thicker shell than others. Not into the organic BS, but those cheaper eggs are just fine and healthy enough for us. Cage Free Eggs that is from vegetarian-fed chickens and it says 'No hormones'.

 

[Montecfo]

The cage free is marketing only.
I tend to not think organic matters. I'm sure it is not worth price difference.

Just a way to separate people from their money.

 

[GrayHare]

I'm finding the cheapest supermarket eggs go bad (start smelling weird) faster than they used to, so I've been trying some of the cage free, etc. types which are significantly more expensive. So far only one batch has been fresher tasting.

 

[folivier]

I really don't care how good a life the chicken lived. But I do want eggs from chickens that are healthy without being pumped up with antibiotics, etc. Same as chicken to eat.

 

[calmloki]

Growing up our chickens were cage free and enclosure free whenever they could manage it. They didn't seem to be vegetarians - any spot of blood and they would go hard at the injured bird. Bugs and grubs and pretty much anything they could kill and swallow went down the hatch. Result was eggs that had deeply colored yolks that stood tall and proud of the egg white. Sometimes a small red spot if the rooster was about..

 

[Gumby]

Pasture Raised is the way to go. In addition to being more humane to the hens, we have found them to have vibrant orange-yellow yolks and a good taste. Here is a short article explaining the difference.

https://certifiedhumane.org/article-explains-difference-pasture-raised-free-range-eggs/


PS - they have them at Aldi's, much cheaper than the other grocery stores.

 

[cyber888]

Pasture Raised is the way to go. In addition to being more humane to the hens, we have found them to have vibrant orange-yellow yolks and a good taste. Here is a short article explaining the difference.

https://certifiedhumane.org/article-explains-difference-pasture-raised-free-range-eggs/


PS - they have them at Aldi's, much cheaper than the other grocery stores.

Thanks. Good article to read.

 

[ERD50]

Pasture Raised is the way to go. In addition to being more humane to the hens, we have found them to have vibrant orange-yellow yolks and a good taste. Here is a short article explaining the difference.

https://certifiedhumane.org/article-explains-difference-pasture-raised-free-range-eggs/


PS - they have them at Aldi's, much cheaper than the other grocery stores.

Here's a pretty good video on the subject that I happened by a few days ago.

He gets into the "how the chickens are raised", and as others have mentioned, lots of BS in those terms, and he doesn't get preachy or dismissive, just leaves it up to you once you are informed.

At the end, he basically says taste seems to be near indistinguishable, but color and texture are generally noticeable better in the best methods (which I do thInk used the term 'pasture raised', but I'd have to re-watch to confirm that), so if that's important to the dish, that may influence you.

Oh, and chickens are definitely omnivores. I lived on a farm, and we had some chickens mostly for fun (bandies). They roamed around and fended for themselves. When the chicks hatched, they followed Momma-hen and you could see them gobbling up little spiders and such as they went.

-ERD50

 

[USGrant1962]

Costco 24 pack used to be extra large, what happened. Cage free, well maybe, seems the eggs have a thicker shell than others. Not into the organic BS, but those cheaper eggs are just fine and healthy enough for us. ...
.

Yea, I think I mentioned that in the inflation (shrinkflation) thread. Costco changed from extra large to large maybe 6 months ago. I actually don't mind, the large are a good size. Note that the sizes and grades are specified and enforced by USDA.

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Shell_Egg_Standard[1].pdf

 

[Sunset]

....
Oh, and chickens are definitely omnivores. I lived on a farm, and we had some chickens mostly for fun (bandies). They roamed around and fended for themselves. When the chicks hatched, they followed Momma-hen and you could see them gobbling up little spiders and such as they went.

.......

Just curious:

Would these chickens stay out all day and night or come in at night ?

How do you call chickens into the barn at night ?

Also could they forage enough on their own to live, or did they also need feed ?

 

[mystang52]

I have an egg-white omelet for dinner roughly once a week. Maybe I'm a bad person, but my decision on egg purchase is solely on price. This thread has given me pause for thought, albeit conflicting ones. Do I go with a healthier but lots more expensive dozen, or remember that at 71+ years old it likely makes no difference?

 

[braumeister]

I've been buying pasture-raised eggs for years. The extra cost is worth it to me, as I believe I'm getting a much healthier product. The better life for the chickens is just an added bonus.

 

[audreyh1]

I've been buying pasture-raised eggs for years. The extra cost is worth it to me, as I believe I'm getting a much healthier product. The better life for the chickens is just an added bonus.

+1

 

[audreyh1]

I have an egg-white omelet for dinner roughly once a week. Maybe I'm a bad person, but my decision on egg purchase is solely on price. This thread has given me pause for thought, albeit conflicting ones. Do I go with a healthier but lots more expensive dozen, or remember that at 71+ years old it likely makes no difference?

What do you do with those beautiful yolks?

 

[Midpack]

I would assume there are no yolks? DW and I went this route for a few months years ago before deciding it wasn’t necessary for us, even more expensive than pasture raised.

 

[Onda]

If I had to care about 4 bucks price difference for 24 eggs I would still be working.

 

[mystang52]

What do you do with those beautiful yolks?

First, years ago I stopped eating the yolks based on the prevailing opinion that it was better to avoid that cholesterol. After a very short while I preferred the taste of egg whites to the whole egg anyway. To your question, the yolks go into the garbage!

 

[cyber888]

If I had to care about 4 bucks price difference for 24 eggs I would still be working.

You're missing the point of the question. We could definitely afford to pay an additional $4 bucks for organic. But the question was whether there was any value added to that vs the other type of egg Costco was selling.