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Eggs Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to eggs
Most people are familiar with the common chicken egg, but did you know there are actually several different kinds of this familiar product? Humans began eating eggs about 6 million years ago. While they ate eggs raw back then, today they're a blank slate when it comes to cooking. Whether you fry, scramble, poach, boil, or incorporate them into a recipe, eggs are incredibly versatile and high in protein.
About eggs
If you're hoping to save time shopping, choose how you want your eggs when you order through Instacart. Once you've placed your order, an Instacart shopper will fill your order. You can receive your eggs in as little as 2 hours when you order via Instacart!
If you're trying to decide on what type of eggs to purchase, here are some of the choices:
Eggs in a shell:
- White vs. Brown: The color of the eggshell doesn't determine the nutrition of the egg itself. Different breeds of hens lay different-colored eggs.
- Pasteurized: Pasteurized eggs are regulated by the FDA. The shell of the eggs is put under enough heat to destroy pathogens without cooking the egg.
- Organic or USDA Certified Organic: To say “organic” on the label, farms must be certified organic and feed their hens organic chicken feed, which contains only approved pesticides, non-GMO ingredients, and no chicken or mammal byproducts. The hens must live in a cage-free environment and have access to the outdoors as weather permits.
- Free-range: This isn't the same as organic, as free-range is an unregulated and non-specific term. While it means that hens weren't kept in cages, you won't know anything about how they were fed or the rest of their living environment.
- Vegetarian-fed: Chickens aren't vegetarians, so when they are fed a vegetarian diet, they require a supplement to provide the protein-based amino acid methionine their diet is lacking. They receive an unregulated synthetic version in their vegetarian feed.
- Omega-3: This is complicated, as it depends on how the hens are raised. If they can roam and eat as they like, they will get their omega-3 fatty acids from bugs and grasses naturally rich in omega-3s. However, this is not typically the case, as most chicken feed is supplemented with omega-3s from flaxseed or fish oil.
The U.S. Poultry and Egg Association grades eggs on the following basis:
- Grade AA: The whites of the eggs are thick and firm, and the yolks are round and high. Shells are clean and free of cracks.
- Grade A: These eggs are similar to Grade AA eggs, but the whites are "reasonably" firm. these are the eggs typically sold in stores.
- Grade B: The shell of these eggs are free of cracks, but they may be slightly stained. The whites are thin, and the yolks are wider than Grade AA or Grade A.
Egg cooking tips
Eggs are a fundamental ingredient to so many delicious recipes, from baked goods to egg-centric meals. Eggs are incredibly versatile and shelf-stable; stored properly in the refrigerator at 40°F or lower, eggs have a long shelf life of approximately 3-5 weeks. Egg quality declines the longer that eggs are stored in the refrigerator, resulting in less springy and runnier eggs. These eggs still have utility, however, and are ideal for boiling or making meringues.
Speaking of boiling eggs, there's a lot of discussion in the culinary community about the best way to prepare these so the shells slide off instead of chipping into small pieces. Easy-to-peel eggs are more easily achieved when the eggs are steamed, not boiled, as the steam slightly penetrates the shell to help loosen it from the egg. Once they have steamed for the proper amount of time (typically around 15 minutes), put them directly into an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Try to peel them right away, as the shell becomes more challenging to peel after cooling.
For scrambled eggs, experts suggest using butter rather than oil to get lighter, more tender eggs. They'll be even softer if you stir the egg mixture continuously. Fried eggs won't stick to your metal spatula if you warm the spatula in the cooking oil before cracking the eggs into the pan.
When using eggs in a recipe, chefs suggest cracking them into a separate bowl before incorporating them in with the other ingredients you're preparing. This enables you to do quality control and ensure that pieces of shell don't make it into your finished product. Baking experts suggest using eggs at room temperature when making baked goods for a lighter, fluffier texture.
Whether you are shopping for eggs to whip up a batch for a special brunch or have a busy day of baking ahead of you, turn to Instacart for your shopping needs. Choose the items on your list from the comfort of your home, and let an Instacart shopper go down the aisles for you. Your items will be delivered in as little as 2 hours!
Eggs Near Me
Buy your favorite Eggs online with Instacart. Order Liquid Eggs, Whole Eggs, Egg Substitutes, and more from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
FAQs about eggs
Fill a bowl or cup with about 4in of cold water and gently place the egg inside. Fresh eggs will sink to the bottom and lay on their sides. If the egg stays at the bottom but stands on its small end, it's still fine to eat even though not quite as fresh. If it floats, it's bad and should be thrown out.
You can definitely eat an egg that has a blood spot in it. Also known as a meat spot, these are caused by a rupture of a blood vessel on the yolk surface when it's formed or by a similar accident in the oviduct wall in the hen's reproductive tract. If you don't want to cook with or eat the blood spot, take the tip of a knife to it and dispose of it. Should you eat it, it won't affect you, as it's safe for human consumption.
Turn to Instacart whether you're shopping for eggs for your next baking day or have a big grocery list. Choose the items on your list from the comfort of your home, and let an Instacart shopper go down the aisles for you. Your items will be delivered in as little as 2 hours!