On my recent weekly shopping trip to the nearby Sainsbury's Superstore, I noticed that the Eggs section was empty; apart from a few broken Eggs in one tray, and a half dozen White Eggs in another.
I very nearly bought the White eggs until I saw the price of them. They were Organic, Free range, Eton and Oxford educated, and no doubt had come from the gold-plated Chicken run at Buck House. They were about £3.50 for the 6.
I'm not paying that.
So, yesterday morning I popped down to Waitrose (bus pass), which seemed to be very well stocked with everything, and I bought a half dozen Free range White Eggs for £1.25. On returning home I showed them to Lady M, and she made a face similar to mine when anyone mentions Bread and Butter Pudding.
I don't know why people have such an aversion to White Eggs. We all know that they're exactly the same as Brown ones, but as Lady M said "they look less wholesome".
One day soon, I shall make her an omelette and ask if it tastes 'less wholesome'.
On the question of 'shortages', I was able to buy everything I needed at Waitrose. I saw no empty shelves, and I even managed to find my essential packs of Beetroot Juice. I bought two just in case.
I was very pleased to see that Fruit and vegs were all in abundance, and looking of excellent quality.
Only brown eggs available here. People preferred them so white egg layers have been given the chop.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember seeing them here too much. Maybe it's 'Bird Flu' that's made them re-appear.
DeleteRubbish.
DeleteMaybe you had lots in Norfolk, but never down here.
DeleteAnd there I was thinking Lady M made a face because those eggs you bought so cheaply will have been either of mixed or small size. As the consummate baker that she appears to be she'll know that size matters. Some seasoned bakers of cake even go as far as to weigh their eggs rather than go by sizing. I sometimes throw in another egg than specified in a recipe - for good measure. There is a Swedish concoction (only mention this as to Lady M's heritage) I make which is hilariously simple (I don't really bake) and an equally hilarious name to match which has benefitted from such "extravagance".
ReplyDeleteAs an aside: Duck eggs are white.
With price rises as they are (a year ago a pint of whole milk could be procured for a measly 59 p now you'll be lucky to get it for 99) you should be gratified to be offered an organic egg fresh from the King's Duchy in Cornwall for only 60 p per piece. Look at the price of crisps and other bagged crap (not least sweets) I don't buy, and a "wholesome" egg will not so much be equal to a King's ransom as a super nutritious bargain.
U
Baking, I believe, is an exact science, and all weights and measures should be rigorously observed. This is probably why I have never mastered the art.
DeleteRunner duck eggs are blue btw and are common to buy
DeleteI haven't seen any Ducks eggs here. But there were several boxes of Quails eggs at Sainsbury's; sadly not what I wanted.
DeleteWhite eggs have always been for sale in Waitrose, and any other supermarket, and are nothing new. They are normally down on the lower part of the display shelf. The price has recently crept up from £1 for six to £1.25 in Waitrose. They taste just the same as brown eggs.
ReplyDeleteI usually grab an ordinary box of so-called 'Free Range' Eggs, and don't look around at the others. Yes, £1. 25 is what I paid, and I shall look for them again. Why pay more?
DeleteI get eggs from one of many neighbours who have honesty boxes at the side of the road. They vary from £1.50 to £2 for the large ones. Oddly we have pale blue to drown but I only occasionally see a white one. Yesterday Anna was just renewing the stock when I arrived. Can't get fresher than that.
ReplyDeleteI don't think White Eggs are very popular here. In Morocco you never see brown ones.
DeleteWe've been conditioned over the years to believe that brown eggs, like other "wholesome" items, are actually better for us - and they usually cost more.
ReplyDeleteI'm amongst the conditioned ones. In France I buy loose eggs, and always choose the darkest brown. When boiled the colour comes off the shell. Goodness knows how they colour them.
DeleteBeing much poorer than you, I have to shop at a German discount store. Last night there was very little fresh produce for sale and only a small number of dozen packs of eggs. But we will survive. By the way, blind people do not of course give a fig what colour their eggs' shells are.
ReplyDeleteI can send a food parcel if you like. Where is Yorkshire?
DeleteIt's somewhere over the rainbow... Please include several cans of Tetley's bitter and a family size pork pie. Thanks in anticipation of your kindness.
DeleteYou're welcome.
DeleteWe get both white and brown. I just looked in the fridge. They are all brown. Most of the fresh eggs given to us by neighbours are white. I shall look at the prices next time I buy some.
ReplyDeleteI shall go and hard boil a couple for lunch to see how they compare.
DeleteI have just unpacked my Tesco order - not a single thing missing - grapes, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, little tomatoes - all there as they always are
ReplyDeleteYes, Weaver, but did you order red peppers?
DeleteStrawberries in March? Tut tut.
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Some stores may be having supply problems, but I think there's plenty of fresh food around.
DeleteI hope the farmers are getting some of the higher prices. My egg guy gave up, ate the hens, and retired.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds a bit drastic. There's always money in eggs; providing you have enough of them.
DeleteThe majority of eggs in our stores are brown with a smaller amount of white eggs. I do not know the benefits of brown v. white eggs. A dozen eggs cost between 5-6 dollars. They used to be $2. I have not heard anything about the bird flu lately.
ReplyDeleteI think Bird Flu was an excuse to put the prices up, and cause a shortage rush. I don't think there's any shortage at all.
DeleteYou clearly don't know any people involved in egg production and the devastation that bird flu has caused.
DeleteI've kept Hens myself during an outbreak.
DeleteI'm lucky to have several acquaintances who keep hens, and sometimes I get eggs for free or very cheap. When I buy them at the store I tend to buy the brown ones too...they just seem better somehow! :) Even at the currently higher prices, eggs are a good bargain for cheap, nutritious protein.
ReplyDeleteWith your nice garden, you could keep a few yourself. That would be fun!
DeleteWhite eggs are the norm in Canada, at one time brown eggs were more costly.
ReplyDeleteOur former daughter in law kept chickens. Depending on the breed of bird, she had white, brown, blue, and pale green shells. After the divorce a fox got into the coop and killed the flock.
A Fox got into our Chicken run in France, and killed the lot. He took one to eat and left all the others either dead or nearly dead. We lost about 15 and our Cockerel.
Deletep.s. Years later we had some more; just 4. Our next door neighbour's dogs killed them.
DeleteNever saw a brown egg in America on our hols.
ReplyDeleteOrganic free-range at $7 per dozen? (I don't have a 'pound' symbol) I'd pay that price! I buy free-range (non-organic) and pay $10-11 for them, because they taste so much better than battery-farm eggs. The cartons often contain a range of browns from very pale to quite dark tan, sometimes there are only white ones left and they all taste the same, but still I prefer the brown ones. I buy the large size when they are available, the next size down is cheaper and if that's all they have, that's what I buy. also if I'm a bit short on cash, I get the cheaper option.
ReplyDelete