Chicken egg sizes

Chicken eggs are graded by size, for the purpose of sales. The egg shell constitutes 8–9% of the weight of the egg (calculated from data in Table 2, F. H. Harms).[1]

Medium white eggs in carton

Animal welfare

According to Tom Vasey, chair of the British Free Range Producers' Association, laying larger eggs is painful for the hen. He recommends shoppers only to buy eggs of medium or smaller sizes.[2] Professor Christine Nicol of the University of Bristol has stated 'There is no strong evidence of pain in egg-laying hens but it's not unreasonable to think there may be a mismatch in the size of birds and the eggs they produce. We do often spot bloodstains on large eggs.' [3]

United States

The United States Department of Agriculture sizing is based by weight per dozen.[4] The most common U.S. size of chicken egg is 'Large' and is the egg size commonly referred to for recipes.

The following egg masses including shell have been calculated on the basis of the USDA sizing per dozen:

Modern Sizes (US)
Size Minimum mass per egg Cooking Yield (Volume)[5]
Jumbo 70.9 g2.5 oz. 61 ml (4.75 tbsp)
Very Large or Extra-Large (XL) 63.8 g2.25 oz. 56 ml (4 tbsp)
Large (L) 56.8 g2 oz. 46 ml (3.25 tbsp)
Medium (M) 49.6 g1.75 oz. 43 ml (3 tbsp)
Small (S) 42.5 g1.5 oz.
Peewee 35.4 g1.25 oz.

Canada

In Canada, modern egg sizes are defined as follows:

Modern Sizes (Canada)[6]
Size Minimum mass per egg
Jumbo 70 g
Extra Large 63 g
Large 56 g
Medium 49 g
Small 42 g
Peewee

Europe

In Europe, modern egg sizes are defined as follows.[7]

Size Mass range per egg
Extra large (XL) ≥ 73 g
Large (L) ≥ 63 g and < 73 g
Medium (M) ≥ 53 g and < 63 g
Small (S) < 53 g

Post-Soviet countries

In countries which are members of Interstate Council for Standardization, Metrology and Certification: Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia, and Turkmenistan eggs are sorted into five categories by mass:[8]

Category Mass range per egg
Highest (В) > 75 g
Select (О) 65 g – 74.9 g
First (1) 55 g – 64.9 g
Second (2) 45 g – 54.9 g
Third (3) 35 g – 44.9 g

Australia

In Australia, the Australian Egg Corporation defines the following sizes in its labeling guide.[9]

Modern Sizes (Australia)
Size Pack weight (12 eggs) Mass range per egg Average mass per egg Edible portion per egg
King‐size 860 g 71.7 g – 78.5 g 73 g 64 g
Jumbo 800 g 66.7 g – 71.6 g 68 g 59 g
Extra-Large 700 g 58.3 g – 66.6 g 60 g 52 g
Large 600 g 50.0 g – 58.2 g 52 g 45 g
Medium 500 g 41.7 g – 49.9 g 43 g 37 g

New Zealand

In New Zealand, sizes are based on the minimum mass per egg.[10] Current sizing introduced in 1973; prior to 1973, sizes were based on the minimum mass per dozen eggs in ounces: 15 (now 4), 18 (now 5), 22 (now 6) and 26 (now 7).[11]

Modern Sizes (New Zealand)
Size Minimum mass per egg
Jumbo (8) 68 g
Large (7) 62 g
Standard (6) 53 g
Medium (5) 44 g
Pullet (4) 35 g

Brazil

In Brazil sizes are based on the mass:[12]

Sizes (Brazil)
Size
Jumbo > 66 g
Extra 60 g to 65 g
Large 55 g to 59 g
Medium 50 g to 54 g
Small 45 g to 49 g
Industrial < 45 g

Thailand

In Thailand sizes are based on minimum mass per egg.[13]

Sizes (Thailand)
No. Size Minimum mass per egg
0 Jumbo > 70 g
1 Extra large 65 g to 70 g
2 Large 60 g to 65 g
3 Medium 55 to 60 g
4 Small 50 g to 55 g
5 Peewee 45 g to 50 g

Japan

In Japan, the Japan Egg Association lists the following sizes:[14]

Sizes (Japan)
Size Mass per egg
LL 70 g to 76 g
L 64 g to 70 g
M 58 g to 64 g
MS 52 g to 58 g
S 46 g to 52 g
SS 40 g to 46 g

South Africa

In South Africa sizes are based on the mass. :[15]

Sizes (South Africa)
Size
Super Jumbo > 72 g
Jumbo > 66 g
Extra-Large > 59 g
Large > 51 g
Medium > 43 g
Small > 33 g

References

  1. F. H. Harms (June 25, 1990). "Specific Gravity of Eggs and Eggshell Weight from Commercial Layers and Broiler Breeders in Relation to Time of Oviposition". CiteSeerX 10.1.1.827.3676.
  2. "Buying large eggs is cruel, shoppers told". The Times. 2009-03-11. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  3. Zoe Williams (12 March 2009). "Let's lay off large eggs!". The Guardian.
  4. "Sizing of eggs". USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  5. "What to Do With Egg Whites". gourmetsleuth.com/. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  6. "Egg Regulations C.R.C., c. 284". Justice Laws – Canada. 2013-04-26. Retrieved 2016-11-24.
  7. UNECE Standard EGG-1 concerning the marketing and commercial quality control of eggs-in-shell (PDF) (Report). United Nations. 2010. p. 9. Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  8. "ГОСТ 31654-2012 Food chicken eggs. Specifications". protect.gost.ru. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
  9. "Egg Labelling Guide – Guide to Australian laws, regulations and standards for egg producers" (PDF). Australian Egg Corporation. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  10. "Egg Labelling". Egg Producers Federation of New Zealand. Retrieved 2016-11-24.
  11. "Metricated eggs". The Press. 19 April 1973. p. 1.
  12. "Classification and Packaging of Eggs Poultry Farming in South Africa".
  13. "TAS 6702-2010" (PDF). National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. 2010-12-28. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  14. "タマゴQ&A 「色・形編」". 日本卵業協会. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
  15. "Classification Packaging of Eggs - Poultry Farming in South Africa". southafrica.co.za. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
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