Chicken eggs are sized by weight, 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).
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. Christine Nicol of the University of Bristol, a professor of animal welfare, said "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."
United States
The United States Department of Agriculture sizing is based by weight per dozen. 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 (U.S.) Size Minimum mass per egg Cooking Yield (Volume) Jumbo 70.9 g 2.5 oz.61 ml (4.125 tbsp) Very Large or Extra-Large (XL) 63.8 g 2.25 oz. 56 ml (4 tbsp) Large (L) 56.8 g 2 oz. 46 ml (3.25 tbsp) Medium (M) 49.6 g 1.75 oz. 43 ml (3 tbsp) Small (S) 42.5 g 1.5 oz. Peewee 35.4 g 1.25 oz.
Canada
In Canada, modern egg sizes are defined as follows: + Modern Sizes (Canada) Size Minimum mass per egg Jumbo 70 gExtra Large 63 g Large 56 g Medium 49 g Small 42 g Peewee
Europe
In Europe, modern egg sizes are defined as follows.
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: CategoryMass range per eggHighest (В)> 75 gSelect (О)65 g – 74.9 gFirst (1)55 g – 64.9 gSecond (2)45 g – 54.9 gThird (3)35 g – 44.9 g
Australia
In Australia, the Australian Egg Corporation defines the following sizes in its labeling guide.
+ 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. 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). + 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: + Sizes (Brazil) Size Jumbo > 68 g Extra 58 g to 67.99 g Large (Grande) 48 g to 57.99 g Medium (Médio) 38 g to 47.99 g
Thailand
In Thailand sizes are based on minimum mass per egg. + 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: + 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. : + Sizes (South Africa) SizeSuper Jumbo> 72 g Jumbo > 66 g Extra-Large > 59 g Large > 51 g Medium > 43 g Small > 33 g
References