Chicken egg sizes
{{Short description|none}}
Image:White Eggs in Carton.jpg
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).{{cite CiteSeerX
|title=Specific Gravity of Eggs and Eggshell Weight from Commercial Layers and Broiler Breeders in Relation to Time of Oviposition
|author=F. H. Harms
|date=June 25, 1990
|citeseerx = 10.1.1.827.3676
}}
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.{{cite web |date=2009-03-11 |title=Buying large eggs is cruel, shoppers told |url=https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/article/buying-large-eggs-is-cruel-shoppers-told-bjvn97vzmgs |url-access=subscription |access-date=2021-11-13 |work=The Times}} 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.' {{cite journal|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/mar/12/chickens-welfare-eggs| journal=The Guardian| author= Zoe Williams| author-link=Zoe Williams (writer)| title=Let's lay off large eggs! | date= 12 March 2009}}
United States
The United States Department of Agriculture sizing is based by weight per dozen.{{cite web|url=https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/eggs/shell-eggs-farm-table#17|title=Sizing of eggs
|publisher=USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service |date= |access-date=2022-09-18}} 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:
| class="wikitable"
|+ Modern Sizes (US) ! Size ! colspan=2 | Minimum mass per egg |
| Jumbo |
|---|
| Very Large or Extra-Large (XL)
| 63.8 g || 2.25 oz. |
| 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:
| class="wikitable"
|+ Modern Sizes (Canada){{cite web|title=Egg Regulations C.R.C., c. 284|url=https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/C.R.C.,_c._284/20130426/P1TT3xt3.html#h-22|website=Justice Laws – Canada|date=2013-04-26|access-date=2016-11-24}} ! Size ! Minimum mass per egg |
| Jumbo
| 70 g |
|---|
| Extra Large
| 63 g |
| Large
| 56 g |
| Medium
| 49 g |
| Small
| 42 g |
| Peewee
| {{N/A}} |
Europe
In Europe, modern egg sizes are defined as follows.{{Cite report |date=2010 |title=UNECE Standard EGG-1 concerning the marketing and commercial quality control of eggs-in-shell |url=http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trade/agr/standard/eggs/Standards/EGG01_EggsInShell_2010E.pdf |publisher=United Nations |page=9 |access-date=2015-01-02 }}
| class="wikitable"
! 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:{{Cite web|url=http://protect.gost.ru/v.aspx?control=7&id=180331|title=ГОСТ 31654-2012 Food chicken eggs. Specifications|last=|first=|date=|website=protect.gost.ru|access-date=2017-06-06}}
| class="wikitable"
!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.{{cite web|title=Egg Labelling Guide – Guide to Australian laws, regulations and standards for egg producers|url=http://www.humanechoice.com.au/Resources/Documents/Egg-Labelling-Guide-March-2013-FINAL-1.pdf|publisher=Australian Egg Corporation|access-date=24 November 2016}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ 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.{{cite web|url=http://eggfarmers.org.nz/eating-eggs/egg-labelling |title=Egg Labelling |publisher=Egg Producers Federation of New Zealand |date= |access-date=2016-11-24}} 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).{{Cite news |date=19 April 1973 |title=Metricated eggs |page=1 |work=The Press |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19730419.2.7}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ 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:{{cite web |date= |title=Classification and Packaging of Eggs Poultry Farming in South Africa |url=https://southafrica.co.za/classification-and-packaging-of-eggs.html |publisher=}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.acfs.go.th/files/files/commodity-standard/20190607133021_462779.pdf |title=TAS 6702-2010|publisher=National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives |date=2010-12-28 |access-date=2021-01-24}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ 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:{{cite web|url=http://www.nichirankyo.or.jp/qa/iro.htm |title=タマゴQ&A 「色・形編」|publisher=日本卵業協会 |date= |access-date=2021-11-08}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ 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. :{{Cite web |title=Classification Packaging of Eggs - Poultry Farming in South Africa |url=https://southafrica.co.za/classification-and-packaging-of-eggs.html |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=southafrica.co.za}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ Sizes (South Africa) ! Size ! |
| Super Jumbo
|> 72 g |
|---|
| Jumbo
| > 66 g |
| Extra-Large
| > 59 g |
| Large
| > 51 g |
| Medium
| > 43 g |
| Small
| > 33 g |