2024-03-18 08:56:34
The egg is one of the foods most recommended by health professionals for the numerous benefits it offers to our body. Rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals and healthy fats, these products are included in the most diverse diets, but, sometimes, they arouse curiosity due to some details that they present when they break the shell.
Scrambled or boiled egg? Which one should be consumed to take advantage of its nutrients?
Among the most striking thing that we can find in an egg is the so-called chalaza, a white, fibrous filament that society usually associates with the umbilical cord of a chick or a vein. These are usually found in the yolk, one in the upper part of the shell and another in the lower part and raises a question for consumers: is it safe to consume?
White thread in eggs: what is its function
According to specialists, the chalaza is two rope-shaped structures formed by proteins, which adhere to the yolk with the aim of protecting it when colliding with the sides of the egg shell.
When the egg is whole, the chalaza keeps the yolk in suspension so that it stays in the center of the white and does not touch the edges of the inside of the shell. In fact, that is the reason why the yolk of the egg stays in the center of the egg when cracking, frying or boiling it.
Is egg chalaza safe to eat?
Although today there are still doubts, and the little ones usually try to remove this filamentary and gelatinous rope from the egg, its consumption is completely safe. In fact, it even disappears completely after cooking the egg.
On the other hand, far from being a sign of poor condition of the egg, chalaza is precisely a factor indicative of freshness.
According to health professionals, chalaza is indicative of the egg’s freshness. (Photo: El Comercio)
As the days pass after laying the egg, the chalaza loses its characteristic white color, becoming invisible. If this happens, that is, when you crack an egg you do not see any chalaza, it may be a sign that the egg is in poor condition or about to reach its natural expiration date.
Thus, in addition to taking into account the general appearance and smell of the egg when consuming it, two more things should be taken into account: that the chalaza is visible, and that the yolk is more or less centered in it. , both signs that it is still fresh and completely suitable for consumption.
Other myths about the egg
Among the most popular myths about eggs, one of them are “blood stains” and “flesh stains.” In both cases, as explained by the doctor in Food Science and Technology Miguel Ángel Lurueña, they are small hemorrhages from the chick on one side, and oxidized blood and other tissues on the other. Again, this is natural, and is not indicative of animal suffering or poor condition of the egg.
Finally, there are eggs with wrinkled shells. Once again, Lurueña indicates that this “defect” does not affect the safety and composition of the egg: it is associated with possible bronchitis in the hen that laid the egg, but said defect does not go beyond the visual. At the consumption level, there would be no problem.