In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleWhat Is Egg Grading?What Are Grade AA Eggs?What Are Grade A Eggs?What’s the Difference Between Grade AA and Grade A Eggs?
In This ArticleView All
View All
In This Article
What Is Egg Grading?
What Are Grade AA Eggs?
What Are Grade A Eggs?
What’s the Difference Between Grade AA and Grade A Eggs?
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Photo: Getty Images
If you thought you had enough choices to make when purchasing a dozen eggs, think again. Many of us already shop for eggs based on a number of qualities. What size do we need? Should we buy eggs with brown or white shells (anddoes the shell color mean anything anyway?). Sometimes we pick a dozen based on price (it’s hard to turn down a good sale nowadays). Or maybe we prefer eggs that are produced close to home. For others, free-range and organic are important factors. So many choices!
To throw another consideration into the mix, did you know that eggs can also be graded from AA to A (and even B)? These grades don’t tell us how the eggs performed on their last math test, but let the consumer know the quality of both the interior and exterior of the egg. This grade can help us choose eggs for our next kitchen project, whether it’s a perfectly fried egg or a deliciousfrittata. Let’s dig into the real difference between Grade AA versus Grade A eggs so you can pick the best egg for your meal and your wallet.
Are Eggs Good for You? Health Benefits & More
Grade AA eggs are the highest-quality eggs, in both exterior and interior appearance. USDA guidelines stipulate that these egg whites are clear and firm. Their yolks must be practically free from defects such as blood spots or embryo development, and their shells clean and unbroken. These eggs, which cost a bit more than other grades, are a good choice when you want a beautiful presentation, such as fried or poached eggs.
Grade A eggs are the next highest-quality egg. They share many of the same qualities as Grade AA, but they have a slightly larger air cell or pocket (more on this below), and their whites are not quite as thick. Don’t worry, these eggs are perfectly safe to cook and eat, they just aren’t quite as perfect as a Grade AA. This means they often have a lower price point, which might be a compelling reason to grab a dozen when planning to mix them into a scramble or a cake. (Grade B eggs, often reserved for commercial baking or liquid eggs, have large air pockets and thin whites, and can have misshapen or flawed exteriors. They are still fine for consumption, they just lack the good looks of Grade AA and A eggs.)
How do you choose between the grades when, in reality, the difference between them is so slight? Let’s compare the two:
Shells
Both AA and A eggs must have a clean, unbroken shell with a smooth surface and a uniform shape.
Whites
Grade AA eggs have clear and firm whites that hold the yolk in place, while Grade A eggs have clear and slightly less firm whites.
Yolks
The less definition you have of an egg yolk when held up to the light, the thicker the white. The yolks in a Grade AA egg will have a slightly defined outline, while Grade A egg yolks are slightly more defined, indicating less firm whites.
Air Cells
Price
Because Grade AA eggs are considered to have a higher physical quality, they come with a higher price tag, compared to Grade A eggs.
Everything Else
All else being equal (aside from appearances), Grade AA and A eggs taste the same, cook the same and have the same health benefits.
The Bottom Line
So, does it really matter what grades your eggs receive? Yes and no. If you are concerned about perfect-looking fried or poached eggs at your next brunch, then it might be well worth it to spend a little extra money on Grade AA eggs. If you typically makescrambled eggs, or whisk your eggs tobake up in muffin tinsor aquiche, or mix them intocookiesorquick breads, then the lower price point of Grade A eggs may be more attractive. Noah Smith, grocery merchandiser for PCC Community Markets in Seattle, says, “Most of our customers shop for eggs according to either price or attribute (organic, pasture-raised, etc.). I don’t think that for most customers grade weighs as heavily into the decision-making process as it once did.” Like many things in life, it sometimes comes down to a matter of appearances and if you’re willing to pay a little more for beauty.
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