Nov 5, 2021
Image: Double-yolked egg - clipartpanda.com
Double-yolked eggs can be a blessing or a curse according to Alison Cooper in this article from howstuffwork.com. It all depends on your perspective, or your culture even.
There's about a one in one thousand chance that the next egg you crack open will be double-yolked. As is the case with many uncommon occurrences in nature, people have attached many superstitions to double-yolked eggs. They're a pretty obvious reference to fertility, so most of these superstitions have to do with reproduction and good fortune. The most common is that you or someone you know will soon become pregnant (maybe with twins) if you happen upon a double-yolker. In the Wiccan tradition, they're known as a sign of general good fortune. If you're interested in ancient Norse beliefs, you might feel a sense of doom if you get a double-yolked egg — it means that someone in your family is about to meet their maker.
So what causes a double-yolked egg? They happen when the chicken ovulates twice in quick succession, according to Sauder's Eggs, a farm in Pennsylvania. The yolk (known as an oocyte at this point), is released into the oviduct (the chicken's fallopian tube) before the previous yolk has had a chance to clear out of the way. So a single shell then forms around the two yolks. Double yolks usually happen in younger hens with more immature reproductive systems whose timing hasn't quite been perfected. It can also be a hereditary trait in heavier hen breeds like the Buff Orpington. Triple- and quadruple-yolked eggs exist too, although they're even rarer, and the world yolk record is nine. In 2011, a British woman cracked open an astonishing 29 double-yolkers from one package.
Double-yolked eggs, although unusual, are perfectly safe to eat. They still make amazing scrambled eggs and omelets and can be used just like a normal egg in most recipes. But because the white-to-yolk ratio is off and they don't quite count as two eggs, you might have to alter certain baking recipes if you want them to come out perfectly. However, if you're making hollandaise sauce, you're in luck.
For a long time, double-yolked eggs have been considered the black sheep, if you will, of the egg world. When eggs are being processed, they go through a step called candling, during which they're examined under a light and checked for defects. Double-yolkers usually get pulled out at that point and not sold along with the normal eggs. But they've been enjoying a little bump in popularity, perhaps because people are becoming a bit less averse to cholesterol. (The double yolk is an extra shot of protein, after all.) Or maybe it goes along with the general trend of interest in products from smaller farms. Sauder's Eggs packages the doubles separately and sells them as "Double-Yolkers."
Double Yolk Eggs FAQ
How rare is a double yolk egg?
Double yolk eggs are uncommon, but not as rare as you might think. Even though they’re only found in one in every 1,000 eggs, there are billions of eggs produced every year. So don't be too surprised if you end up with a couple double yolk eggs in a carton every now and then.
Are double yolk eggs natural?
Double yolk eggs are completely natural. They're laid by younger hens with immature reproductive systems. These hens ovulate twice in quick succession, causing a single shell to form around two egg yolks.
Is double yolk egg good for health?
Double yolk eggs are perfectly healthy and safe to eat, even though they have a different white-yolk ratio. A double yolk means double the amount of protein and nutrients. However, it also means they have more cholesterol than a regular egg, so if that’s something you’re watching, you may want to serve that one to someone else.
Why don't they sell double yolk eggs?
Many poultry farms remove double yolk eggs and don't sell them because health-conscious consumers are becoming more averse to cholesterol-packed foods. As a result, some farms actually package double yolk eggs and sell them separately.
Author's Note: Why Are People Superstitious About Double-Yolked Eggs?
I had to laugh when I read the article about the woman who got all those double-yolked eggs. Recently, I got pretty excited when a double-yolker was the first one I cracked open from a package of three dozen local, organic eggs. But that delight turned to uneasiness as I gradually discovered that they were all double-yolked. What's that all about? Never bought from that farmer again, but if I'd have known the odds I would've tried to get on the news!
Today and every day psychics LIVE at https://starzpsychics.com
Share this article with friends!
Tags:
#double#egg#yolks#suspicions,#eggs,#food,#eggs,#starzpsychics.com
