Is it appropriate to eat an egg with cracks in its shell?

If there is a very complete food that in addition to being very rich in minerals and vitamins provides high biological value proteins (also known as good quality proteins, because it provides all the essential amino acids that our body so much needs), that is probably the egg. And it is that while in vitamins it contributes mainly vitamin A, D, E and of group B, also it contributes minerals like iron, zinc, selenium, phosphorus and iron. In addition, it also stands out for its content in choline, an essential compound that among other aspects is very beneficial for the proper functioning of our nervous system.

However, like any food, it is common for there to be doubts, beliefs and myths directly related to their consumption. So, for example, it is very common for us to ask ourselves if fried egg increases cholesterol, or as we asked in a previous note, if it is advisable to wash the eggs before its use in the kitchen.

If you usually eat eggs with some assiduity it is quite common that at some point, when you open the container to prepare one, you will find one with a damaged shell and / or cracks. And at this point it is normal for us to be assaulted by doubts: is it appropriate to eat an egg that has cracks in its shell? Or can it really be something dangerous?

The truth is it is not advisable to eat eggs that have cracks in their skin. Why? Very simple: through these cracks can penetrate pathogenic microorganisms that then, after consumption, could cause different diseases.

We must bear in mind that the egg has a shell where in turn we find the cuticle, adhering to the shell which acts by plugging its pores and preventing the entry of these microorganisms into the egg. Therefore it is not advisable to wash the egg when we are going to store it, because washing can damage that important protective barrier.

What to do then when we find an egg with cracks in its shell?

The most appropriate, advisable and recommendable is to discard it and not consume it, otherwise we will be at risk of contracting some diseases caused by the microorganisms present in the eggshell, and that have ultimately gone inside through the cited cracks.

However, it is possible that the egg contains cracks and that these are not visible to the naked eye. In these cases you can use an LED torch or any other source of light that does not emit heat and observe it in detail. If you distinguish cracks even when these are not entirely appreciable, it is best to discard it as well.

Image | Quinn Dombrowski / Andrew Toskin

Most Raw Eggs Cracked & Eaten With Shell in 4 min (World Record until someone beats it) | L.A. BEAST (March 2024)