Practices for Ensuring Egg Safety
To ensure the safety of your eggs right from the beginning, follow a couple of simple practices that I recommend:
Keep them refrigerated, not on the counter, especially for extended periods.
Cook eggs until the whites are set and the yolks are solidified.
Clean surfaces that contact raw eggs (such as bowls and countertops).
If you are pregnant, elderly or have an impaired immune system, only eat cooked eggs.
Q: Does a blood spot mean the egg was fertilized?
A: No. Blood spots develop from ruptured vessels, not from fertilization.
Q: Can you eat eggs with blood spots raw?
A: The spot itself is not unsafe, however eating raw eggs carries additional risks; better to cook them.
Q: Why do I see more blood spots in farm eggs?
A: Farm eggs are more commonly not candled and may be produced by older hens, therefore, you are more likely to see them.
Do You Need To Panic If You Crack an Egg and See a Tiny Red Dot?
Absolutely Not.
A blood spot does not mean your egg has gone bad, it’s generally just a harmless, natural anomaly that occurred in the egg’s journey from hen to kitchen. Provided that the egg is fresh and cooked properly, you’re good to go.
You can choose to remove it if it bothers you visually, or cook it as-is. Your breakfast will never know the difference.
