Posted on May 31 2017
As spring rolls around and hens begin to lay more, families who raise chickens could find themselves with lots of eggs. Many homesteaders face this common problem: what can I do with all of these eggs? Luckily, we have a few tips for putting those extra eggs to good use. If you find yourself getting tired of eating scrambled eggs for every meal, read on!
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Obviously, the easiest way to get rid of extra eggs is to give them away. It usually isn’t hard to find family members, friends, or neighbors that are interested in adding some farm-fresh eggs to their diet. By giving the eggs away, you also avoid the regulations that come with trying to sell the eggs. Of course, giving eggs away means that you do not receive anything for your hard work besides a smile, but it is better than letting those eggs go to waste.
Sell
Often the most complicated way to get rid of eggs, selling your extras can involve a lot of red tape depending on the laws in your location. With the average price for a dozen extra-large organic eggs somewhere in the $2.50 range according to the USDA, you will likely never get rich from selling eggs either. However, by finding customers to buy your flock’s extra eggs you may be able to recoup at least some of the cost of producing the eggs. With a solid business plan in place and some loyal customers, selling chicken eggs might even become a profitable venture, although it may require a larger investment in chickens and time than you would be willing to make.
Save
Chickens are a fickle bunch, and they may not always produce as many eggs as they have in the past. Older chickens produce fewer eggs, and in the winter your chickens may stop producing altogether. Freezing your extra chicken eggs will ensure that you won’t have to give up your favorite meal when the hens take a break from laying.
To freeze extra chicken eggs, follow these steps:
- Crack as many eggs as you want to save into a freezer-safe container
- Gently mix the yolks and whites together, making sure not to beat too much extra air into the mixture
- Add 1/8 tsp. salt or 1-1/2 tsp. sugar in for every 4 eggs. This will prevent the yolks from getting gummy
- Freeze the mixture, then transfer it to a FoodVacBags vacuum sealer bag for long-term storage
Eat More
Sometimes the problem isn’t that you have too many eggs, but that you don’t have enough variety in your recipes to keep from getting sick of them. Here are a couple of tasty egg recipes that will shake up a boring egg-heavy diet:
Low Carb Pizza Frittata
For the pizza lovers in your family, try this recipe from Amuse Your Bouche. Author Becca keeps it vegetarian with her choice of toppings, but you can add any of your favorite toppings to it.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1/2 onion, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium mushrooms, diced
- Salt
- Black pepper
- 3 eggs
- 3 tbsp. milk
- 5 tbsp. pizza sauce
- 125 g (about 1 cup) grated mozzarella cheese)
- 1 tbsp sliced black olives
- Fresh basil
See the recipe at Amuse Your Bouche.
Frico Egg
Looking for a quick, but unique, breakfast item? A reader of Trail of Crumbs submitted this simple egg and cheese delight.
Ingredients
- Eggs
- About 1/2 tbsp. butter
- About 2 tbsp. grated parmesan
- Salt
- Pepper
See the recipe at Trail of Crumbs.
With so many different options for using your extra eggs, there is no excuse for eating scrambled eggs every meal or letting eggs go to waste. Whether you decide to treat your friends, make a little extra money for your next homesteading project, or spice up your family’s next meal, you’ll always have a good use for your chickens’ eggs. Have any additional tips or recipes? Share them in the comments below!
Very happy by purchasing these bags. Saves a lot of money. You can cut to any size and they seal well