How to Save Money on Eggs

This post is by Bernie Carr, apartmentprepper.com

Eggs used to be one of the more inexpensive protein sources, at least until the last few months.  On my last grocery shopping trip, I was shocked to find a dozen eggs close to $3 a dozen.  The brown eggs were even more expensive, at $3.74 a dozen.

Egg prices started rising in May, because of an epidemic of the avian flu that caused many chickens to perish.  It has steadily gone up since, with the possibility that prices can increase even more in the next few months.

I like eggs and have always counted on them for a low priced meal.  We also enjoy having eggs and bacon for dinner occasionally.  But now that egg prices are rising, we all need to think about ways to save money on eggs.

Brown eggs vs white eggs

Brown eggs cost more than white eggs, but what are there differences?

• Brown eggs are laid by brown feathered hens that have brown ear lobes and white eggs were laid by hens with white feathers and white ear lobes.
• They are more expensive because brown hens require more food than white hens.
• Most nutritionists indicate there is no difference between brown and white eggs. however the vitamins would really depend on the diet of the chicken.  Eggs that come from hens that are fed a vegetarian diet tend to have more omega-3s than those that come from hens fed a conventional diet.
• Brown eggs may have a more yellow yolk than white eggs.  I like the yellow yolks and therefore prefer brown.  However, when the price difference is substantial, I choose the white eggs.

There are so many varieties to choose from, organic vs non-organic, vegetarian, free range etc. You just need to decide what qualities important to you before spending the extra money.  This article from Consumer Reports may help sort it out.

Compare prices

Check the prices at your neighborhood grocery stores and compare them against each other.  The weekly sales flyer is also helpful.  I have been buying eggs at Costco, as the price of a pack of 4 dozen was a substantial difference over the supermarkets.

Buy from various sources

Drug and discount stores such as Target, Walgreens and CVS also carry eggs and mark them down every now and then.  Also consider the farmers market, or buying directly from a farm near you.

Choose substitutes or egg-less recipes

Eggs make baked goods light and fluffy but there are substitutes available.  Applesauce and mashed bananas are a couple good substitutes and this article offers more ideas.

Many recipes that normally require eggs have an egg free counterpart.  Check out this recipe for Toffee Brownies.

Learn to preserve eggs

When you buy in bulk, make your eggs last longer, if you are not going to use them all at once.

You can also try dehydrating eggs.

Or if you prefer, you can also freeze eggs for later use.

Keep chickens

My grandparents kept a couple of chickens in the backyard, back when there were no rules against livestock in their community.  It was always a treat searching for eggs in the morning.  This would not work while living in an apartment or subdivision, but worth considering if you have room in the backyard, and your neighborhood association/city ordinances allow it.  Check the laws in your area before embarking on this project.

Hopefully, I have given you some ideas on saving money on eggs.  Share your favorite egg tips in the comments.