How many different sizes of eggs does the USDA currently recognize?
In a carton of eggs, some may look slightly smaller or larger than the rest. But it isn't their size that gets them sorted into the different classes. Grouping reflects the total weight of the eggs in the carton. The classes recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are (largest to smallest): jumbo (30 ounces), extra-large (27 ounces), large (24 ounces), medium (21 ounces), small (18 ounces), peewee (15 ounces).
The USDA determines its classifications by weight of a dozen eggs per carton.
The egg shell constitutes about 13% of the weight of the egg.
More Info:
en.wikipedia.org
What are your thoughts on this subject?
8 Comments
Jim Moser
Pee wee eggs are the first eggs that a pullet lays when they first begin laying (tiny - barely bigger than a pigeon egg). The eggs will be pee wee's for a couple weeks then the size of the eggs that the chicken lays will increase and be of the small size for maybe a month. As the female chicken (hen) matures, the size of the egg increases. They will lay medium eggs for several months. Then the eggs will increase slightly more in size and be in the large category for maybe 6 or 8 months. As the hen ages, the size of eggs increase more and the frequency of laying eggs decreases. They will lay X-large for a number of months and for the last few months of their laying life, the eggs will be jumbo size.
(Our family grew up raising laying hens so this is familiar stuff. Hope this helps everyone!!)
Jim Moser
Colin Payne, Pee wee eggs are the first eggs that a pullet lays when they first begin laying. The eggs will be pee wee's for a couple weeks then the size of the eggs that the chicken lays will increase and be of the small size for maybe a month. As the female chicken (hen) matures, the size of the egg increases. They will lay medium eggs for several months. Then the eggs will increase slightly more in size and be in the large category for maybe 6 or 8 months. As the hen ages the size of eggs increase more and the frequency of laying eggs decreases. They will lay X-large for a number of months and for the last few months of their laying life, the eggs will be jumbo size.
(Our family grew up raising laying hens so this is familiar stuff. Hope this helps everyone!!)
Martha Calkins
Never heard of “pee wee”, but years ago we used to get pullet eggs at the farmer’s market. They were so cute!
stormejohn
Colin Payne, Me neither, must have to go to a mini mart to find them.
TSH
I’m 65 and I have only seen medium, large, extra large, and jumbo. Therefore, my answer was erroneously 4.
pykim
You should specify chicken eggs because there are a lot of other eggs.
Noel Dsouza
Great guess for an Indian 🇮🇳
Colin Payne
Never seen either small or pee wee eggs in any supermarket in almost 67 years.