Pasture-raised, free range, cage free, brown, white. How does anyone know what kind of eggs they should buy? Vital Farms breaks down the confusion around eggs in order to give us all the facts.

Let’s break it down, shell we?

When it comes to shell color, all this tells you is what kind of chicken it came from. For example: Hy-line Browns lay brown eggs. Brown eggs tend to be more expensive because the hens that lay them are bigger.

The eggshells protect the eggs while a chick grows inside. Similar to humans, the older we get, the more risk during pregnancy. The older a hen gets, the thinner the shells become when laid. Ever get an egg that is slightly harder to crack? Well, you have an egg from a young hen (aka a spring chicken).

About the yolk:

Yolk color has everything to do with a chicken’s diet. The ideal yolk should be a vibrant orange color. Free Range eggs tend to have this vibrancy to their yolks due to the chickens having and extremely nutritious diet.

Ever get a double yolk? According to Vital Farms, these are like finding a four-leaf clover. If you ever get one, know that it is coming from a young chicken that is just beginning to lay eggs. This is because they are learning to get the right timing.

Other egg-citing facts:

The “egg snot” or chalazae is a good sign for determining freshness.

Eggs are a great source of Vitamin D – a vitamin that humans are commonly deficient in.

My favorite eggs to purchase at the store are Vital Farms. They are certified non-GMO, humanly raised, and free range. Vital Farms is so transparent about their practices, and they frequently do “tours” of their farms on Instagram. Not to mention, the customer service is egg-tremely wonderful.