# Eggcentric Behaviors, or How Do You Purchase Your Eggs? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 9, 2003, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggcentric-behaviors-or-how-do-you-purchase-your-eggs/174188 "2003-05-09T19:55:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![MSU\_1978](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@MSU\_1978](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MSU_1978)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggcentric-behaviors-or-how-do-you-purchase-your-eggs/174188/41 "2003-05-16T13:15:29Z")
I always check my eggs. I seldom have to move a cracked one, I just check until I get a good carton. My grandmother has the ultimate quirk- she inspects _and counts_ the eggs before she puts them in her cart. If they ever try to pass off a carton containing 11 eggs off on her, she’ll be on to them! ---
**Author:** ![Sengkelat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Sengkelat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sengkelat)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggcentric-behaviors-or-how-do-you-purchase-your-eggs/174188/42 "2003-05-16T13:54:06Z")
I used to shop at Safeway, and I’d look at and nudge each egg to make sure it wasn’t stuck. If one was stuck, which was rare, I’d get a new carton which would invariably be fine. At the crappy market I shop at now, the eggs sit out unrefrigerated for days. I’ll get a carton, take each egg entirely out of the carton in turn, look at it from all sides, then put it back. If it’s bad, I’ll get out another carton and start swapping eggs. Often the carton I’m trying to swap from has just as many bad eggs. If I run into too many bad eggs in one carton, I’ll give up and grab a new carton and start all over again. And I never buy a carton that has egg goo on it. If anyone questions me I’ll say “Um lett me explain. I’m buying the eggs legally, not poaching them. You can make this a big incident, or just let it be over easy. Don’t make my shopping experiece all bummin’.” ---
**Author:** ![Gravity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gravity/32/14322_2.png) [@Gravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gravity)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggcentric-behaviors-or-how-do-you-purchase-your-eggs/174188/43 "2003-05-16T14:01:22Z")
Well, usually I get fresh jumbo eggs from a coworker for $1.50 a dozen. When I don’t, I buy by the 18-pack, just like you, **Cartooniverse**. I also check them, and put any broken ones in a container that already have broken ones in them. I make sure that the container of broken ones is _open_ so that nobody takes it by mistake. I used to work in a grocery store, and I know that the guys in the dairy section had to go through the eggs, swapping them out just like we do, so we’re really saving them some work. ---
**Author:** ![Nightsong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nightsong/32/3083_2.png) [@Nightsong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightsong)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggcentric-behaviors-or-how-do-you-purchase-your-eggs/174188/44 "2003-05-16T15:55:13Z")
I check the eggs also, poking them a bit to make sure that they aren’t stuck to the carton, or that there aren’t any ‘surprises’ hidden under them. (Such as, but not limited to, roaches, ants, spiders, and other crawling things.) If I have to check more than two cartons, I start consolidating 'em, then stick the reject carton in a place where it’s unlikely to be grabbed. (The back of the stack, for instance.) * * * \<\< Eggies. Chocolate eggies. Yum. \>\> ---
**Author:** ![Black\_Train\_Song](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Black\_Train\_Song](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Train_Song)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggcentric-behaviors-or-how-do-you-purchase-your-eggs/174188/45 "2003-05-16T22:23:30Z")
Am I the only one who individually CAT scans each egg? They look so cute in the little gowns they have to wear. You guys are eggsperts. You scare me. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggcentric-behaviors-or-how-do-you-purchase-your-eggs/174188/46 "2003-05-16T22:35:30Z")
It’s actually more efficient to do it this way too! To get the replacement egg, you just have to look at one egg in another carton. To switch cartons, now you have to recheck every egg. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggcentric-behaviors-or-how-do-you-purchase-your-eggs/174188/47 "2003-05-17T17:13:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gravity \*I used to work in a grocery store, and I know that the guys in the dairy section had to go through the eggs, swapping them out just like we do, so we’re really saving them some work. \*\* God bless you, **Gravity**. You have provided the confirmation that I’ve sought, lo these many days. I no longer walk on eggshells, in fear that my behaviors are somehow out of line with what is acceptable dairy protocol. I thank you. We all thank you. Here, let me just whip up an omlette for you !!! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggcentric-behaviors-or-how-do-you-purchase-your-eggs/174188.md?page=2)