I Cooked Regular and Organic Eggs Side by Side and the Results Were Surprising

I’m crazy about eggs. They’re a self-contained breakfast (or breakfast for dinner) packed with health benefits. Plus, they’re so easy to put together in a 13×9 dish for an easy, cheesy family brunch. (Here’s a bunch of our go-to recipes.)

I always buy organic eggs at the grocery store without thinking too much about it, but lately, I’ve wondered: Is that extra $4 worth spending? I taste tested organic eggs and conventional (non-organic) eggs to find out!

About the Eggs

I bought two dozen eggs at Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, our local grocery store. For the test, I picked up the cheapest dozen in the cooler (which happened to be a store brand), plus a carton of Organic Valley eggs. Both were Grade A Large eggs.

• Fresh Thyme Farmers Market Eggs (Non-Organic): $1.69
• Organic Valley Eggs (Organic): $5.99

Editor’s Tip: Check this guide if label terminology like cage-free vs. free-range eggs confuses you at the grocery store.

I noticed a difference as soon as I opened the box—the organic eggs had a brown shell, while the non-organic eggs had a white shell. When I cracked ‘em open, the Fresh Thyme eggs, my non-organic contender, had a beautiful orange-yellow yolk! I loved the deep color, which held up even when eggs were scrambled or cooked over easy. I was surprised to see that the organic eggs had a yolk that was a much paler yellow. Here’s the real reason why egg yolks are different colors.

The Taste Test

To test the eggs, I prepared them scrambled with a splash of whole milk and over easy. Here’s what I discovered…

Non-Organic Eggs

• Scrambled: They scrambled up flat and somewhat rubbery, though they definitely had a brighter yellow color.
• Over Easy: Super yolk-y, which is perfect for anyone who dunks a piece of toast in their runny yolk. The only downside—a white that was somewhat rubbery.

Organic Eggs

• Scrambled: The scrambled eggs were light, fluffy and so easy to eat. The egg-y flavor was good, but not overpowering. I could still taste the ½ tablespoon of butter I cooked the eggs in.
• Over Easy: The yolk taste was bland in comparison to the non-organic egg! But the white was smooth, not chewy at all.

Do Organic Eggs Taste Better?

Not always. It turns out organic eggs don’t automatically taste better than their non-organic competitors simply because they’re organic. But flavor and texture aren’t the only factors to consider when you make a purchase. Lots of people prefer to buy organic eggs simply because the hens aren’t confined to cages, have access to the outdoors and are fed organic feed. It’s a personal decision.

For any dish that needs an extra-fluffy texture, though, I would splurge on the organic dozen. You can check out our complete egg guide to buying eggs, here.