The #1 Unhealthiest Way to Make Eggs, According to Dietitians (2024)

FAQs

The #1 Unhealthiest Way to Make Eggs, According to Dietitians? ›

Frying. It likely isn't very surprising to find frying on a list of the unhealthiest ways to cook eggs. After all, frying by definition involves cooking something at a high heat in some kind of fat -- usually oil or butter.

Caged: Pretty simple. The hens were raised in cages. This is bad news for the hen, and for their eggs. In fact, caged hens are 7.77 times more likely to produce eggs that harbor salmonella.

For this reason, poached and boiled (either hard or soft) eggs may be the healthiest to eat. These cooking methods also don't add any unnecessary calories. All that being said, eating eggs is generally super healthy, no matter which way you cook them.

Some of the nutrients, like vitamin D and choline, aren't easy to come by in the diet, so eggs are a meaningful source. In fact, government data suggests that most adults are under-consuming choline, which is a nutrient involved in memory and mood regulation. Eggs are a top source of this essential compound.

If you add a tablespoon of olive oil or avocado oil to the pan, you may also be adding some extra health benefits to your eggs. Both of these oils are considered “healthy fats” which may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Olive oil is also considered an antioxidant that may help fight inflammation.

Egg safety

Some eggs may be contaminated with bacteria, which can cause serious food poisoning (diarrhoea and vomiting). Be careful with raw eggs and avoid food containing raw eggs, including homemade mayonnaise, raw cake mix and biscuit dough, and some health shakes which use raw egg.

The longer and hotter you cook your eggs, the more nutrients you may lose. Scrambling eggs causes a decrease in B vitamins and selenium, but keeps more healthy fats, vitamin D, and vitamin K than if they're boiled. Scrambling is usually lower heat than frying or boiling and for less time.

Preparing eggs whole or scrambled leads to different absorption of the oil of fat used as frying medium. There is no changes in lipid profile after frying eggs whole or scrambled.

Protein can also help to increase your metabolism and speed up the weight loss process. When including eggs in your diet try to have whole eggs, instead of just the eggs white. Also, try not to have more than three eggs in a day, even when you are trying to shed kilos.

“Eggs are fine, but limit the total amount to one per day, averaged over a week, without going into extreme excess in one day.” In this article, Dr. Natarajan shares more about the latest research on eggs and cholesterol and how to incorporate eggs into a heart-healthy diet.

Why would a doctor tell you to stop eating eggs? ›

The fat and cholesterol found in eggs can harm heart health and lead to diabetes, as well as prostate and colorectal cancers.

Consuming 10 eggs per day is not recommended. Eggs are very high in protein, which is a nutrient that can impair kidney function and increased the risk for kidney stones if overly consumed. Eating 10 or more eggs per day is also not recommended because a healthy diet should be varied and diverse.

Opt for methods such as poaching, boiling, baking, and scrambling to best retain the nutritional value of eggs without adding unnecessary fat or sodium. These methods also help reduce the risk of forming harmful compounds, like cholesterol oxidation products, during the cooking process.

While all eggs provide important nutrients, some egg types, like those from pasture-raised hens, contain higher levels of certain vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. Plus, some certifications ensure that laying hens are treated humanely and raised in healthier environments.

Butter certainly works for fried eggs, but oil is the fat of choice for cooks who want a runny yolk with a satisfying crispy white. Extra-virgin olive oil is most popular, and yields a satisfyingly crunchy bottom that will soak up luscious flavor.

One large egg has about 186 mg of cholesterol — all of which is found in the yolk. If your diet contains little other cholesterol, according to some studies, eating up to an egg a day might be an OK choice. If you like eggs but don't want the cholesterol, use only the egg whites.

Often, people who prefer brown eggs do so because they believe brown eggs are healthier and more natural than white eggs. However, the truth is that all eggs are nutritionally very similar, regardless of their size, grade, or color ( 2 , 7). Both brown and white eggs are healthy foods.

Poor egg quality refers to eggs that have a compromised ability to fertilise and develop into a healthy embryo. It plays a significant role in female infertility and frequently correlates with age, genetics, hormone abnormalities, and environmental effects.

U.S. Grade B eggs have whites that may be thinner and yolks that may be wider and flatter than eggs of higher grades. The shells must be unbroken, but may show slight stains. This quality is seldom found in retail stores because they are usually used to make liquid, frozen, and dried egg products.