Eggs

Well as you can buy extra-large eggs in boxes, they must have got over the problem somehow!

They could make bigger boxes for them? just a thought.

I used to work for the Eggs Authority! Large size eggs are between 63 and 73g in weight. Back then, they used to have to be over 2. something ozs and also had to fit through a chute.

Extra large will not fit in the egg boxes so tend to break, they go off to be cakes.

Thanks Greyduster. I have never seen a weight for any size of egg before so have taken a note of your information. Really useful to know.

A large egg should weigh between 63 and 73gms - about two to two and a half ounces. The ones I buy from the supermarkets are never more than two ozs and I suspect that anything over two ounces are sold as very large and cost more - surprise surprise. I have used a recipe this morning that called for four ozs of flour and butter and two medium eggs. Medium eggs give a poor result and so I use large ones. This recipe was produced at a time when presumably a medium egg weighed what a large one weighs now! Just my two pennorth!

I can't honestly say I've noticed this. I always buy large free-range eggs, either from the supermarket or from local farm shops, and the size seems very much the same as they always were.
Sometimes my DH will bring back medium eggs if he does the shopping and they do seem very small. He always gets a ticking off for this

A work colleague brings her hens' eggs in, each with the layer's name on! Some have beautiful pale blue/green shells and they are utterly delicious with deep yellow yolks.

I buy my eggs from our local fish shop. They are nice large eggs, most of them have double yolks. When I bake, if I'm making cakes, I weigh the eggs first and then use the equivalent amount of flour, sugar and butter. After using these eggs, if I get them from the supermarket, even the extra large ones seem small.

I've been buying the extra-large ones from Asda for the same reason. They're the same size large eggs used to be!

I have noticed the same, only manage to get large ones now from free range eggs sold by neighbours, shops sell large eggs but they are really only medium.

Grannyonce,
yes that is a consideration when baking just how many of these small eggs do you add to a cake receipt, I'm never quite sure.

perhaps the hens are on strike as found it too difficult to keep on with the 'large' eggs
or could it be that freerange, organic eggs are smaller because of the diet and since battery hens have disappeared (rightly so) - no more large eggs?

have to agree that since there are no longer 'small eggs' (I think there used to be) there are only medium and large
it is a bit like first and standard class on trains - when there used to be first, second and third class you knew what you were paying for (and therefore getting)
my particular bugbear is the 'eggs of differant sizes ' boxes where they should really be described as small to medium.
would be interesting if those old recipes where one is told to use the weight of the eggs to determine the weight of flour/fat to use turn out acceptable.
I usually now use one extra egg (i.e. 4) in a cake recipe that calls for 3 eggs