Entering ChinaIn our daily lives, the body needs a lot of nutrients to stay healthy. The most important of these is protein. Protein helps the body repair and build cells and is a major building block of muscles and organs within our body. Thankfully, protein can be obtained from many foods, whether it’s vegetables, fruits, or various types of meat.
As an important substance to maintain the vital activities of the human body, protein occupies a pivotal position in our daily diet. Eggs, on the other hand, are undoubtedly one of the best sources of protein.
As a very common ingredient in life, eggs have many significant advantages. In terms of convenience, eggs are readily available and are readily available at supermarkets, farmers’ markets, or convenience stores. Moreover, the storage of eggs is relatively simple, and they can be stored at room temperature for a certain time, which is convenient for people to eat at any time. In terms of nutritional value, eggs are even more outstanding.
In addition to being rich in high-quality protein, it also contains a variety of vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A, D, E, and B vitamins, as well as trace elements such as iron, zinc, and selenium. These nutrients play a vital role in the growth and development of the human body, the maintenance of the immune system, and the regulation of metabolism. Therefore, many people take eggs as an important part of their daily diet, and consume one or two eggs a day to provide sufficient protein support for the body.
However, now some people on the Internet say that many of the eggs sold in the market are hormone eggs. These eggs are raised with hormones that may be used to increase egg production or to promote the growth rate of the chickens. But this practice has brought serious harm to the health of consumers, so is this really the case? How to distinguish hormone eggs?
1. Observe the egg case
When picking eggs, the first thing to look at is the case of the egg. If the egg case is delicate and smooth, it usually means that the egg shell is generally thicker. The thick egg shell can better protect the integrity of the egg during storage and transportation, reducing the possibility of egg breakage due to collisions and other reasons.
And if you find that the egg is numb to the touch, pitted, and rough on the top, then the shell of such an egg is generally thinner. Thin-shelled eggs are prone to breakage during handling and storage, which not only causes waste, but may also affect the quality of other eggs.
Second, take a correct view of the names of various types of eggs
Don’t blindly believe the names of chai eggs, native eggs, stupid eggs, etc. marked in the supermarket. In fact, from the point of view of nutritional value, these eggs with different names are almost identical. Although some rural real eggs may be slightly different in some aspects, such as slightly higher cholesterol content, this is not a good thing for middle-aged and elderly people, because middle-aged and elderly people are usually not suitable for eating foods with high cholesterol. Therefore, we don’t need to spend a lot of money to buy chai eggs, native eggs and the like, and choose the most ordinary eggs to meet daily nutritional needs.
3. The relationship between egg yolk color and nutritional value
Many friends have a misunderstanding when choosing eggs, thinking that the darker and redder the egg yolk, the better. In fact, the color of the egg yolk does not determine the nutritional value of the egg itself. The color of the egg yolk mainly reflects whether the feed that the chicken eats has added something with color. For example, if a chicken eats yellow corn, red pepper skin, carrots, or some colored food, it will not take two or three days for the egg yolk to become darker. Therefore, the quality of an egg cannot be judged simply by the color of the egg yolk.
Fourth, the method of identifying the freshness of eggs
1. Concentrated brine test method
A very simple way to tell the freshness of an egg is to use concentrated brine. When the salt content of the water is relatively high, the density of the water will also be higher. Put the eggs in concentrated salt water, if the eggs sink to the bottom, it proves that they are relatively fresh; If the egg floats on the water, it proves that it is no longer fresh. This is because there is more air in the eggs floating on the water, indicating that the inside of the eggs has begun to change and is not fresh.
2. Observe the egg yolks and egg whites
After opening the egg, we can also observe its yolk and white. If the egg white is thicker and does not have too much moisture, the egg is fresh. If the egg yolk is more three-dimensional, it is found that the egg yolk is bulging and round when you hit the plate, and the egg yolk is also relatively fresh. If the yolk has become very flat, soft and collapsed, and it will break at the slightest touch, such a yolk proves that it has been stored for a long time.
3. We can crack the eggs in a small plate and then prepare a toothpick. Stick the toothpick straight into the yolk. If the toothpick can stand firmly on the yolk without falling over, it proves that the yolk is relatively fresh. This is because fresh egg yolks have a certain consistency and elasticity that can support the weight of a toothpick. At this time, the internal structure of the egg yolk is compact, the moisture content is moderate, and there is no excessive loss of nutrients.
However, if a toothpick slips off the yolk and can’t stand up, it means that the yolk is not fresh. Over time, the water in the egg will gradually evaporate, and the yolk will become loose, losing its original consistency and elasticity. Stale egg yolks may also have odors and lighten colors. This method is simple and does not require the use of complex tools or expertise to quickly determine the freshness of eggs.
Questions about hormonal eggs
Many people are concerned about the hormonal substances detected in eggs. In fact, eggs contain endogenous hormones, such as progesterone. This endogenous hormone is not added to the feed, but is a substance that the eggs themselves contain, so we can eat it with confidence and not have to worry too much. When buying eggs, try to choose large supermarkets and pay attention to the expiration date, so as to ensure that you can buy relatively safe and fresh eggs.
Many people will eat a boiled egg when they get up in the morning, but the protein content in the boiled egg is too high, and for people with a discordant spleen and stomach, it is especially easy to get bloated after eating. Therefore, when eating eggs for breakfast, you can choose to splash eggs or steam eggs, which is relatively easier to digest. Eggs can also be eaten at noon or in the evening with meals, which can be better paired with other foods and promote nutrient absorption.
Fish-flavored eggs
Materials Required:
4 eggs: Fresh eggs provide a rich protein and mellow texture to this dish.
50 g minced meat: Adds texture and richness to the dish.
Appropriate amount of chopped green onion, minced ginger and minced garlic: play a role in removing the smell and increasing the flavor.
Soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, salt, starch, cooking wine: these seasonings work together to create the flavor of the fish.
1 tablespoon bean paste: imparts a rich spicy flavor to the dish.
Appropriate amount of water starch: used to thicken and thicken the soup.
Here’s how:
1. First, crack the eggs into a bowl and beat with a pinch of salt. The role of salt is not only to flavor it, but it also makes the eggs firmer during the scrambling process.
2. Add oil to a hot pan, and when the oil is 70% hot, pour in the egg mixture. Stir-fry slowly over medium-low heat to allow the egg mixture to solidify. Once the eggs are set, set aside.
3. Leave the bottom oil in the pan, add the minced meat and stir-fry until it changes color. The minced meat releases the fat and aroma during the stir-frying process, making it even more delicious. Next, add the green onion, ginger, minced garlic and bean paste and stir-fry until fragrant. Minced green onion, ginger and garlic can remove the fishy smell of minced meat, and bean paste brings a rich and spicy flavor.
4. Then, add soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, cooking wine and appropriate amount of water to make a fish sauce. Soy sauce provides saltiness and color, vinegar brings sourness, sugar sweetens it, and cooking wine deodorizes the flavor. The right amount of water can adjust the concentration of the fish sauce.
5. Finally, pour the scrambled eggs into the pan and stir-fry them quickly and evenly, so that the eggs can fully absorb the flavor of the fish sauce. Finally, thicken with water starch to thicken the soup and wrap it around the eggs to enhance the taste.
Braised eggs with spiced beer
Materials Required:
6 eggs: Fresh eggs are the main ingredient in this dish.
1 can of beer: Beer not only brings a unique flavor to the braised eggs, but also adds flavor to the eggs.
1 teaspoon of five-spice powder: Gives the braised egg a spiced taste.
Light soy sauce and dark soy sauce in moderation: Light soy sauce provides saltiness and color, while dark soy sauce is used for coloring.
Sugar and salt to taste: Sugar adds sweetness, and salt is used for flavoring.
Here’s how:
1. Boil the eggs first. Place the eggs in a saucepan, add enough water, bring to a boil over high heat, reduce the heat to low and cook for about 8-10 minutes until the eggs are cooked through. Once cooked, remove the eggs and soak them in cold water for a while, which will make it easier to peel the shells.
2. After peeling, use a knife to make a few light cuts on the surface of the egg. This allows the eggs to better absorb the flavor of the marinade during the marinating process.
3. Add beer, five-spice powder, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar and salt to a pot and bring to a boil. The amount of beer should be enough to submerge the eggs. The amount of five-spice powder can be adjusted according to personal taste, and if you like a strong five-spice flavor, you can put more of it.
4. Add the eggs and simmer for about 30 minutes. During the boiling process, turn the eggs from time to time so that they absorb the flavor of the marinade evenly. Once cooked, turn off the heat and let the eggs soak in the marinade for a few hours, which will give the eggs more flavor. The longer you steep, the stronger the flavor.
Minced minced steamed eggs
Materials Required:
3 eggs: Fresh eggs are the main ingredient in this dish.
100 g minced meat: Adds depth and richness to the texture of the dish.
Appropriate amount of chopped green onion, minced ginger and minced garlic: play a role in removing the smell and increasing the flavor.
Light soy sauce, salt, and cooking wine: light soy sauce provides saltiness and color, salt is used for flavoring, and cooking wine is deodorized and fragrant.
Appropriate amount of water: used to adjust the concentration of the egg mixture.
Here’s how:
1. First of all, crack the eggs into a bowl, add an appropriate amount of salt and water, beat them and filter them to remove the foam. The amount of salt should be moderate so as not to affect the taste of the eggs. Adding water can make the eggs more tender, but don’t add too much so that the egg liquid doesn’t become too thin. Filtering to remove the foam can make the steamed eggs more delicate.
2. Pour the filtered egg mixture into a steaming tray, cover with plastic wrap and prick a few small holes with a toothpick. This prevents water vapor from dripping into the egg mixture, which can affect the taste. Piercing holes allows steam to circulate and heat the eggs evenly.
3. Add water to a boil in a pot, put the steaming tray in the pot and steam on high heat for about 8-10 minutes until set. The steaming time should be adjusted according to the amount of egg liquid and the amount of heat to ensure that the eggs are steamed but not too old.
4. In a separate pot, add oil and sauté chives, ginger, garlic and minced meat. Minced green onion, ginger and garlic can remove the fishy smell of minced meat and increase the fragrance. The minced meat should be constantly turned during the stir-frying process so that it is evenly heated. Add light soy sauce and cooking wine to taste to make the minced meat even more delicious.
5. Spread the scrambled minced meat on top of the steamed eggs. Finally, garnish with some chopped green onions depending on personal preference.
