How to Read An Egg Carton The Right Way: Everything You Need to Know to Understand Dates, Codes and Other Terms

Buying eggs should be simple. You grab a carton, toss it in your cart, and move on with your life. But the moment you’re faced with an entire wall of options—brown eggs, white eggs, cage-free, pasture-raised, Omega-3 enriched—you start questioning every life choice that led you here. You just wanted to make scrambled eggs, not decipher some secret poultry code. And yet, here you are, staring at a carton like it’s the Saturday edition of The New York Times crossword puzzle.

So how do you choose the best eggs—for yourself and for the chickens who laid them? Should you just go based on vibes? Absolutely not. There’s a method to this madness, and by understanding the words, symbols, and dates on an egg carton, you’ll be able to make an informed choice without breaking a sweat (or an egg).

What’s the Deal With the Dates?

The first thing most people check on an egg carton is the date—because the last thing you want is to crack open an egg and be greeted with a science experiment gone wrong. But here’s where it gets tricky: there are often multiple dates, and they don’t always mean what you think they do.

Most cartons display a sell-by date, which isn’t necessarily when the eggs go bad but rather when the store should stop selling them. Then there’s the expiration date, which gives a slightly firmer deadline but still leaves some wiggle room.

But the real MVP of egg freshness is the Julian date—a three-digit number that tells you the exact day of the year the eggs were packed. If you see “032,” that means your eggs were packed on February 1st. “365”? New Year’s Eve. Eggs can stay fresh for up to 4-5 weeks after the pack date, so if you want the freshest possible eggs, this is the date to check.

Cage-Free, Free-Range, Pasture-Raised—Oh My!

Egg cartons love throwing around feel-good terms, but what do they actually mean?

• Cage-Free: Sounds nice, but it just means the hens weren’t kept in cages—though they may still be in crowded indoor barns.
• Free-Range: A step up, meaning the hens had some access to the outdoors, but it’s not necessarily the rolling green pastures you’re imagining.
• Pasture-Raised: The gold standard for happy hens, as these birds get plenty of outdoor time (often 108 square feet per bird).
• Organic: Hens were fed organic, non-GMO feed and weren’t given antibiotics, but this doesn’t necessarily mean they had better living conditions.

If you’re looking for the best balance of humane treatment and quality eggs, pasture-raised is generally the way to go.

White Eggs vs. Brown Eggs: Does It Matter?

One of the biggest egg-related myths is that brown eggs are healthier or more natural than white eggs. In reality, shell color is purely a matter of hen genetics. White-feathered hens with white earlobes lay white eggs, while red-feathered hens with red earlobes lay brown eggs. That’s it. There’s no nutritional difference—unless the hen’s diet changes the egg’s nutritional profile (more on that in a minute).

So why do brown eggs often cost more? The hens that lay them are typically larger and eat more food, which means higher production costs. But if you’re paying extra just for the color, you’re better off saving your money.

Size Matters: Are Bigger Eggs Better?

Egg sizes range from peewee to jumbo, but in most cases, you’re dealing with medium, large, or extra-large. Large eggs are the standard for most recipes, which is why they’re the most commonly sold. But are bigger eggs actually better?

Not necessarily. While jumbo eggs might give you more bang for your buck, they also contain more water relative to yolk, which can slightly alter the texture of baked goods. Medium eggs, on the other hand, might be a better option if you’re watching cholesterol, as they contain slightly less fat and calories.

Ultimately, unless a recipe specifies otherwise, large eggs are your safest bet for cooking and baking.

What About Omega-3, Vegetarian-Fed, and Other Buzzwords?

Some cartons boast that their eggs are Omega-3 enriched, vegetarian-fed, or high in Vitamin D—but are these claims just marketing fluff?

Not entirely. Omega-3 enriched eggs come from hens that were fed flaxseed or fish oil, which boosts the healthy fats in the yolk. Vegetarian-fed sounds nice but just means the hens weren’t eating bugs and worms—an unnatural diet for them, since chickens are actually omnivores. Vitamin D-enriched eggs can be beneficial, but like Omega-3 eggs, their actual nutritional value depends on the hen’s diet.

So, are these eggs worth the extra money? If you’re specifically looking to increase Omega-3s or Vitamin D in your diet, sure. Otherwise, standard eggs will do just fine.

What Do Those Random Numbers and Codes Mean?

Some egg cartons look like they contain secret government codes, but they’re actually just USDA-required plant numbers and pack dates. The Julian date (as mentioned earlier) tells you when the eggs were packed, while the P-number identifies the facility where they were processed. If you’re curious, you can actually look up the P-number on the USDA website to see where your eggs came from.

If the carton has a USDA Grade Shield, that means the eggs were inspected and meet quality standards. Grade AA eggs have the firmest whites and yolks, making them best for frying or poaching. Grade A eggs are slightly less firm but still great for most uses. Grade B eggs? Probably best for scrambling or baking.

Should You Just Give Up and Choose Based on Price?

With all this information, it’s tempting to throw up your hands and just grab whatever’s cheapest. And honestly? That’s not the worst strategy. If you’re on a budget, conventional eggs are still safe, nutritious, and totally fine for everyday use.

But if you care about how the hens were treated or want eggs with extra nutrition, pasture-raised or Omega-3 enriched eggs might be worth the splurge. Just remember that fancy packaging and buzzwords don’t always mean better eggs.