Prices Expected to Soar Due to the Avian Flu and What Consumers Can Do to Offset the Rising Costs of Eggs

If you have paid any attention to the news, you have probably heard that egg prices are expected to go up in the near future due to the avian flu outbreak that has been spreading through the US and really hitting the midwest.  Reports are in that 44 million chickens and other birds have already been culled.  

This is starting to impact food companies who buy wholesale "breaker" eggs and whole eggs which could raise prices on anything from mayonnaise to baked goods.  I read that some restaurants have even cut the hours they serve breakfast because of the higher egg prices.  I expect prices for whole eggs to increase at the retail level too.  

Eggs are a big part of our diet, but they have been so inexpensive that they haven't taken a very big chunk of our grocery budget.  With the news of prices going up in the near future, I decided to take advantage of the current low prices and stock up and freeze eggs for future use.  I stopped in ALDI today and was pleased to see that eggs are still just $0.28 a dozen.  You read that correctly, $0.28 a dozen!!!  There is a limit of 6 dozen, so I bought 6.  

What can consumers do to offset the increasing costs of eggs?

• Stock up before prices soar.  Eggs will keep in the fridge for about 4 to 5 weeks after the sell by date printed on the carton.  

• Freeze eggs for future use.  You can easily freeze egg whites.  Simply separate the yolks from the whites then pour the whites into a freezer safe container.  Label with the date and number of egg whites.  I have been doing this for years.  Whenever I make a chocolate pie and don't make a meringue, I save the egg whites in the freezer for making angel food cake. To freeze yolks, add 1/8 tsp. salt (for savory dishes) or 1 1/2 tsp. sugar (for sweets) per 1/4 cup of egg yolks or about 4 egg yolks.  To freeze whole eggs, whisk slightly then label with date and number of eggs.  For more information and a great chart about using frozen eggs, visit The Incredible Eddible Egg.  

• Egg substitutions:  I am not very familiar with egg substitutions, but I do a lot of baking and know that vegan bakers like to use ground flax seed mixed with water in place of eggs.  Here is an easy flaxseed/egg substitution from Minimalist Baker.

I hope egg prices don't sky rocket in the near future, but if they do, I'll be prepared (at least for a short term price hike).  Have you seen increases yet?  

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