11 things you probably didn't know about eggs

Egg consumption in the US has increased 15% over 20 years, according to the United Egg Producers, but there was a slight decrease in 2020, likely due to how COVID-19 affected production.

Iowa produces around 16.5 billion eggs per year.

The hen's age, diet, and stressors all play a part in determining the pigmentation of the shell.

A dark yellow yolk means the hen ate vegetables, and a lighter yolk indicates a diet of wheat and barley.

The older the hen, the bigger the egg.

You can keep them for three to five weeks after the date on the carton.

For example, "All-Natural" is just marketing — the phrase tells you nothing about the egg production process or even the egg. It's basically stating the obvious: that the egg is, in fact, a real egg from a real hen.

"Farm Fresh" and "No Hormones" also state the obvious. No egg-laying hens in the US receive hormones or hormone injections, which means phrases like "Hormone-Free" or "No Hormones" could technically be put on every carton in the store. 

One egg contains about 186 milligrams of cholesterol. The USDA recommends capping our intake of cholesterol at 300 milligrams, but nutritionists say eggs are still safe to eat every day.

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, there is no proof that dietary cholesterol is directly linked to a rise in blood cholesterol levels.

The choline found in eggs can also improve your memory.

In fact, flour could be more of a risk than raw eggs.

Fresh eggs will be more difficult to peel.