Eggs are a common food ingredient used in many dishes, baking goods, and more. When following recipes, it’s important to know the weight and mass of ingredients for accuracy. One key measurement is knowing how many grams are in one large egg. This allows you to precisely measure egg quantities when cooking and baking. In this article, we’ll explore the average weight of one large egg in grams, factors that cause egg weights to vary, weights of other egg sizes, and equivalents and substitutions for eggs by gram amount. Read on for a complete guide to measuring eggs by weight in grams.
How Many Grams is 1 Large Egg?
On average, one large egg weighs about 50 grams without the shell. However, there are several factors that cause egg weights to vary somewhat:
Egg Size
The size of the egg affects its weight. Here are the typical weights for different egg sizes:
– Small eggs: 38 grams
– Medium eggs: 43 grams
– Large eggs: 50 grams
– Extra large eggs: 55 grams
– Jumbo eggs: 63 grams
As you can see, larger eggs weigh more than smaller ones. When a recipe simply lists “egg” without specifying the size, it’s typically based on using large eggs that weigh around 50 grams.
Bird Age and Breed
The age and breed of the chicken or other bird laying the egg also impacts egg size and weight. Younger birds tend to lay smaller eggs while older birds lay larger eggs. Egg weight increases as the bird matures. Certain chicken breeds are known for laying larger or smaller eggs. For example, breeds like Brahmas, Jersey Giants, and Orpingtons often produce extra large and jumbo sized eggs.
Environment and Diet
The diet and environment of the egg-laying bird also affects egg weight. Free-range hens that get plenty of exercise and eat a diverse diet typically lay heavier eggs than caged birds fed a controlled diet. Pasture-raised eggs from chickens that roam and eat grass and insects tend to weigh more than eggs from caged chickens fed pre-formulated feed only.
So while the average large egg weighs around 50 grams, many factors can cause egg weights to range between 38-63 grams or so. When precision is important, it’s best to weigh eggs rather than rely on average sizes.
Metric Weight Equivalents for 1 Egg
Here are some other key metric weights for one large egg:
– Grams: 50 grams
– Milliliters: 50 mL
– Ounces: approximately 1.8 ounces by weight
The metric weight of eggs makes conversion easy when adjusting recipes or measuring quantities by weight rather than by egg.
Does Egg Weight Matter for Cooking and Baking?
For most cooking and baking applications, small differences in egg weights will not significantly impact the outcome. But for some recipes, precision is more important:
Baked Goods
For baked goods like cakes that rely on the right ratios of ingredients for chemistry and texture, egg amount makes a bigger difference. Using too many or too few eggs can affect rising, structure, moisture, and more.
Recipes with Few Ingredients
In recipes with fewer ingredients like certain custards or omelettes, egg quantity has a more pronounced effect. Even small changes in the number of eggs or total egg weight will throw off the finished dish.
Merengues
Egg whites are key for making meringues. Since meringue volume and stability depends on having the right amount of egg white, weighing matters for accuracy.
Special Diet Recipes
For those managing medical conditions like diabetes or food allergies, sticking to precise ingredient amounts is important. The total calories, carbs, and protein in eggs should align with special diet allowances.
So for most recipes, you don’t have to obsess over exact egg weights. But for baked goods, delicate egg dishes, meringues, and special diets, precision can make a difference. Consider investing in a kitchen scale if you do a lot of baking or restricted diet cooking.
Does an Egg’s Shell Contribute to Its Weight?
The shell is not included when listing the weight of an egg. Standard egg weights like 50 grams for a large egg refer to the interior contents only.
However, the shell does contribute a small amount of weight. Here is the approximate weight of one large egg with the shell:
– Egg contents only: 50 grams
– Egg shell: 6 grams
– Whole egg with shell: 56 grams
The shell accounts for around 10% of the total weight, but this amount is not factored into most recipes or weight listings. Just be aware that a whole egg right out of the carton weighs slightly more than the inside ingredients alone.
Typical Weights of Egg Components
You can separate an egg into three components: the shell, egg white, and egg yolk. Here are the average weights for each part:
Egg White
– 33 grams (65% of the egg weight)
Egg Yolk
– 17 grams (35% of the egg weight)
Egg Shell
– 6 grams
Of course, these weights vary slightly from egg to egg based on the factors already outlined like bird diet and age. If you need very precise measurements of yolks or whites for recipes like macarons or meringue, weighing the separated parts can help.
Gram Conversions for Egg Substitutes
Some recipes call for egg substitutes or egg replacements if you want to avoid eggs or don’t have them on hand. Here are some common substitutions approximately equivalent to 50 grams or 1 large egg:
Chia or Flax Eggs
– 1 Tablespoon chia seeds or ground flax seeds
– 3 Tablespoons water
Mix the seeds and water and let sit for 5-10 minutes until gelled. Use in place of 1 egg.
Commercial Egg Replacer Powder
– 1 1/2 teaspoons powder
– 2 Tablespoons water
Whisk together and let sit for 2 minutes before using in place of 1 egg.
Applesauce
– 1/4 cup or 50 grams unsweetened applesauce
Substitute 1/4 cup applesauce for 1 egg in baking recipes. Makes cakes and breads moist.
Banana
– 1/2 ripe mashed banana
Mashed banana works well in denser baked goods like banana bread or muffins, replacing 1 egg.
Silken Tofu
– 3 Tablespoons silken tofu pureed
Blend silken tofu and use 3 tablespoons in place of 1 egg as a vegan substitute.
Commercial Egg Replacement
There are pasteurized, pre-mixed commercial egg replacement products that approximate the equivalent of whole eggs. Follow recipe instructions for substitution.
So in a pinch, you can find a number of egg stand-ins measured out by weight or volume. But for most baking applications, eggs work best.
Grams to Ounces Conversion for Eggs
Here is the weight of one large egg converted to ounces:
– Grams: 50 grams
– Ounces: approximately 1.8 ounces
To convert grams to ounces, divide the gram weight by 28. So 50 grams divided by 28 equals 1.79 ounces.
This means one egg is nearly two ounces in weight. Converting gram egg amounts to ounces can help when adjusting recipes that use ounces or consulting older cookbooks with ounce-based measurements.
Comparing Egg Sizes by Weight
For convenient cooking and baking, you can buy cartons of eggs labelled with common size grades. Here’s an overview of egg sizes and their typical gram weights:
| Egg Size | Weight in Grams |
|---|---|
| Small | 38 grams |
| Medium | 43 grams |
| Large | 50 grams |
| Extra Large | 55 grams |
| Jumbo | 63 grams |
So if a recipe calls for extra large eggs and all you have are medium eggs, you know you may need to use more than the number listed to equal the right weight. This chart helps compare relative egg sizes by weight.
Does Egg Weight Change with Cooking?
Egg weights change slightly when exposed to heat during cooking and baking. Here are some typical changes:
Raw Egg to Cooked Egg
A raw egg weighs about 50 grams while a cooked, hard boiled egg weighs about 58 grams. This is because protein bonds tighten and water absorbs into the cooked egg.
Raw Egg to Fried Egg
Frying also dehydrates and densifies the egg, increasing its weight. A 50 gram raw egg ends up weighing about 60 grams fried.
Raw Egg to Baked Egg
Baked goods that contain eggs also show increased weight from heating. Some moisture evaporates while the egg proteins solidify and absorb water. Expect a 10-15% gain when baking with eggs.
So while the raw weights of eggs are most often used for recipes, keep in mind that the total weight and density changes once eggs are cooked. This helps explain why baked goods increase in weight and size after cooking.
How Many Calories Does a 50 Gram Egg Contain?
Let’s say you separate a large egg and use only the 50 grams of egg white, with no yolk or shell. How many calories does that amount contain?
There are about 17 calories in 1 gram of egg white. So 50 grams of egg white contains approximately:
50 grams x 17 calories per gram = 850 calories
Of course, this is far more egg white than you would ever use at once. But this shows the high protein, low calorie density of egg whites. The yolk contains much more fat and calories.
To find the total calories for a full large egg weighing 50 grams, here is the breakdown:
– Egg white (33g): 561 calories (17 calories x 33 grams)
– Egg yolk (17g): 60 calories (4 calories x 17 grams)
– Total for whole egg: About 621 calories
So in a typical 50 gram large egg, over 90% of the calories come from the protein-rich egg white!
Key Takeaways on Grams per Egg
To wrap up, here are the key points on egg weights in grams:
– One large egg weighs approximately 50 grams, or 1.8 ounces, without the shell.
– Larger eggs weigh more than smaller eggs in grams. Jumbo eggs can reach 63 grams.
– Several factors like bird age, breed, diet and environment affect egg size and weight.
– For baking, weight matters more than with general cooking and scrambling.
– You can substitute approximately 50 grams of alternatives like flax eggs and applesauce for 1 egg.
– An egg’s weight increases by around 10 grams when cooked or baked.
– Knowing the gram weight for eggs makes substitutions and size comparisons easier.
So next time your recipe calls for “1 egg” reach for a large egg around 50 grams for the expected amount. Use a scale if you need precision, and adjust up or down slightly if using varying egg sizes. Knowing the average weight of one egg in grams helps provide consistency in your cooking and baking.
Conclusion
Eggs are a versatile ingredient used in cuisines around the world. Knowing how many grams are in one egg allows you to accurately substitute and measure eggs by weight. An average large egg weighs approximately 50 grams out of the shell. This number can vary based on several factors, but provides a reliable standard for recipes and use in cooking and baking. Gram weights also make it easy to size and substitute eggs in recipes. So whether you’re counting calories and nutrients, adjusting ingredient ratios, or standardizing recipes, the gram weight of eggs is an essential number to know.
