How to Grade Eggs

Examine the outer shell of the egg. You are looking for a nice oval shape, with a smooth texture and a clean shell. If the egg is dirty, broken or cracked it is classified as restricted. Grade B eggs may have a small amount of stain on them. All other eggs must be spotless.

Hold an egg over a candle to illuminate the inside of the shell.

Rotate the egg, taking note of the yolk. The yolk will move as you turn the egg. If the egg yolk moves a lot (swishes around) it means the yolk is thin. If the yolk is slower to move, then it is thick. The level of thickness dictates the size of the egg's air cell, and the egg's grade. According to The Incredible Egg website, "Higher-grade eggs have shallower air cells. In Grade-AA eggs, the air cell may not exceed 1/8 inch in depth and is about the size of a dime. Grade-A eggs may have air cells over 3/16 inch in depth. There is no limit on air cell size for Grade-B eggs."

Continue to examine the inside of the egg, looking for dark spots (which could be blood) or other floating abnormalities. These floating areas could be from a partially fertilized egg. Anything unusual about the inside of the egg gives it a rating of restricted and cannot be sold.