Here’s how it works: double yolks

You know the ones: eggs with double yolks. Sometimes you come across them unexpectedly, but they’re also sold separately. We’re more than happy with this little extra. But how do those two yolks end up in a single egg?

Let’s start with how an egg is formed. That takes about 24 hours. If several ovulations occur one after another during that time, an egg will contain two yolks. This happens especially with young hens, whose cycles are not yet consistent. Ideal if, for example, you want to make mayonnaise, Hollandaise (such as in this fantastic recipe for Gordon Ramsay’s Eggs Benedict) or crème brûlée. Still, the farmer has to separate the double-yolk eggs from the single-yolk ones. That’s easy to do: by shining a light through the egg, you can immediately see how many yolks it contains.

Nine yolks!

Fun fact: the record is nine yolks in one large egg. That must have made one damn delicious omelet.

Also read:

• A feather on your egg: coincidence?
• Fried egg 2.0 with this top hack
• Why you shouldn’t fry meatballs in an egg carton (and how to do it properly)