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Eggs have been, for centuries, a typical component of the classic English breakfast.
Maybe until now you thought that preparing eggs isn’t rocket science, however perhaps that’s not entirely true.
The preparation of eggs, specifically what happens when they are boiled, was recently investigated by a medical research department at the University of Birmingham in England.
Specifically, they decided to study in more detail the chemical reactions that occur when eggs are boiled.
What is an eggshell made of?
We all, of course, know from childhood that every egg has a shell that protects the contents inside.
But do you know which elements an eggshell is actually composed of?
The largest share of the shell’s composition, more than ninety percent, is calcium carbonate.
This is also found, for example, in seashells or chalk.
Besides that, an eggshell contains another astonishing twenty-seven elements, such as phosphorus, fluorine, silicon, zinc, magnesium, iron, or copper.
If we boil eggs in water, many of these elements are released into the water in the form of ions.
A valuable tip for gardeners
So far we have only cited well-known facts.
Scientists at the University of Birmingham have now found that calcium ions released into the water have a unique ability – they can very easily penetrate any other organic cell and subsequently exit it again.
At the same time they trigger further chemical reactions in the cell involving the synthesis of nutrients.
Water saturated with these ions is therefore very valuable and useful, for example for gardeners, because it stimulates and accelerates plant growth.
It is also suitable for soaking various seeds, which then grow into strong and resilient seedlings more quickly.
How to use egg water correctly?
After boiling, immediately remove the egg from the water and cool it in cold water; every good housekeeper knows that the shell will then come off much more easily.
Also cool the water left after boiling the eggs, for example by placing the pot into a larger container with cold water, and after it has cooled pour it into the watering can you use for watering.
The water after boiling eggs does not have to be used only for watering; you can occasionally spray plants with it.
Plants need mineral substances and especially calcium very much.
If we use this water on seedlings, they will be more resistant to various pests.
Another advantage of using egg water in gardening is the fact that this water helps maintain the optimal acidity of the soil, that is in the range of pH 5.5 to 6.5, which is generally beneficial for plants.
A few facts about the shell to finish
When peeling eggs you’ve probably noticed that the shell itself consists of three parts: the shell, the shell membrane, and the cuticle.
If you can’t sleep because you wonder about the color of the shell — why some eggs are white, some brown and others beige — believe that the shell color is influenced by pigments that are produced in the uterus lining of the specific hen.
