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Eggs have for centuries been a typical part of the classic English breakfast.
You may have thought until now that preparing eggs isn’t rocket science, however that may not be entirely true.
Recently, the medical research department at the University of Birmingham in England studied the preparation of eggs, specifically what happens when they are boiled.
Specifically, they decided to study more closely the chemical reactions that occur when eggs are boiled.
What is an eggshell made of?
Everyone of course knows from childhood that every egg has a shell that protects the contents inside.
But do you know which elements an eggshell is actually made of?
The largest component of the shell, more than ninety percent, is calcium carbonate.
It can also be found in seashells or in chalk.
Besides it, however, an eggshell contains another incredible twenty-seven elements, such as phosphorus, fluorine, silicon, zinc, magnesium, iron and copper.
If we boil eggs in water, many of these elements are released into the water in the form of ions.
Valuable tip for gardeners
So far we’ve only been repeating well-known facts.
But researchers 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 then 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 to gardeners, as it stimulates and accelerates plant growth.
It is also suitable for soaking various seeds, from which stronger and more resilient seedlings will then grow 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 housewife knows that the shell will then come off much more easily.
Also cool the water left after boiling eggs, for example by placing the pot in a larger container of cold water, and after it has cooled, pour it into a watering can that you use for watering.
You don’t have to use the water only for watering; you can occasionally spray plants with it as well.
Plants need mineral substances and especially calcium very much.
If you 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 soil acidity, i.e. in the range of pH 5.5 to 6.5, which is generally beneficial for plants.
Some information about the shell to finish
When peeling eggs you have probably noticed that the shell itself consists of three parts: the shell, the membrane under the shell, and the cuticle.
If you can’t sleep because of the question about the color of the shell — why some eggs are white, some brown and others beige — then believe that the shell color is influenced by pigments that form in the lining of the oviduct of the specific hen.
