This Gone-Viral Way to Cook Eggs Is Dangerous, Say Experts
For some families, it can be tough to get little ones to eat balanced meals, and so satisfying when you find a creative way to do it. But, if you love discovering kid-friendly food hacks on social media, some authorities are advising caution. One mom on TikTok has gained over 12 million views for an egg-cooking method that she says her toddler "absolutely loves"—but that food safety professionals say could be a serious concern.
Alexandra Bewicke is the mom behind TikTok's @thatfalzonfamily who recently shared an egg-prep hack that she showed eliciting applause from her toddler. "EVERY PARENT NEEDS TO TRY THIS!" she captioned. "In the morning, you actually slice this up while it's still frozen," she said in the video. "You then put it into the fry pan, and it creates really cool mini-eggs."
Since it was published on June 17, Bewicke's post has gained 12.5 million views and counting. Bewicke's mini-eggs are definitely a cute take on fried eggs—however, as Fox News has noted, a possible result of cooking eggs this way may not be such a treat. Eggs are already one of the biggest causes of food poisoning, and some professionals are pointing out that this mini-eggs recipe could raise the risk for foodborne illness.
@thatfalzonfamilyEVERY PARENT NEEDS TO TRY THIS! ?? ##minieggs ##egghack ##toddlermeals @lukefalzon♬ original sound – Alexandra Bewicke
One issue is that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plainly advises against freezing eggs inside their shell. "Eggs should not be frozen in their shells," reads the FDA's food safety page on eggs.
Healthline explains that one reason for this is that when eggs are frozen inside the shell, they can expand and cause the shell to break, which can allow for bacterial infection such as from Salmonella.
Beyond that, Sarah Krieger, a registered and licensed dietitian and nutritionist, told Fox News it's important to ensure eggs are thoroughly cooked. Krieger said home cooks should conduct a temperature check to ensure the yolk is around 150 degrees before serving. It only makes sense that accessing the temperature for a yolk that was frozen solid may be more difficult than a raw egg that was stored only in the refrigerator.
Social media can be a fun diversion, but when it comes to food and safety it shouldn't always be taken lightly. That's what one former Steak 'n Shake employee learned this week when a court ordered her to pay $80,000 to the chain after she reportedly claimed their were worms in Steak 'n Shake burgers.
Keep reading:
- The 5 Most Alarming Grocery Store Food Poisoning Risks, Warns FDA
- This Shocking Baking Ingredient Caused 400 People to Fall Sick at Once
- Doing This With Pasta May Actually Make It Deadly, Science Says
- 80,632 Boxes of This Popular Egg Product Were Just Recalled, FDA Says
- The One Eggs Recipe Everyone's Making Right Now
