Eating eggs during pregnancy can be beneficial, but safety is crucial. Salmonella bacteria can be present in babies too, creating a paradox for expectant mothers. This leads to many questioning whether eggs should be included in their diet. Can you eat deviled eggs while pregnant?
Pregnant women can eat eggs if they are fully cooked. This eliminates the risk of salmonella poisoning during pregnancy. However, dishes like sunny-side-up eggs or soft-boiled eggs should be avoided during pregnancy because they carry a risk of salmonella.
Eggs that are not fully cooked may be present in dishes that don’t appear to have scrambled eggs. This article will cover the safety of eating deviled eggs and various egg-cooking methods during pregnancy. It will also provide examples of dishes that contain raw eggs and should be avoided while pregnant woman.
Contents
- 1 Are Eggs Nutritionally Good for Pregnant Women?
- 2 A Special Note on UK Eggs in Pregnancy
- 3 A Guide to Cooked Egg Dishes if You’re Pregnant
- 4 Egg Dishes That Pregnant Women Should Avoid
- 5 Can Pregnant Women Eat Just Egg Yolk, and Not the White, or Vice Versa?
- 6 How Many Eggs Can I Eat a Day When Pregnant?
- 7 Additional Tips on Eating Eggs:
Are Eggs Nutritionally Good for Pregnant Women?
Eggs are a great source of protein and amino acids. They have about 125 mg of choline, which is a nutrient important for your baby’s brain development. Choline is an essential nutrient during pregnancy. Eggs also contain several B vitamins and minerals, making them an excellent addition to your diet while pregnant.
This article provides guidelines for safely eating cooked eggs or egg dishes during pregnancy. By following these guidelines, you can enjoy fresh eggs without worry. However, if you plan on eating hard-boiled eggs daily, be aware of their potential impact on your cholesterol levels. Check out the notes below for more information.
A Special Note on UK Eggs in Pregnancy
If you’re in the UK or visiting, “British Lion Mark” eggs are safe for pregnant women. This includes soft-boiled or runny eggs.
The ACMSF said in 2016 that Lion Mark stamped eggs are safe for pregnant women and other food groups who can’t typically eat raw or runny eggs due to their low risk of salmonella. However, it’s important to note this information.
- The information provided is specific to UK Lion Mark Stamped Eggs.
- This information is limited to hens’ eggs and does not include eggs from other birds.
- This only applies to stamped eggs, not imported or non-stamped ones.
- To ensure safety, cook eggs without a lion stamp all the way through.
The Lion Mark eggs have a stamp on them. The stamp can be found on the carton and on each egg. The color of the egg doesn’t matter to me, I just prefer white ones.
A Guide to Cooked Egg Dishes if You’re Pregnant
I made a table of different ways to cook, eat, and serve eggs. It includes safety information for pregnancy, whether you avoid eating eggs while out or cooking at home. These guidelines are for hen’s eggs, since they’re the most common.
Egg Dishes That Pregnant Women Should Avoid
Some dishes have raw or undercooked eggs, which may not be obvious. Here are some recipes for some common dishes that pregnant women should potentially avoid due to their egg content:
- Hollandaise sauce is made from raw egg yolk and butter. It is not safe for pregnant women due to the eggs not being cooked at a high enough temperature. The sauce is often kept warm before being served in restaurant kitchens.
I got food poisoning from hollandaise sauce, even though it was made in a 5-star kitchen. Cooking it longer won’t make it safe, and it splits if you try. So, pregnant women have to avoid it altogether. - The mother sauce is hollandaise, from which Béarnaise, Maltaise, and mousseline sauces are derived. These sauces are essentially hollandaise with additional ingredients. Béarnaise, for instance, includes tarragon, shallot, and pepper.
The sauce uses raw egg, which is also found in the base sauce, known as a ‘mother sauce’. It’s best to avoid it. If you’re unsure about the ingredients in a sauce, ask before consuming it. - Pregnant women should avoid Eggs Benedict due to the hollandaise sauce. The dish contains poached eggs with hollandaise sauce, which are both unsafe for pregnant women to consume.
Eggs Royale is not recommended for pregnant women because it contains raw fish, specifically smoked salmon. Benedict dishes typically have poached eggs or hollandaise, which should also be avoided during pregnancy. It’s best to choose a different option when dining out. - Mousse, whether it’s any flavor, is often set with raw egg and then refrigerated. Homemade recipes or mousses usually call for raw eggs and should be avoided. However, restaurant or commercial mousse is typically made with pasteurized eggs and is safe to eat. Always ask first and check the ingredients to be sure.
- Meringue comes in three types: Swiss, French, and Italian. All are made with raw egg whites. The egg white isn’t cooked through when blended with sugar or syrup and whipped. Avoid soft meringues, like lemon meringue pie topping, unless it’s made with Lion Mark eggs or is pasteurized.
Meringue nests and Eton Mess meringues are safe during pregnancy. These types of meringues are typically cooked during the baking process, making them safe to consume. - Some ice cream and frozen custard recipes use raw eggs. This is more common in homemade versions than in commercial ones. Commercial ice cream typically uses pasteurized ingredients.
I wrote two articles on pregnancy and frozen treats. One is about eating ice cream while pregnant, and the other is about what pregnant women should know about frozen custard and yogurt. You might find them interesting. - Certain desserts, like cheesecake and mousse, can be set in the fridge instead of being baked. These “no-bake” recipes use eggs to set the dessert. Some European/Continental cheesecakes use this method, where the egg is not cooked, and the cheesecake is chilled in the refrigerator.
Eating baked cheesecake during pregnancy is safe. It’s recommended to read a pregnant women’s guide to cheesecake for further information. - Mayonnaise is an emulsion of egg yolk, acid, and oil, similar to hollandaise sauce. Pregnant women should avoid homemade mayo as it may contain raw egg. It’s best to check with restaurants, as some make mayo from scratch using raw egg.
Commercial mayo sold in stores is safe because it uses pasteurized eggs. If you’re pregnant and interested, I wrote an article about mayonnaise that you may want to read. - Certain salad dressings contain raw egg yolk that is not cooked, which can be unsafe during pregnancy. Caesar dressing is one example that may contain raw or cooked egg yolks, so it’s important to check before consuming. Store-bought dressings with pasteurized egg yolk are generally safe, but homemade or restaurant dressings should be avoided to minimize the risk of foodborne illness.
- Avoid raw batter and dough during pregnancy due to the presence of raw egg and flour. However, there are commercially-made cookie dough that are safe to eat raw. Check out my article on cookie dough ice cream for more information on safe brands and pregnancy.
- Egg salad, including the kind with mayonnaise, may not be safe to eat. The eggs used are typically medium to hard-boiled, so it’s significant to confirm they were boiled long enough before being chopped into the salad. Additionally, egg salad often contains mayo, which may be made with raw egg. It’s significant to check this as well to ensure safety.
- Deviled Eggs are typically safe in pregnancy, as the eggs are hard-boiled before being filled. If you didn’t make them, ensure the eggs were hard-boiled and the mayo (if used) is pasteurized. This will ensure safety during pregnancy.
- Soft or runny yolk eggs are commonly found in pies and Scotch Eggs, especially in higher-end delis and restaurants in the UK. These eggs are not hard-boiled.
Can Pregnant Women Eat Just Egg Yolk, and Not the White, or Vice Versa?
During pregnancy, it is important for pregnant women to avoid eating undercooked eggs. This includes both the yolk and the white. Salmonella can be found in either part, regardless of how it is cooked (e.g., a sunny-side-up fried egg with a runny yolk).
To avoid risks during pregnancy, treat and eat the egg as a whole unit. If any part is undercooked or runny, avoid it. Remember, the yolk has vital nutrients, so don’t skip it.
How Many Eggs Can I Eat a Day When Pregnant?
Eggs are nutritious and this nutritious food contains many vitamins, minerals, and protein. Pregnant women often wonder how many eggs they can safely consume per day as part of a healthy pregnancy diet.
Whether you can eat eggs every day during pregnancy depends on your cholesterol levels and how your body responds to cholesterol in your diet. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans do not typically recommend limiting cholesterol intake, so it is generally safe to consume eggs daily if desired.
Dietary cholesterol is found in eggs, but it does not cause heart disease. Eating eggs daily in moderation is fine unless your doctor advises otherwise.
The body produces 80% of total cholesterol, from eggs, according to Harvard Health. Only 20% of cholesterol comes from food.
If you are a ‘super responder’ to dietary cholesterol or have high cholesterol levels, consult a medical professional before consuming deviled eggs daily.
Additional Tips on Eating Eggs:
- The article focuses on hen’s eggs, but the advice also applies to duck, quail, and goose eggs. All of these types should be fully cooked.
- When buying eggs, look for pasture-raised, free-range, or cage-free options. The packaging will indicate which type it is.
- When cooking eggs, remember that larger ones take longer to cook. This is especially true if you can’t see the egg, such as when boiling it.
- To avoid harmful bacteria, don’t use dirty or cracked eggs. After handling eggs, make sure to wash your hands and surfaces thoroughly. The eggshell can also carry harmful bacteria.
- When traveling abroad, fully cook your eggs. Farming practices vary from country to country, and salmonella may be more common.
Read more: Can you eat a hotdog while pregnant? Everything You Need to Know