Eggs are the main event in shakshuka, Chinese steamed eggs and silky Cantonese scrambled eggs. They also bind croquettes and meatballs and give cakes and madeleines their structure. Bring them to room temperature for baking; for scrambled eggs, pull the pan off the heat while they still look slightly wet.
Egg is one of the UK's 14 declarable allergens. Offer it from around six months, then keep offering it — regular exposure is what current guidance recommends, not a single try.
How to serve Egg to babies
6–8 months
Bite-size pieces
Cook until white and yolk are solid, unless it carries the British Lion mark or was produced under the Laid in Britain scheme.
9–11 months
Bite-size pieces
Well-cooked pieces. Introduce early and keep offering it.
12–24 months
Bite-size pieces
Cooked through with the family meal.
Watch out for
Worth knowing
Hens' eggs stamped with the red British Lion mark, or produced under the Laid in Britain scheme, may be given raw or lightly cooked. Other eggs must be cooked until the white and yolk are solid.
NHS: children's food safety and hygiene
Per 100 g from CoFID (13-213). Weaning guidance from NHS. Not medical advice.
TCM benefits of Egg
雞蛋 · jī dàn
How egg is seen in traditional Chinese food therapy. Traditional context, not medical advice.
The Bencao Gangmu classes the whole egg as sweet, neutral and non-toxic.
The entry separates the white, sweet and slightly cool, from the yolk, sweet and warm, which is why old texts handle the two as separate ingredients.
Eggs are poached into ginger and red date sugar water, steamed with minced pork, and stirred into soups in Cantonese home cooking, usually as a gentle, easy dish.
A boiled egg is a matter of minutes, and the method changes with the yolk you want: runny, jammy or set right through.
1Choose: Put back any carton with a cracked shell. Eggs a week or so old peel more cleanly than very fresh ones.
2Store: Keep eggs in their box in the fridge, which stops them picking up smells from other foods.
3Cook: For a runny yolk, lower eggs into boiling water for 6 minutes; for a jammy one, 8. For a firm yolk, start in cold water, bring to the boil, simmer for 8 minutes, then switch off and leave them in the hot water for another 8.
4Prep: Move the eggs to an ice bath or run them under cold water straight away. Tap the shell all over and peel under water, starting where the air pocket sits.
Video: “The Secret to Perfect Boiled Eggs (Soft, Jammy, Hard) | Epicurious 101” by Epicurious on YouTube.
Answers are drawn from the sources named on this page. Not medical or veterinary advice.
When can babies eat egg?+
The earliest stage on this page is 6–8 months: Cook until white and yolk are solid, unless it carries the British Lion mark or was produced under the Laid in Britain scheme.
How do I cut and serve egg for my baby?+
6–8 months (Bite-size pieces): Cook until white and yolk are solid, unless it carries the British Lion mark or was produced under the Laid in Britain scheme.
9–11 months (Bite-size pieces): Well-cooked pieces. Introduce early and keep offering it.
12–24 months (Bite-size pieces): Cooked through with the family meal.
What should I watch out for when giving egg to a baby?+
Hens' eggs stamped with the red British Lion mark, or produced under the Laid in Britain scheme, may be given raw or lightly cooked. Other eggs must be cooked until the white and yolk are solid. Source: NHS: children's food safety and hygiene.
Is egg a common allergen?+
Yes. On the UK allergen list it counts as Eggs.
Egg is one of the UK's 14 declarable allergens. Offer it from around six months, then keep offering it — regular exposure is what current guidance recommends, not a single try.
