Cooks here, there and everywhere encounter some rather unique and odd discoveries over the course of their culinary escapades, and none more surprising than this recent revelation. Eggs are a vital, versatile and traditional ingredient used in a number of vastly popular everyday dishes, such as cakes and a good old English fry-up—but one thing is causing a whole lot of confusion.
Have you ever noticed, after cracking a raw egg, that there is a weird, white, stringy thing clinging to the yolk, almost as if it is holding on for dear life? It looks disgusting, creepy almost, and makes you worried for your health should you accidentally consume it. But you needn’t worry any longer, as there appears to be nothing to stress about.
That strange oddity has a name. It’s called the chalaza—pronounced kuh-lay-zuh—and despite common concern, no, it’s not a sperm or an embryo, and it definitely isn’t some outlandish egg alien species.
It is part of the egg’s structure and works as a natural stabiliser. The chalaza keeps the yolk centred within the egg white, similar to a seatbelt keeping a car passenger in a fixed and safe position.
There are two separate chalazas, one on each side of the yolk, sufficiently holding it in place. And just to avoid even more irrational fear, no, its presence does not mean your egg has been fertilised.
Now, here comes the next major point of contention; can you safely eat it? Though it may look off-putting at first glance, it shouldn’t put you off your scrambled eggs because it is completely, 100% safe to consume.
Once you cook the egg, the chalazas generally blend into the egg white and disappear entirely, especially when blended or baked. So, if you’re an omelette, quiche, or fried egg fan, you probably will not even notice it’s there initially.
That said, people are known to prefer removing them from their eggs before cooking and eating. This is important when making a smooth dessert like a custard or flan, as it can affect the texture, creating little unwanted lumps where instead there should be creamy perfection.
