4 Brilliant Ways To Save Money on Eggs
Written by
Paige Cerulli
Edited by
Angela Corry
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When you do your grocery shopping be prepared for growing sticker shock when you get to the egg cooler. According to the February 2025 Consumer Price Index, the price of eggs increased by 15.2% over the single month, alone.
Fortunately, you can save money on eggs and keep your grocery bill down in several ways.
Compare Prices
Before you shop, take some time to compare prices. Apps like Instacart and Flipp make it easy to compare deals between stores. Check flyers for your local grocery stores and make sure that you sign up for loyalty programs, since they often give you access to digital coupons and discounts for further savings.
Buy Eggs in Bulk
You can save some money if you buy eggs in bulk. Do some comparison shopping among warehouse clubs, like Costco and Sam’s Club. Restaurant food supply stores can also be a great place to purchase eggs, but make sure that the store doesn’t require you to pay a subscription or sign up for a membership to shop.
You can often buy three dozen eggs and save money compared to what you would pay for one dozen. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recommends using eggs within three weeks for the best quality. Even if you won’t use all three dozen eggs within that time, you can freeze remaining eggs to use them later. The FDA states that you should crack open the eggs and beat the yolks and whites together. Then, you can freeze the beaten eggs in ice cube trays or freezer-safe containers for up to one year.
Use Egg Substitutes
You can cook many of your favorite recipes without relying on eggs at all. Katherine Sprung, an award-winning pastry chef and founder of Squish Marshmallows, explained that you can use apple sauce instead of eggs for recipes like muffins, quick breads and loafs.
“You can substitute ¼ cup of applesauce for one egg, and you don’t taste the apple in the final product,” she said. “The applesauce provides moisture and some lift, making it a good option for those types of items.”
Sprung also uses aquafaba, which is the juice from a can of chickpeas, for meringues, pavlovas, cakes, and brownies. It provides an airy lift that you would get from whipped egg whites, and it also helps bind ingredients together. Sprung cautioned that if a recipe calls for egg yolks, an aquafaba substitute (thick, starchy liquid left over from cooking beans like chickpeas) won’t work, since the physical properties differ between egg whites and yolks. The Kitchn recommended substituting three tablespoons of aquafaba for one whole egg.
When making puddings, custards, and pastry cream, Sprung substitutes cornstarch for eggs to thicken the mixture and provide a similar consistency.
“Typically, one tablespoon is a good swap for one egg,” she explained, but the perfect measurement can vary depending on the recipe. Sprung recommended using a recipe that’s already been developed as you get used to how the substitution works.
Additionally, consider making egg-free recipes, like egg-free candies and cookies.
Raise Your Own Flock
Many homeowners are going the DIY route and raising their own flock of chickens, but this option won’t necessarily pay off anytime soon. Matthew Aversa, Executive Director at Winding Branch Ranch, explained that in the long run, having backyard chickens can actually be more expensive than buying eggs at the grocery store.
The costs of just getting started can be steep. Aversa estimated that a decent, predator-proof coop can cost anywhere from $300 to over $1,000; cheaper coops fall apart quickly, and predators can find their way into a coop if it isn’t properly secured.
“Layer feed (feed for chickens laying eggs) runs about $20 to $30 per bag, and each hen goes through a quarter-pound per day,” explained Aversa. “That’s not even counting the calcium for strong eggshells, grit for digestion, or occasional treats for extra nutrients.”
If you decide to invest in chickens, be prepared to wait a while before they start laying. According to Aversa, hens won’t start laying until they’re around four to six months old, and their egg production can slow down in colder months or if the hens are stressed.
Then there’s the potential problem of roosters.
“If you buy chicks, a lot of hatcheries don’t guarantee sexing,” said Aversa. “You might end up with a few roosters, which is a problem if you’re in an area that doesn’t allow them.”
If you love the idea of having chickens, raising them for years, and knowing just where your food comes from, then a backyard flock might be worth the investment. It is not a way to save on eggs in the immediate future.
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