Quick Answer:
Eggs are a great source of protein! The average egg has 5-7 grams of protein but the protein amount varies based on the egg size. Small eggs have about 4.9 grams of protein, medium eggs have 5.7 grams of protein, large eggs have 6.5 grams of protein, extra large eggs have 7.3 grams of protein and jumbo eggs have 8.2 grams of protein.
Full Answer:
Egg Protein
Eggs are packed with 13 different vitamins and minerals and contain all of the essential amino acids essential to the human body, making it a complete source of protein. The eggs protein and fat content, with low carbohydrates make eggs an ideal food for athletes looking to build muscle. While meat does provide a little more protein per gram, eggs are cheap, easy to cook, and make a great snack or addition to any meal.
The average egg has 5-7 grams of protein but the protein amount varies based on the egg size. Small eggs have about 4.9 grams of protein, medium eggs have 5.7 grams of protein, large eggs have 6.5 grams of protein, extra large eggs have 7.3 grams of protein and jumbo eggs have 8.2 grams of protein. Between 45-50% of the eggs protein is found in the egg’s yolk. This is also where most of the fat is found, if you only eat egg whites, you are getting less fat but limiting your protein to around 50% of what you would get from eating a whole egg.
Egg Preparation
How the egg is prepared can have an affect on the amount of protein that your body absorbs. Early pop culture from movies such as Rocky, has lead people to believe that eating raw eggs is beneficial to athletes; when, in fact, eating eggs raw will result in the least amount of protein from the egg. According to a scientific study, when participants ate cooked eggs, they absorbed 90% of the protein; however, only 50% of the protein was absorbed from uncooked eggs. Not only is absorption of protein optimized by cooking the eggs, it kills harmful bacteria that could be in the egg. Hard boiling eggs is the best way to cook eggs without adding extra fat and sodium.
References: Healthline, Livestrong, SFGate