Have you ever asked yourself why are eggs sold by the dozen?
I’ve wondered this so many times as I’m opening my egg cartons at the store to inspect the contents for breaks or cracks. Why 12? Why not 10? Seems like a number that makes more sense. Why not 15 or 20? Who exactly decided that 12 was the magical egg number?
Well I did a little research to find out and I was a little surprised by the answer. We here in the US weren’t the ones that started it.
It actually originated in England. Way back when, the Imperial Unit System was used. In this system, there were twelve pennies to a shilling. Because of this, farmers and bakers sold their goods in dozens.
When people went to market they could buy one egg {or roll, etc.} for a penny, or buy a dozen for a shilling. This kept people from having to make change so everyone stuck to the practice of selling in groups of 12 to make things easier.
Years later, even after the Imperial Unit System was abandoned, the practice stuck even though there was not really a necessity for it anymore.
You know that old habits die hard!
So when the settlers came over to make their homes in North America, they brought the same practice with them and eggs continued to be sold in dozens to this day.
And now you know!
Carry On.
~Mavis
Joan Colvin says
We can buy eggs by the half-dozen too!
Lori says
I saw in NY they are selling single eggs for 1.00 each and calling them ‘loosies’.
Tiffany F says
Very interesting!
I’m just glad we have chickens. 😉
Cathi says
That’s a cool piece of trivia! Thank you.
JulieP says
Despite what you may read France Spain and Portugal sell eggs in 12s too it has always fascinated me. At home in the UK we can buy 6s and 15s in the supermarkets too. Apparently as well as what Mavis has told us a ‘dozen’ as a unit was used in Roman times and even though Europe is metric fully they still use 12 as a measure for eggs, cans of beer or sodas!