You crack open an egg and notice a little white, stringy piece attached to the yolk.
Your first thought might be:
“Eww… is this egg bad?” 😳
Actually, that little white string is usually completely normal.
It’s called a chalaza (pronounced kuh-LAY-zuh), and seeing one is generally a sign that the egg is fresh—not spoiled.
🥚 So What Is That White String?
The chalaza is a naturally occurring part of the egg.
There are actually two chalazae in a typical egg. They are rope-like strands of egg white that help keep the yolk positioned in the center of the egg.
Think of them as tiny anchors holding the yolk in place.
They extend from opposite sides of the yolk and attach to the thicker layers of egg white.
So when you crack an egg and see a white, twisted strand next to the yolk, you’re not looking at mold, a worm, or something that means the egg has spoiled.
It’s simply part of the egg.
🍳 Does the Chalaza Mean the Egg Is Fresh?
A visible chalaza is often more noticeable in fresh eggs.
As an egg ages, the thick white gradually becomes thinner, and the chalaza may become less prominent.
So that strange-looking white string can actually be a good indication that you’re looking at a relatively fresh egg.
Of course, the chalaza alone isn’t a reliable freshness test. You should still check the egg for other signs of spoilage.
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