The Difference Between Free-Range, Cage-Free, And Pasture ...

Home » What Are Free Range Eggs » The Difference Between Free-Range, Cage-Free, And Pasture ...

Maybe your like

Skip to main contentApp IconGet ourApp
  • Dining Out
  • At Home
  • Culture
  • Travel
App IconAppThe homepageEaterEater logoCurrent eater city: Eater.comNavigation DrawercloseCloseSearch
  • MapMaps
  • VideoWatch
  • App
  • Restaurant News
  • Maps and Guides
  • At Home
  • Culture
  • Travel
  • Newsletters
  • ShopExpand
    • Editors’ Picks
    • BooksExternal Link
    • TablewareExternal Link
    • CookwareExternal Link
    • MerchExternal Link
    • Wine ClubExternal Link
  • PunchExternal Link
  • ThrillistExternal Link
  • Gastropod
  • All Coverage
Visit another Eater city siteAtlantaAustinBostonCarolinasChicagoDallasDenverDetroitHoustonLas VegasLos AngelesMiamiNashvilleNew OrleansNew YorkPhiladelphiaPhoenixPortland, ORSan DiegoSan FranciscoSeattleTwin CitiesWashington, D.C.Eater.com
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • RSS
EaterEater logoWhat’s the Difference Between Free-Range, Cage-Free, and Pasture-Raised Eggs?
  • What's the Difference?
What’s the Difference Between Free-Range, Cage-Free, and Pasture-Raised Eggs?

Egg cartons can be surprisingly confusing

If you buy something from a link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

by Brette WarshawUpdated Apr 7, 2025, 2:04 PM UTC
  • Facebook
  • Link

If you buy something from a link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Three different kinds and colors of eggsThree different kinds and colors of eggsPart OfWTF, Eggs?see all updates Brette Warshaw is an editor at Apple News and has worked at publications such as Lucky Peach and Food52. Her book “What’s the Difference?: Recreational Culinary Reference for the Curious and Confused” was released in 2021.

This post originally appeared in an edition of What’s the Difference?, a weekly newsletter for the curious and confused by New York City writer Brette Warshaw. Eater will be publishing all editions that parse food-related differences, though those hardly scratch the surface of the world’s (and the newsletter’s) curiosities: Sign up to get What’s the Difference? in your inbox or catch up on the full archive.

What’s the Difference between…

Cage-free, Pasture-raised, Free-range, and Organic Eggs?

When you’re in the supermarket egg aisle, it’s impossible to not feel a little bombarded by all the different available options — cage-free, organic, and pasture-raised among them. And whether you’re interested in buying eggs from ethically raised chickens or looking for an egg that is the most nutritious, it’s important to realize that not all eggs are laid equally.

Unfortunately, use of terms like “cage-free” and “pasture-raised” can be somewhat misleading, because those phrases aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration or United States Department of Agriculture. Chickens who lay organic eggs, on the other hand, must be fed organic feed and allowed access to the outdoors. If this all seems confusing, that’s because it is, and there’s not much oversight into whether or not chickens who are producing cage-free eggs or free-range eggs actually have better lives than their factory-farmed counterparts.

To help sort through the marketing noise, use this glossary as a guide to make buying eggs just a little bit less complicated.

Grade A

The vast majority of eggs sold in grocery stores in the United States are Grade A eggs. According to the North Carolina Egg Association, that means that the egg’s shell is clean, unbroken, and without physical deformities like bumps and ridges. The inside of the egg — the yolk and the white — is reasonably full, and the egg whites are nice and firm, while the yolk is “round and stands up tall.” Grade A is technically the second-highest grade of egg quality behind Grade AA, but those are much more rare on supermarket shelves.

Cage-free

Cage-free is one of only a few egg terms regulated by the USDA. It means that the eggs come from hens that, put simply, aren’t caged: They can “freely roam a building, room, or enclosed area with unlimited access to food and fresh water during their production cycle, but [do] not have access to the outdoors.” Considering the conventional cage is 8½ by 11 inches, or the size of a piece of paper, this seems like a better lifestyle — but there are downsides, too. According to All About Eggs by Rachel Khong, cage-free facilities have more hen-on-hen violence and lower air quality than facilities that use cages.

Free-range

Another USDA term, “free range” means that the eggs come from hens that have some sort of access to the outdoors. However, it doesn’t mean that the hens actually go outdoors, or that the outdoor space is more than a small, fenced-in area; it simply implies that a door exists that a farmer could at some point open.

Pasture-raised

Pasture-raised is not a term regulated by the USDA; however, if the carton says “pasture-raised” and also includes stamps that say “Certified Humane” and/or “Animal Welfare Approved,” it means that each hen was given 108 square feet of outdoor space, as well as barn space indoors. This is pretty much as close to the bucolic, E-I-E-I-O farm vibe you’ll get when dealing with large-scale egg producers, so if you’re looking to support those practices, keep a look out for those labels.

Organic

The USDA regulates the use of the term “organic” through its National Organic Program. Eggs sold with the organic label must be fed a 100-percent organic diet, and must be raised in cage-less environments with access to the outdoors.

Antibiotic-free (or hormone-free)

Hormone-free means that the hen wasn’t administered hormones, which isn’t particularly commendable — considering that hormones and steroids are already banned by the FDA. No Added Antibiotics is another funny term, because very few hens are administered antibiotics — and those that are end up being “diverted from human consumption” anyway.

Vegetarian-fed

When it comes to eggs labeled vegetarian-fed, it’s worth noting that chickens are actually omnivorous; they love worms and bugs and larvae and other crawly things. However, in the mass-scale production sense, they’re not necessarily doing Whole30 — they’re getting fed animal byproducts, like feather meal or chicken litter. So depending on the context, vegetarian-fed can actually be the lesser of two evils.

Okay, so which of these egg labels is actually best?

Cartons stamped with the Certified Humane or Animal Welfare Approved seal are good bets — both designations are administered by third-party groups. When it comes to brands, Vital Farms, Family Homestead, Oliver’s Organic, Happy Egg Co., and Pete and Gerry’s all have particularly good reputations, as do Safeway’s cage-free eggs and Kirkland organic eggs at Costco.

• What’s the Difference Between Cage-Free, Free-Range, Pasture-Raised, and Organic Eggs? [wtd]

Eater Today

The freshest news from the food world every day

Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.See More:
  • What's the Difference?

More in: WTF, Eggs?

What Egg Shortage? At the Gudetama Cafe, It’s Business As Usual.What Egg Shortage? At the Gudetama Cafe, It’s Business As Usual.What Egg Shortage? At the Gudetama Cafe, It’s Business As Usual.By Kat ThompsonWhat It Actually Means to Cull a Flock of ChickensWhat It Actually Means to Cull a Flock of ChickensWhat It Actually Means to Cull a Flock of ChickensBy Evan KanouseOf Course You Can Bake Without Eggs. Vegan Pastry Chefs Tell Us How.Of Course You Can Bake Without Eggs. Vegan Pastry Chefs Tell Us How.Of Course You Can Bake Without Eggs. Vegan Pastry Chefs Tell Us How.By Bettina Makalintal

Most Popular

  1. Where to Eat in 2026
  2. Why the Internet Is Blowing Up About LA’s Most Infamous Jam Maker
  3. Meet the New-School Banana Split
  4. The Best Housewarming Gifts (That You’ll Want for Yourself)
  5. Here Are the 2026 James Beard Awards Restaurant and Chef Semifinalists

Eater Today

The freshest news from the food world every day

Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content FromSponsor Logo

This is the title for the native ad

Sponsor thumbnail

More in What's the Difference?

What’s the Difference Between Soy Sauce, Shoyu, and Tamari?What’s the Difference Between Soy Sauce, Shoyu, and Tamari?What’s the Difference Between Crudo, Sashimi, Tartare, and Carpaccio?What’s the Difference Between Crudo, Sashimi, Tartare, and Carpaccio?What’s the Difference Between a Hero, Sub, Grinder, and Hoagie?What’s the Difference Between a Hero, Sub, Grinder, and Hoagie?What’s the Difference Between Mozzarella, Burrata, and Straciatella?What’s the Difference Between Mozzarella, Burrata, and Straciatella?What’s the Difference Between Shrimp and Prawns?What’s the Difference Between Shrimp and Prawns?What’s the Difference Between Lox, Nova, and Smoked Salmon?What’s the Difference Between Lox, Nova, and Smoked Salmon?What's the Difference?Sep 15, 2019What’s the Difference Between Soy Sauce, Shoyu, and Tamari?What’s the Difference Between Soy Sauce, Shoyu, and Tamari?What's the Difference?Sep 15, 2019What’s the Difference Between Soy Sauce, Shoyu, and Tamari?

And how to tell the good-quality versions from the bad

By Brette WarshawWhat's the Difference?Sep 15, 2019What’s the Difference Between Crudo, Sashimi, Tartare, and Carpaccio?What’s the Difference Between Crudo, Sashimi, Tartare, and Carpaccio?What's the Difference?Sep 15, 2019What’s the Difference Between Crudo, Sashimi, Tartare, and Carpaccio?

There are so many ways to serve raw seafood and meat

By Brette WarshawWhat's the Difference?Sep 15, 2019What’s the Difference Between a Hero, Sub, Grinder, and Hoagie?What’s the Difference Between a Hero, Sub, Grinder, and Hoagie?What's the Difference?Sep 15, 2019What’s the Difference Between a Hero, Sub, Grinder, and Hoagie?

It all depends on where you live

By Brette WarshawWhat's the Difference?Sep 15, 2019What’s the Difference Between Mozzarella, Burrata, and Straciatella?What’s the Difference Between Mozzarella, Burrata, and Straciatella?What's the Difference?Sep 15, 2019What’s the Difference Between Mozzarella, Burrata, and Straciatella?

And which one should you put in your caprese salad?

By Brette WarshawWhat's the Difference?Sep 15, 2019What’s the Difference Between Shrimp and Prawns?What’s the Difference Between Shrimp and Prawns?What's the Difference?Sep 15, 2019What’s the Difference Between Shrimp and Prawns?

No, shrimp are not just smaller prawns

By Brette WarshawWhat's the Difference?Sep 15, 2019What’s the Difference Between Lox, Nova, and Smoked Salmon?What’s the Difference Between Lox, Nova, and Smoked Salmon?What's the Difference?Sep 15, 2019What’s the Difference Between Lox, Nova, and Smoked Salmon?

The fish you enjoy on your bagel is probably not lox

By Brette WarshawAdvertiser Content FromSponsor Logo

This is the title for the native ad

The Latest

3:00 PM UTCMeet the New-School Banana SplitFeb 19Michelin’s Return to Vegas Is Huge for the SouthwestFeb 18The Eater x Zwiesel Fortessa Collection Brings Restaurant-Worthy Dinnerware to Your TableFeb 17Half a Pig is Broken Down Weekly for This Brooklyn Restaurant’s Lunar New Year MenuVideoFeb 17Salt Bread Is Ready to Win Over the WorldFeb 13We Asked: How Do You Run a Restaurant With Your Partner?

Tag » What Are Free Range Eggs