What Is the White Strand in Eggs? A Simple Explanation

What Is the White Strand in Eggs? A Simple Explanation You’ll Never Forget

You crack an egg into a bowl, ready to scramble or bake, and there it is—that strange, white, stringy thing clinging stubbornly to the yolk. It looks a little… alien. A little unsettling. And if you’ve never been told what it is, your brain might immediately jump to something has gone very wrong with this egg.

Relax. Your breakfast is safe.

That mysterious white strand has a name, a purpose, and a surprisingly fascinating backstory. In fact, once you understand what it is, you might actually see eggs a little differently.

Let’s break it down—simply, clearly, and without ruining your appetite.

The White Strand Has a Name: The Chalaza

That white, rope-like structure inside an egg is called the chalaza (pronounced kuh-LAY-zuh). Most eggs contain two chalazae, one on each side of the yolk, though you usually only notice one.

They look like twisted cords, almost like thick threads, and they’re attached directly to the yolk. Their job is surprisingly important.

The chalazae hold the yolk in place, keeping it centered inside the egg.

Think of them as tiny biological seatbelts.

Why Eggs Need a “Seatbelt”

Inside an egg, there’s more going on than you might think.

The yolk is delicate and nutrient-rich—it’s designed to support the development of a chick if the egg is fertilized. If the yolk were allowed to float freely and bump into the shell, it could easily rupture or degrade.

That’s where the chalaza comes in.

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