On a recent farm tour of one of the country’s most prestigious organic operations, an agricultural scientist made a point that opened my eyes to better farming standards: free-range chickens, he explained, need cover. Chickens descend from the red jungle fowl of south-east Asia, so it’s no surprise they feel safer under a canopy. Trees provide shade from the sun, shelter from rain and protection from predators, but, more than that, they also encourage birds to roam and express natural behaviour and reduce welfare issues such as feather pecking, resulting in genuinely healthier, happier hens.
When it comes to welfare, forest-reared chickens are the gold standard, so when an egg packer commits to planting trees or providing meaningful canopy cover, as several UK egg brands do, I know the quality is likely to be superior. It’s also worth noting that, while free-range chickens gain outdoor access at only 21 weeks, organic hens are allowed out from 12 weeks – an important distinction in their welfare.
This was one of the toughest taste tests I’ve done so far. When judging egg quality, I look at shell strength, the viscosity of the whites and the richness of the yolk, but freshness affects the albumen, and yolk colour is now largely engineered through beta carotene-rich feeds such as maize, paprika and marigold. Interestingly, the organic options all had classic sunshine-yellow yolks, in contrast to the vivid orange seen in several non-organic brands. A bold, marigold-orange yolk might be striking, but ultimately it doesn’t tell us all that much about the egg’s flavour.
With freshness varying by the box, I boiled all the eggs and scored them instead on what truly counts: taste, provenance and welfare. If you want the best flavour and nutrition, choose eggs with the longest sell-by date in the store. Just be warned, the fresher the egg, the more stubborn it is to peel when boiled. To overcome this, cool it under running water and peel immediately.
The best supermarket free-range eggs
Best overall:
St Ewe rich yolk free-range eggs
£3.20 for six at Ocado (53p each)
£3.20 for six at Tesco (53p each)
★★★★☆
Speckled brown shells and deep orange yolks give these Cornish eggs a strong visual appeal. The taste is subtle, savoury and well balanced. St Ewe leads in provenance, sharing producer stories on its website and becoming the EU’s first B Corp-certified egg packer, which means it must meet rigorous social and environmental standards. A premium ethical splurge with rich flavour and standout transparency.
Best bargain:
Waitrose British blacktail free-range medium eggs
£1.80 for six at Waitrose (30p each)
★★★★☆
One of the more economical, yet the eggs are high quality. Classic brown shells with rich, orange yolks that are sweet, jammy and full of flavour. Laid by British blacktail hens, these eggs have a loyal following. The Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare ranks Waitrose as a tier-two leader, and while no specific farm origin is listed, the breed itself is impressive. Outstanding value with premium taste and trusted sourcing.
And the rest …
M&S free-range medium eggs
£1.80 for six at Ocado (30p each)
★★★★☆
Thick, deep brown, speckled shells with glowing orange yolks and the most layered flavour in the bunch – rich, savoury and complex. RSPCA Assured, M&S’s egg range consistently offers quality at an accessible price. Its farming standards and welfare credentials are good, and this egg proves it. Delicious, affordable and my top pick for everyday eating.
Stonegate Estate large organic eggs
£3.45 for six at Sainsbury’s (58p each)
£3.75 for six at Ocado (63p each)
★★★★☆
A handsome box of varied eggs, from speckled beige to classic tan, with rich, golden yolks. The flavour is simple but satisfying, with subtle, grassy notes. Certified organic for more than 20 years and Soil Association approved, their maize-enriched feed is completely GMO-free – a key organic standard and a reminder that maize and soya bean feeds are frequently genetically modified. Though on the pricier side, these eggs offer dependable quality with strong sustainability credentials. A solid organic choice.
Freshlay golden yolks free-range eggs
£3.48 for 10 at Asda (35p each)
£4.10 for 10 at Sainsbury’s (41p each)
★★★★☆
Classic brown shells with a few paler ones in the mix. The yolks are a deep orange-red, thanks to natural feed. Rich, sweet and satisfying flavour, and great for a soft boil or a showy scramble. RSPCA Assured and a two-star winner at the 2024 Great Taste Awards. Freshlay works with independent British farms and makes clear its commitments to higher welfare and free-range standards.
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Purely Organic mixed weight free-range eggs
£4.78 for 10 at Asda (48p each)
£5.10 for 10 at Tesco (51p each)
★★★★☆
A naturally varied box, with shells ranging from white and mottled to classic brown. The yolks are a soft sunflower yellow with a clean, sweet flavour. Purely Organic is the UK’s first organic egg brand to be certified carbon neutral. Its farms include forested areas for enriched hen welfare, with clear transparency around its organic and sustainability commitments.
The Happy Egg Co free-range medium eggs
£2.20 for six at Sainsbury’s (37p each)
£2.20 for six at Tesco (37p each)
★★★★☆
Classic speckled brown shells and golden yolks with a lovely, well-rounded flavour. These eggs come from farms that go well beyond the basics, with four times the tree cover required by RSPCA Assured standards and daily enrichment kits for the hens. The UK-made feed is formulated to boost vitamin D, and just two eggs provide roughly 94% of your daily intake. An intriguing initiative.
Sainsbury’s So Organic woodland free-range medium eggs
£2.85 for six at Sainsbury’s (48p each)
★★★☆☆
Classic, dark brown shells with the palest yolks in the test group – sunflower yellow, but still rich and sweet. RSPCA Assured, with a unique tree-planting initiative: Sainsbury’s donates 1p from every dozen sold to the Woodland Trust. A thoughtful, ethical touch, and a product I trust thanks to the Soil Association Organic Certification, which has high standards and rigorous implementation.
Aldi Specially Selected British free-range golden yolk eggs
£1.89 for six at Aldi (32p each)
★★★☆☆
Uniform, dark beige shells with deep, rich orange yolks that look and taste luxurious. The flavour is sweet and full, thanks to the extra-rich yolk. Limited provenance details beyond being British, free-range and RSPCA Assured, though they carry a Great Taste Award. Aldi is known for strong sustainability credentials, giving this affordable option added appeal. Great value for rich-tasting, good-looking eggs.
Tesco free-range medium eggs
£1.75 for six at Tesco (29p each)
★★☆☆☆
Classic brown shells with a pale yellow yolk (the palest in the test) and a fairly plain flavour. RSPCA Assured and sourced from Northern Irish farms. Customer reviews are mixed, with several complaints about shell colour changes, though the eggs themselves seem consistent. Affordable, but unremarkable.