White stringy bit coming from egg yolk?

Question

i cracked open my free range egg and from the yolk was this white stringy type thing that looked quite umbilical chord like that went out to a white protein mass type thing, i dont mean egg white raw uncooked clear i mean it was white while raw, what is it? does this mean the egg was fertilised? is it what i think it is? the chicken was free range so presumably could have shagged something...? im not used to seeing this tho i usually get battery eggs, shame on me.. thanks please tell me what it is??

Answer 1

the egg needs the string to keep the eggyolk in the middle of the egg and it can not bounce around all over the place...( not to be taken to serious, but this IS the answer)

and of course the fresher the egg, the stronger this umbilical cord...

happens once in 1000 eggs...

Answer 2

They are not embryos and need not be removed although some people strain them out

This is the chalaza, and it functions to keep the yolk centered. It disappears as an egg ages, and for that reason some chefs advise using old eggs for omelets. I once worked for a chef who had me put beaten eggs through a strainer to remove the chalazae.

Answer 3

That is quite normal in an egg even those not free range it is generally a sign of a very fresh egg

Answer 4

I see this on all my eggs. It's fine to eat but I always thought it was the dead chick embryo.