Finding a Blood Spot in a Batter

I cracked several eggs into a recipe without checking, and then noticed a bloodspot on one of the yolks. How much do I need to remove?

If a fertilized egg develops to the point that a blood spot appears on the yolk, the entire egg becomes forbidden. However, today’s commercially sold eggs can be assumed to be unfertilized eggs. If one finds a blood spot on a unfertilized egg, one may simply remove the bloodspot and use the rest of the egg. However, Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, (Igros Moshe Y.D. I:36) maintains that since eggs are relatively inexpensive the common custom is still to throw away the entire egg. But if it was already mixed with other eggs or food and this would be difficult, then one can simply scoop away the bloodspot. If the bloodspot itself is already mixed in, and cannot be removed, the bloodspot is batel (nullified) and the food may be eaten.

The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt”l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.