Eggs are one of the staples in many local kitchens. In addition to being the classic breakfast, eggs are also needed for many baked goods and casseroles. They are loaded with protein, helping build that muscle, making them popular with the low-carb dieters, and fill you up for cheap.

So where to go when the dozen runs low?

Upon a survey of a few of our local grocery stores the last week of September, shoppers could purchase a dozen medium eggs for $1.39 at Walmart (which is still the home of the cheapest gallon of milk as well, btw). That’s 11.5 cents per egg. The large eggs went for $1.58 a dozen, but the sizes are so close, I’ll usually go for the mediums when there’s a discount.

Kroger offered a dozen medium eggs for $1.49, with the larges priced at $1.75. They do not offer a huge incentive to choose the 18-count over the dozen, though, with 18 larges going for $2.55, or 14.16 cents per.

Publix follows a pricing strategy that baffles me, but is actually very common when inspecting the grocery, pricing the larger cartons at a higher per-unit cost than the smaller ones—a dozen large eggs here go for 18.25 cents apiece ($2.19 for the carton), but the larger pack contains 18 18.28-cent eggs ($3.29). Their medium and extra large dozens were priced at $2.09 and $2.29, respectively.

Note: Walgreen’s (the one at Mercury and Tennessee, at least) frequently runs sales on 12 eggs for 99 cents. However, the cartons usually sell out quickly, and then the price will double to $1.99.

“I’ll wait on them,” one shopper said, upon learning the 99-cent sale on eggs had ended as he was checking out. He returned the carton back to the store’s cooler.

“I don’t blame you,” said the cashier.

Until next time, shop smart, Murfreesboro.