Scrambled eggs are no doubt a classic breakfast staple, but when it comes to preparing them, how likely are Americans to use milk? New CivicScience consumer-reported data show 32% saying they ‘always’ add milk to scrambled eggs, while 33% say they ‘sometimes’ use milk. Thirty-five percent, meanwhile, report that they ‘never’ use milk for scrambled eggs. While a similar percentage across all age groups and gender say they use milk for scrambled eggs, women are much more likely than men to say they ‘always’ do this. 

Beyond demographics, additional survey data offers a glimpse into how those who ‘always’ use milk for scrambled eggs differ from those who say they ‘never’ do this:

Coffee vs. Tea: When asked to choose between coffee and tea, 71% of those who ‘always’ use milk for their scrambled eggs say they prefer coffee, seven points higher than those who never use milk for scrambled eggs. 

Planned or Spontaneous?: Fifty-two percent of those who always use milk for their scrambled eggs say they are ‘more of a planner, twice the percentage of non-milk users who say the same. Non-users, meanwhile, are more than 30 points more likely to say they are a mix of spontaneous and a planner.

Preferred Ice Cream Receptacle: Milk users are nearly twice as likely to say they prefer their ice cream in a cup, while non-users over-index in preferring their ice cream in milkshake form.

Seeking Out Reviews: Americans who always use milk for scrambled eggs are more than twice as likely as non-users to say they also ‘always’ seek out online reviews for items they want to purchase. Non-users are six points more likely to say they ‘never’ do this (22% to 16%, respectively)

Most Common Book Format: Those who ‘always’ over-index non-uses in reporting that ebooks are the format they use most to read books (among those who read). Physical print books are most common among both segments, though non-milk with eggs users outpace in their tendency to turn to this format for reading.

Whether you prefer a splash of dairy or keep your eggs plain isn’t just a matter of kitchen technique; it’s a reflection of distinct consumer personas. From a heightened reliance on online reviews to a clear preference for planning ahead, these habits suggest that our breakfast choices are intrinsically tied to our broader behaviors and lifestyles. These segments embody different approaches to daily routine and information gathering, proving that a single question about scrambled eggs can be a remarkably effective tool for understanding a person’s media consumption, personality traits, and even their preferred way to enjoy a book.

Do you add milk to your scrambled eggs? Take this poll now:

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This article’s data comes solely from CivicScience’s database, which contains nearly 700,000 poll questions and 5 billion consumer insights.