Why Ina Garten Only Buys Extra Large Eggs and Never Brings Flowers to a Dinner Party (Exclusive)

Ina Garten has certain go-tos in her kitchen — and when stepping into someone else’s.

The Barefoot Contessa star shared her tips for cooking and hosting during a live Q&A with PEOPLE Senior Editor of Special Integrated Projects, Ana Calderone, on Thursday, Dec. 5. In her 46-year-long culinary career, Garten has been known to rely on some favorite ingredients.

When asked about why she only calls for extra-large eggs in her recipes, the author of her new memoir, Be Ready When the Luck Happens, explained matter-of-factly: “Extra large eggs are more egg per dollar than other eggs. So when you're doing things in volume, it's a better value.”

She continued that they “really are bigger” and that “the size of the eggs makes a difference in the recipe.”

“My assistant told me when she switched from large eggs to extra large eggs, her baking got better. So I just have always stuck with that,” Garten explained, adding with a laugh, “Is that odd? Do most people have large eggs or do they just buy eggs?”

Related: Ina Garten Reveals Why Oprah Winfrey 'Smacked' Her Twice After She Gave a Speech: 'She Was Right'

When she swaps the host role for a seat at someone else’s table, Garten thinks outside the box with her gifts.

“When I'm invited to somebody's house for dinner I always want to bring something, because I feel like it's respectful to the person who's just spent all that time. We know how hard it is. You do the shopping and you set the table and you have to do the cooking and the cocktails and flowers. It's a lot of work,” the 13-time cookbook author explained.

“I never bring something that the hostess can serve right then because it disrupts their meal,” she continued. This mentality means avoiding some common gifting ideas.

“You bring a bouquet of flowers without a vase, so now they have to go figure out what to do with the flowers. So I never do that,” Garten said. Instead: “I might have the florist send flowers in a vase.”

Garten also avoids bringing wine. “If it's chilled, you feel like you have to serve it, even though it doesn't go with the dinner at all,” she said.

She aims for a present that is a gift to the host after the guests have left. “I always try and bring something that they can have the next day, like great coffee or homemade granola.” But she suggested avoiding something like coffee cake, which can leave the host feeling "compelled to serve during the meal.”

Garten's memoir, Be Ready When the Luck Happens, is available now.

Read the original article on People