Brown Or White Eggs - Is There A Difference?

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Many people have their own preferences when it comes to egg color. Some believe that brown eggs are healthier or more natural, while others think whites are cleaner or just tastier.

But really the differences between brown and white eggs are deeper than the color of the shells?

Eggs can be in any color

Chicken eggs can be in different colors and in the supermarket you can see both brown and white. However, many people do not know what actually affects the color of the egg.

The answer is quite simple - the color of the eggs depends on the breed of chicken. For example, White Leghorn chicks lay white eggs, while Plymouth Rocks and Rhode Island Reds lay eggs with brown shells.

Some breeds of chickens, such as Arucana, Ameroucana, Dongxiang and Lushi, even have blue or blue-green eggs.

The different colors of the eggs are obtained from the pigments that the hens produce. The main pigment in brown eggshells is called protoporphyrin IX. It is made of heme, the compound that gives red its color.

The main pigment found in blue eggs is called biliverdin, which also comes from heme. This is the same pigment that sometimes gives shades of blue-green color.

But while genetics is a major factor in determining egg color, other factors can play a role. For example, older hens tend to lay larger and lighter eggs.

The condition of the hen, diet and stress levels can also be affected to some extent the color of the eggshell. These factors can make the shade lighter or darker, but not necessarily change the color itself. The main determining factor is still the breed.

Are brown eggs healthier than white ones?

Both are extremely healthy foods. A typical egg contains a lot of vitamins, minerals and high-quality protein, all wrapped in less than 80 calories.

However, the researchers compared the eggs with brown and those with white shells to see if there was any difference. Several studies have found that the color of the shell has no significant effect on the quality and composition of the eggs. This means that the color of the shell is not related to how healthy it is. The only real difference is the pigment in the color composition.

Which are tastier - brown or white eggs?

Some people swear that brown eggs are tastier, while others prefer the taste of white eggs. But as with the nutritional content, there is no real difference between the taste of eggs with brown and white shells.

However, this does not necessarily mean that all eggs have the same taste. Although the color of the shell does not matter, other factors such as the type of food, freshness and how the egg is prepared can affect the taste.

For example, hens fed a high-fat diet produce more fragrant eggs than hens fed a lower fat content. And hens whose food contains too much fish oil, some types of fat or even vitamins A or D, can lead to fishy or almost no taste of eggs.

The diet of a domestic hen is not the same as that of a conventionally reared hen, which may also affect the taste of eggs.

In addition, the longer the egg is stored, the more likely it is to develop flavor. Storing eggs at a stable low temperature, such as in the refrigerator, can help preserve their flavor for longer.

Why are brown eggs more expensive?

Brown eggs they cost more because in the past the hens that laid them were larger and hatched fewer eggs than the hens with white eggs. Therefore, the brown eggs had to be sold at a higher price to offset the additional costs.

Today, laying hens that lay brown eggs have almost the same production costs as hens that lay white eggs. Nevertheless, brown eggs are still more expensive. This may be due to the fact that special eggs, such as organic ones, are brown rather than white.

If egg color doesn't matter, then what does?

Since egg color is not an important factor, here are some things to consider before you go shopping:

Completely natural

Eggs labeled as naturally reared are no different from all others;

Organic

The eggs that are certified as organic are from chickens that have been given only GMO-free organic food. They must also have access to open space all year round.

These chickens also do not take antibiotics or hormones (they are never approved for use in laying hens). The organic product label means that antibiotics can only be used when they are medically necessary;

No cage

The term cell-free, when used for eggs, can be misleading. While conventionally reared hens are housed indoors in very small individual cages, hens without cages are housed in an open building or room;

Free range

The label free means eggs that come from hens that have some kind of continuous access to open space. This ideally provides a better quality of life for the hens.

The nutritional value of eggs can also increase, as hens that are exposed to sunlight produce eggs with much higher levels of vitamin D.

Enriched with omega-3

Omega-3 fortified eggs come from hens fed a diet enriched with healthy omega-3 fats. Therefore, the content of omega-3 in the egg is much higher than normal.

Omega-3 fortified eggs provide an alternative source of omega-3 fats, which are traditionally very limited in human nutrition. Choosing omega-3 fortified eggs may offer some health benefits;

Domestic or local

Eggs that come from domestic hens or purchased directly from small, local farmers are likely to be the freshest and usually come from hens that live in a more natural environment with plenty of access to sunlight.