Each of us tries to take care of our body, at least in some aspects. We adhere to healthy image life, we move more, we choose natural and healthy products for our loved ones. But sometimes we literally stand in a stupor in the supermarket in front of the egg counter. Here in front of you are white eggs on one side and brown eggs on the other. Generally, if they are the same size, the brown ones cost a little more. What to do? Which eggs to choose? Under which shell are more nutrients stored? Let's try to figure out what is the difference between white and brown eggs.
Features of brown and white eggs
What is the difference between brown and white eggs? The answer to this question is simple and lies on the surface. It's all about the breed of chickens - a chicken with light plumage will lay white eggs, and a red and black chicken will give a brown egg. That's all the difference. However, eggs have long been overgrown with all sorts of myths, which we will try to dispel.
- Some people are sure that brown eggs are more useful, they contain more valuable substances for the human body. This is a big misconception; the composition of brown and white eggs is exactly the same.
- There is also an opinion that brown shells are harder than white ones. This statement can also be considered a myth, since the hardness of the shell does not depend on the breed of chicken, it can only vary on the age of the bird. That is, eggs with a hard shell are often laid by young hens; with age, the amount of calcium in the hen’s body decreases, and the shell of an old hen will be much looser.
- Sometimes brown eggs are more expensive, why? Unfortunately, there is no clear answer to this question. On the one hand, this is nothing more than a marketing ploy that convinces the buyer that brown eggs are natural. On the other hand, farmers argue that brown chickens are larger, which means they require more feed; the cost of a brown egg is more expensive. And this is even though the size of a white and brown egg is no different.
It happens that it seems to you that it is brown or, conversely, white egg has more rich color yolk. In fact, it depends on the chicken's feed and the conditions in which the laying hens are kept. Shell color is not the main indicator by which you should choose eggs.
In order for your purchase at the market and in the store to be successful, the choice of eggs should be approached very carefully.
- If you have the opportunity to buy real homemade eggs, take advantage of it. You should not buy eggs on the market - you cannot be sure of their origin; perhaps they offer you ordinary eggs from a poultry farm at the price of homemade ones. But if you have friends who have chickens, be sure to take these eggs, they contain much more useful substances.
- Be sure to look at the date on which the eggs were packaged at the store. The letter D means that the egg is dietary, it is only a few days old. Then they put the mark C on it - which means it’s a dining room one. It can be stored for 25 days. The letter B means the highest category of eggs, these are large specimens, more than 75 grams. Further, by weight, the egg can be designated as the first, second or third category.
- There should be no cracks or damage on the shell.
- There should be no obvious remains of poultry droppings on the surface of the shell; these are natural food standards. However, the shell should not be glossy or crystal clear. Such a surface may indicate that the egg has been washed, which means that the natural protective layer has been washed away, without which the egg will spoil in 10-12 days.
- You should not buy eggs that are too large - they are usually watery and are laid by old laying hens. But smaller, healthier and vitamin-rich eggs come from young hens.
- It is quite difficult to check an unmarked egg in a store for freshness. To do this, you can shake it near your ear. If you hear gurgling or other characteristic sounds, the egg is not fresh, you should not buy such a product. A good egg will not make any sounds.
But the color of the eggs you choose is only the aesthetic side of the issue. If you are more accustomed to brown ones, buy them, but if you like white ones more, opt for them. If white ones are cheaper in the store, be sure to buy them, because there are no other differences in eggs (except for shell color)!
Since ancient times, eggs have been considered not just a food product, but also endowed with a much greater meaning. It has long been customary in Rus' to paint eggs - this is a symbol Happy Easter. Fairy tales, songs, maiden fortune telling, mystical rituals and methods of treatment are associated with eggs. Choose fresh eggs and don't pay attention to their color!
Video: what is the difference between white and brown chicken eggs?
When you go to the store to buy eggs, do you buy white or brown? Does color influence your preferences? Perhaps you buy white ones because you have been accustomed to them since childhood. Or you found out somewhere that brown ones are better, and now you only take them. But what's the difference really?
The difference is in the chicken
When it comes to color, the breed of chicken is key. Simply put, hens with white plumage will lay white eggs, while those with tan plumage will lay brown eggs. There are even breeds that lay the less common blue, or spotted, eggs.
Is a brown egg better than a white one?
Color is not an indicator of quality. When it comes to taste and nutrition, there is no difference between white and brown eggs.
Do brown eggs have thicker shells?
The shells of eggs of both colors are the same thickness. If you've ever noticed that the shell is thicker, that's an effect of the age of the hen that laid it. Young hens lay eggs with thicker shells, while older hens have thin shells. This applies to both white and brown eggs.
Why are brown eggs usually more expensive?
There is an opinion that brown ones are more expensive than white ones because they are more natural. In reality, this is not the case. Brown eggs tend to be more expensive because brown-feathered chickens have larger size and, accordingly, require more feed.
Small nuance
However, there is one small nuance. Many people say that brown eggs taste better because they have tasted brown eggs in the village. But here, too, color does not play any role - the fact is that in villages you can most often find chickens with brown plumage, and the richer taste depends on the fact that domestic chickens are fed much better than those used for mass egg production .
You've probably heard rumors about the difference in health benefits between white and brown eggs. So, many are sure that brown ones are better because of their high nutritional value.
There are people who say that the color of eggs affects taste qualities prepared dishes. For example, brown ones are better for making open-faced pies, while white ones are better for making cakes.
Is there a difference
Despite all sorts of rumors, the truth is that both brown and white eggs are the same inside, both in nutrition and taste.
In addition, the thickness of the shell of both types of eggs is more or less the same. Slight differences in thickness may occur due to the age of the chickens. The young lay eggs with relatively harder shells.
Where did the rumors come from?
Rumors that brown ones are better are the reason why they sell for higher prices in supermarkets. The general consensus is that if a product is sold at a higher price, it should be best quality. But this belief is not true in the case of eggs.
The reason why eggs brown are more expensive is that hens that lay brown eggs usually eat more, which means they are fed more, and therefore cost much more to keep such a bird than hens that lay white eggs.
Which ones taste better?
There is another common belief: brown eggs taste better, and therefore they are more expensive. However, the difference in taste is also just a myth.
I don’t know about you, but I definitely remember that in my youth they always claimed that brown eggs were better and tastier. "Oh, you got the brown ones! They're rustic and delicious!" Wasn't that the case?
So is this really true? Let's figure it out...
Because brown and white eggs have different color and price (and the former are always more expensive), there is a common misconception that they are different from each other. Moreover, many people believe that brown eggs are healthier because golden rule says that brown is better. We choose to consume brown bread, whole wheat and brown sugar because these foods are healthier than their white counterparts. However, when it comes to brown and white eggs, there is no nutritional difference between them. Okay, then what's the matter?
It's all about the chicken
The real difference between brown and white eggs is the hen that laid them. In the case of commercial chickens, there is a direct and clear connection between feather and egg colors. Chickens with white feathers always lay white eggs, while red feathered chickens always lay brown eggs. This rule also applies to other breeds of chickens, which can lay blue, green and even speckled eggs.
The color of brown eggs is due to protoporphyrin IX, an organic compound that gives blood its red color.
The shell of blue eggs contains biliverdin; This is the green pigment of bile, formed as a result of heme catabolism.
It all comes down to the fact that the difference between brown and white eggs is associated with the presence of certain organic compounds. In terms of nutrition, brown eggs are no different from white eggs - both in composition and in quality.
The environment affects the color and taste of egg yolk
And while it's easy to argue that brown eggs taste better than white eggs - and vice versa - the reality is that it all comes down to how the chicken was fed and in what conditions it was kept. For example, a chicken that has been allowed to roam around in the sun for a day will get more vitamin D than one that has been left indoors. The same goes for chickens fed feed rich in Omega-3 fatty acids or vitamin D; their eggs will contain more high levels these components.
In addition, the way you cook and store eggs affects their taste. The longer an egg is stored, the more likely it is to taste bad. If you store eggs in the refrigerator at a low, stable temperature, they will retain their fresh taste longer. If you fry an egg from a chicken that has been fed a diet rich in fish oil (Omega 3), it will taste the same as regular eggs, but if you boil it, the taste will be beyond compare.
In conclusion: How the chicken is raised is very important.
You should pay attention to the markings on the egg cartons. Eggs from chickens that have been raised at home are different from eggs from chickens that have been raised commercially. As a rule, they are fresher. If you buy eggs that are rich in Omega 3, it means the chicken was fed a diet high in fish oil, and this is the main reason for the increased price. Finally, organic simply means that the chickens were not given hormones or antibiotics, or were given only when absolutely necessary.
Have you ever wondered what determines the color of a chicken's eggs? After all, there are shells of different colors, both white and all sorts of brown shades. What are these – different types of eggs or a sign of quality? Let's try to figure out what affects the pigmentation of the shell and yolk. And at the same time, we’ll find out why you shouldn’t choose this product based on color.
Factors that determine shell color
There is an opinion among ordinary people that the composition of brown eggs is more natural, so to speak, homemade. In fact, the quality of the product produced by a laying hen depends on many factors. But the color does not in any way affect the taste or quality of the eggs. And vice versa, the conditions of keeping and feeding the chicken in no way affect the color of the future fried egg. And yet, what determines the different colors of chicken eggs?
Factor 1. Breed
So, the color of the shell in the products laid by domestic and industrial chickens depends on the breed of bird. At the same time, the ability to lay eggs of a certain color is determined genetically. That is, the same chicken throughout its entire life produces fruits with a shell of a certain color. And the following pattern is often observed: the color of the shell depends on the coloring of the feathers.
Thus, laying hens with white feathers mainly lay white, but speckled and golden birds lay brown. To know for sure what color your chicken's eggs will be, take a closer look at her earlobe. If it is white, then the eggs will have the same color. Chickens with red lobes will have shell color brown tint.
Each breed of chicken has certain color characteristics. So, Leghorns and Russian Whites have plumage white, and their shells are the same color. By the way, these breeds are distinguished by the highest egg production. This is why white-shelled protein products predominate in stores and markets.
IN household They prefer to have birds that can lay eggs and confidently gain weight. Such breeds are mostly brown in color, and accordingly their eggs acquire the same color. These include Dominican laying hens, Rhode Island, Orpington and other meat and egg chickens.
For some reason, people have the opinion that since domestic eggs have a brown tint, this is a sign of their naturalness. One way or another, this stereotype is based on the subconscious and has nothing to do with common sense. But farmers are developing new breeds that lay eggs well and produce brown eggs to win the favor of buyers.
By the way, we are all used to seeing chicken products with white and brown shells on our table. And in South America There is a specific breed of chicken that lays bluish-green eggs. The chickens themselves look very original: they do not have tails, but feather decorations have formed on their heads due to mustaches and beards. The breed is called “Araucana” - in honor of the name of the Indian tribe that bred such chickens.
In the middle of the last century, testicles from Araucanian chickens gained unprecedented popularity, but why? Among Americans, an opinion has emerged that the protein product of these strange birds contains several times more useful substances, and the cholesterol level, on the contrary, is significantly lower than in ordinary eggs. However, later studies showed that chemical composition such eggs are no different from others, and the hype has passed.
Factor 2. Environmental conditions
The color intensity of the shell varies from pale, creamy shades to rich reddish ones. What does this depend on? The color of the shell is influenced by various external factors: air temperature, stressful situations, illness. The brownish tint is produced by a pigment called protoporphyrin. It is found in hemoglobin and various vitamins, and is quite common in many forms of living nature.
The more time it takes for the fetus to pass through the oviduct, the more intensely it is colored. This happens because porphyrin acts on the shell longer. Also, the intensity of the color depends on the period of oviposition: the first ones usually turn out darker.
Scientific research has proven that the color pigment that influences the formation of color is located in the cells of the uterine organ of the laying hen. Therefore, the color of the shell is determined even at the initial stages of egg formation.
What affects the color of the yolk?
The color of the egg yolk sometimes worries both beginners and experienced housewives. Let's figure out why the yolks in one egg are pale yellow, in another they have a bright, rich hue, and in the third there may even be a poisonous orange yolk.
The color of the yolk is a consequence of the influence of pigments belonging to the group of carotenoids. Carotenoids are natural pigments and give color to plants and fruits. However, not all types of pigment affect the color of the yolk. For example, beta-carotene, which makes carrots orange, will not affect the color of the yolk. But the pigments lutein or xanthophyll can achieve the bright color of egg yolk.
The color of the yolk depends on the bird's diet. If the chicken eats foods rich in yellow pigment, the yolk will have a deeper yellow or orange hue. This effect is produced by bright yellow varieties of corn, grass meal. If you feed chickens with pale varieties of corn and alfalfa, the color of the yolk will be pale yellow. When feeding with colorless food, the yolk will have a barely noticeable yellow tint.
This indicator does not indicate the freshness, naturalness or nutritional value of the egg product. But producers of eggs for sale try to feed laying hens with brightly colored feed to make the product look more attractive to the buyer. Interesting fact: for some reason the yolk contains more protein than the protein itself, so the benefits of the yolk are not measured by the shade.
Simple chemical processes explain why chicken eggs come in different shades both inside and outside. And these factors cannot be decisive when choosing a protein-rich product for your table.
Video “Myths about chicken eggs”
The video debunks several myths that relate to the chicken product.