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? What is the difference between white and brown eggs, let's try to figure it out.
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 saturated color yolk. In fact, it depends on the chicken 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.
- The shell should not have any cracks or damage.
- 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 chickens.
- 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 hens with brown feathers 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 .
Despite the variety of chicken breeds, among which there are representatives of all kinds of colors, from blue-black to intense yellow, laying hens generally lay eggs of two colors: white or all sorts of shades of brown. What determines the color of a chicken egg shell? What makes the yolk yellow? Should I buy this product based solely on color? Explanations of these questions are in the field of oology - the science that studies eggs.
Before moving on to color issues, you should understand the structure of the egg. The shell, white and yolk are the 3 components of a ripe egg, located in a ratio of 12:56:32 in relation to each other. If you do not take into account the outer shell, the proportion of white is 64%, and the yolk is 36%. Scientists have concluded that 90% of the shell is filled with calcium carbonate, and the remaining 10% comes from magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, potassium, silicon, molybdenum, sodium, manganese, copper, aluminum, iron, fluorine, sulfur and other elements of the periodic table .
On the outside, the egg is enveloped in a film above the shell, which is dried mucus. This protective layer prevents moisture from escaping and prevents exposure to harmful microbes. Inside there is another “checkpoint”: an under-shell film that retains protein and serves as an excellent filter for microbes. However, it is open to air and life-giving moisture necessary for the formation of the egg. The natural “roadblock” is completed by a soft protein film.
The thickness of the shell is 0.3 - 0.4 mm: at the sharp end of the egg it is denser than at the blunt end. The density of the egg shell also depends on the period of oviposition: at the beginning of the process it is thicker, and towards its completion it gradually becomes thinner.
The color scheme of eggs, as well as the color of plumage, is determined at the genetic level. In chickens, like other domesticated birds, the shade of the shell is determined by belonging to a particular breed.
The brown color appears on the shell under the influence of protoporphyrin. Most often this coloring matter can be found in hemoglobin and vitamins. It takes part in the synthesis of cells of the uterine mucosa during the formation of the shell, so the shade is laid at the initial stage of this process. The more hours the egg is allowed to travel through the oviduct, the more intense its color becomes.
Factors influencing shell color
Partially, the diet of birds plays a role in the coloration of eggs in one shade or another: a lack of certain types of amino acids can lead to a decrease in color saturation. Also, its concentration is influenced by the stage of oviposition, since the color of the first eggs is usually more saturated. However, the most main factor, affecting the color of the shell, is the chicken’s belonging to a particular breed.
It is enough to trace the parallel between the color of the feathers and the color of the shell: females with white plumage produce white eggs, and hens of other shades lay brown eggs.
Any variety of chicken has specific color characteristics. For example, the famous Leghorns or Russian Whites have snow-white plumage, respectively, their eggs will be of the same shade. Considering that these breeds demonstrate excellent egg production, snow-colored eggs prevail on store shelves.
Leghorn chickens
Leghorn hens were bred as an egg-laying cross with high production characteristics. In addition, they have excellent adaptive abilities, have a moderate appetite and do not require much space in the chicken coop. Let's figure out how to properly maintain and feed Leghorns. And in the article “” we’ll take a closer look at dwarf chickens.
In private farms, in order to increase economic profitability, they give preference to meat and egg breeds that are predominantly fawn or brown in color, like Rhode Island laying hens, for example. Therefore, a logical chain has become entrenched in the minds of the average person: brown eggs = homemade, which means a natural product. However, in practice this formula does not work.
There is a test method that gives a 100% result: a white earlobe is a guarantee of white offspring. Owners of red ears produce products of brown shades.
The South American continent is the proud owner of an exotic breed of chickens that lay blue eggs with a greenish tint. In addition to the original color of the shell, the laying hens themselves also look quite unusual: they have no tails. The lack of appendages on the back of the body is apparently compensated for by a mustache and beard. The name of the Araucana breed comes from the Indian tribe of the same name, which breeds this species of birds everywhere. Several decades ago, this outlandish product gained unprecedented popularity thanks to an erroneously established stereotype. It was believed that this product contained much more nutritional elements than eggs of the usual shades, and the cholesterol level, on the contrary, was much lower. However, recent research has refuted this consumer cliché.
Araucana and Ameraucana chicken breeds
Araucana chickens are famous all over the world unusual color their eggs. However, many breeders believe that green eggs are not the only reason to love this cross. Want to know what else is unusual about these chickens? Read our article about. By the way, the “Araucanas” have a related cross - , which appeared by crossing Araucans with local American chickens.
In addition to the breed, color saturation is affected environment, the tendency of laying hens to various diseases and even stressful situations. These circumstances can significantly affect the intensity of the color, giving the shell either a soft cream or a bright brick shade.
What determines the color of the yolk?
In addition to the color features of the egg shell, housewives are interested in the color of the yolk, which varies from light yellow to golden and bright orange. If protoporphyrin has done a good job on the brown shell, then the yellow tint is in the good hands of carotenoids. However, not all representatives of this group of pigments are given the power to color the yolk in bright colors. For example, the beta-carotene that makes carrots so orange has no effect on the yellow, thick stuff. But pigments with unusual names lutein and xanthophyll are directly involved in the color of the yolk.
The coloring is determined by the nutritional system: when chickens feed on plants containing yellow pigment in large quantities, the yolk will acquire a more saturated shade. A similar effect can be achieved using rich yellow varieties of corn or herbal flour. If light varieties of corn or alfalfa prevail in the nutritional pattern, the pallor of the color will be transferred to the yolk. If the diet is based on colorless food, the yolk will turn out to be almost transparent, light yellow in color.
The color of the yolk, as well as the color of the egg shell, have absolutely no effect on the quality of the product. However, breeders who breed laying hens try to give the yolk an intense color, so they feed the chickens feed containing yellow pigment. In addition, the researchers came to the conclusion that the yolk contains protein in larger quantities than the protein itself, therefore, its benefits in no way depend on the shade.
Popular questions about chicken eggs
With the help of simplest chemical processes It is possible to give explanations to many questions and mysteries associated with the embryonic form of animals wrapped in a shell - an egg, in ordinary language. Below are the most common topics of discussion among housewives who actively use this product for culinary purposes.
Are white eggs more brittle than brown eggs?
The strength of the shell is affected by 2 factors:
- age of the laying hen;
- amount of calcium in food.
It has been observed that as chickens get older, they begin to lay more fragile eggs. Seasonality also affects the quality of the shell: in the spring, when the body’s condition worsens after the winter period, the likelihood of accidentally breaking an egg increases significantly.
Rules for marking eggs
Any factory-produced egg is marked. The factory “stamp” begins with a capital letter, which indicates the length of the shelf life. The number following it means the category responsible for the size. For example, “D” means a dietary egg, which should preferably be sold within 1 week, and “C” means a table egg, usable for up to 25 days. Depending on the categories, egg weight varies from 35 g to 75 g or more.
Which color eggs are healthier?
There is a widespread belief, especially among housewives, that brown eggs are more natural. However, the quality of the product is influenced not by the color, but by the content and composition of the feed. It was noticed that among brown eggs, specimens with blood spots are more often found.
Are eggs with green yolks dangerous?
The greenish tint that forms on the yolk during cooking does not affect its taste. However, you should not boil them for too long, as the quality of the protein may deteriorate: the optimal cooking time is no more than 10 minutes. It is recommended to use only fresh eggs. Cooling them immediately after cooking will also help prevent the yolks from turning green.
Which country boasts the highest consumption of eggs?
The country most interested in egg products is Mexico: each resident of this sun-kissed region eats about 22 kg of eggs annually. Several decades ago, Japan topped the egg rankings: each islander consumed at least 320 eggs per year.
How does the yolk not stick to the shell?
The protein is formed from 3 layers: a relatively strong central layer and watery layers enveloping it, external and internal. In the area adjacent to the yolk, the protein is in a more concentrated form compared to the area located directly under the shell. In the layer in contact with the yolk, elastic cords form on both edges. They are the ones that fix the yolk in the central position, and due to their elasticity, do not interfere with its rotation around its axis.
How is opaque protein formed?
The matte white tint of the white is evidence that carbon dioxide is present in a large volume in the egg. The cloudy color is due to the fact that the egg is still fresh and the CO 2 has not had time to evaporate. In eggs that were stored for a long period after oviposition, carbon dioxide safely left the shell through the pores.
Is it profitable to store eggs without packaging?
Considering that the egg shell is permeated with millions of pores that facilitate the penetration of various odors and all kinds of bacteria, it is recommended to place eggs in special trays. It is also advisable to avoid proximity to products that have a strong odor.
Is it better to place eggs with the sharp side down or the blunt side down?
It is preferable to place the eggs with the pointed end down. This is done so that the yolks occupy a central position. This position also promotes good ventilation: eggs breathe better in this position, since there are more pores at the blunt end compared to the sharp one.
How long do eggs last in the refrigerator?
Egg products can be stored in the refrigerator for about 5 weeks from the date of production. After 6 weeks of refrigerated storage, this product is not recommended for consumption. The gifts of laying hens do not spoil for quite a long time due to the fact that a protective film is formed on the surface of the shell.
What determines the size of a chicken egg?
The weight and size of eggs are determined by many factors. First of all, the weight is affected by the age of the chicken: the younger the female, the smaller the eggs she lays. As they grow older, their size becomes larger. If on initial stage the weight fluctuates within 50 g, then when the hen reaches one year, it increases to approximately 65 g.
Why are there eggs with two yolks?
Eggs with two yolks are formed when two eggs in the hen's body mature at the same time. As a rule, a similar phenomenon occurs in very young females or one-year-old laying hens. The largest percentage of “twin eggs” occurs in the first week of laying.
Previously, such products were considered unfit for consumption, but given big size eggs, the weight of which reaches 80 g, livestock specialists are specially engaged in the development of chicken breeds that lay such eggs.
The color of chicken eggs depends mainly on the breed of laying hens, and the intensity of the color of the shell is influenced by the content of carotenoid pigments in the feed. However, coloring does not in any way affect the taste and nutritional quality.
Video - Myths about chicken eggs
What's the difference between brown and white eggs? Which eggs are healthier: brown or white? Which ones taste better?
Are they really white? Or brown?
We sincerely believe that these questions have never become a stumbling block in your kitchen and you have not stopped in confusion to decide which eggs are best for, say, baking! Let's figure out what's true and what's just rumors.
Which eggs are healthier: brown or white?
The fact is that in terms of nutritional value, eggs with both white and brown shells absolutely identical. Both contain healthy vitamins and microelements.
It has long been known that regular consumption of eggs affects the condition of hair, vision and has a beneficial effect on the entire body. On average, one egg with a white or Brown contains 80 calories.
Egg cholesterol is perfectly absorbed by the body and has a strictly positive influence. It is found in the yolk and is balanced by lecithin, which is responsible for its further processing. In this case, the color of the egg shell is absolutely not important.
Some people believe that raw eggs are healthier than boiled ones. We will voice only one argument in favor of heat-treated eggs - salmonella.
Probably everyone knows about this bacterium, which is often hidden in raw eggs. After they are in boiling water, the salmonella dies. Oh yes! The color of the shell does not play any role.
Diet eggs much healthier than canteens. But does everyone know how they differ from each other?
Conventionally, all eggs can be divided into two categories: dietary eggs will be considered those that are stored at a certain temperature for no more than 7 days, table eggs - those that are stored for 25 days from the moment the chicken laid them. In this case, the color of the eggshell does not matter at all.
If you think eggs different color absorb the odors of other products differently, then we tell you - this is a misconception.
Eggs are best stored in special box, because due to the porous structure of the shell, they can actually acquire an uncharacteristic odor. And, as you may have guessed, color does not affect anything.
So is there a difference?
A logical question that has a very obvious answer - none! Both white and brown eggs are exactly the same in their nutritional characteristics and are excellent for all culinary manipulations. Their color depends only on which chickens lay them: speckled chickens have brown or beige eggs, white ones - white! That's the whole difference.
The next time you start choosing eggs, don’t pay attention to their color, but rather find out the expiration date and estimate the size. This information will be quite sufficient.
We wish you bon appetit!
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Despite the fact that on store shelves you can find great amount eggs from different manufacturers, one thing is clear - brown eggs are always more expensive than white ones. Does this mean they are more nutritious, healthier and incredibly delicious? Not at all necessary.
There are several theories according to which the color of the egg directly depends on the color of the chicken's feathers. There is also another theory that says that the color of the shell is influenced by what the bird ate. In fact, all of this can affect the cost of eggs.
Is this true or false?
Experts say the color of the feathers is not an indicator of the shade of the eggshell. So, white hens can lay brown eggs and vice versa. In addition, a specialist from the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Kentucky indicated that there is an exception. He says that hens of many different colors and breeds can produce the same eggs. Also, over the years, experts have compiled graphs that clearly show that white birds laid colored eggs.
Additionally, chickens such as the Araucana lay blue and green eggs, but their feathers are not blue or green. There is a theory that the most accurate way to tell the color of eggs is by looking at the shade of the bird's earlobe. So, red earlobes indicate that the chicken will lay brown eggs. However, this is not the most ideal indicator.
Once you understand how brown eggs get their color, you will understand why they are more expensive. And this happens because of one simple reason - genetic.
Bird physiology also influences
You've probably never thought about internal work reproductive system of the bird. It takes about 26 hours to produce one egg, and a hen can produce about one egg per day during her prime (usually the first two years of her life).
At the first stage, a yolk is formed in the bird's ovary. After ovulation, the yolk enters the oviduct, where it spends about three hours developing the egg white that surrounds and then forms the shell. Actually last stage A coloring pigment is added to the substance. Initially, all eggs are white, some of them simply skip the coloring step. A hen that lays white eggs does not have the gene for color.
Why are brown eggs more expensive? And all because the chicken spends more energy on its creation. As a result, the bird eats more feed than the one that produces white eggs.
Popularity of white eggs
The main reason why white eggs are more popular is due to their lower price. Ordinary consumers prefer a more affordable product, this is natural. Commercial food companies also almost always choose the cheaper egg option when producing confectionery and much more.
But price is not the only factor influencing popularity. The researchers noticed that in different corners countries people prefer to buy eggs of a certain color. In addition, it matters what breed of chickens they prefer to raise in different areas. Birds of different breeds can lay eggs of different colors. As a result, one color will appear frequently, while the other will become “exotic.”
Is there a difference between brown and white eggs?
Most likely, you thought that brown product is more nutritious? This is wrong!
There is no nutritional difference between brown eggs and white eggs. Color does not affect their quality. And there is no difference between domestic layers and those raised on farms. People, seeing that brown eggs are more expensive, are simply mistaken, thinking that they are better, healthier and more nutritious. Many of the residents of our country are sure that only domestic chickens have brown eggs, but this is not so. Everything is laid down at the level of bird genetics.
What to choose?
Does it matter what kind of eggs we buy? No! People who want to save money are advised to choose white eggs. What should you pay attention to? For shelf life and egg size. It is for large eggs that you can pay more. If it’s a matter of color, you don’t have to overpay.
People like taste qualities of the product being described, regardless of what color it is. They love both farm and home eggs equally. And those who think that color affects taste are mistaken. Chickens that lay brown eggs eat a lot, and people have to buy more feed for them, which affects the cost.