White eggs are laid by chickens with white feathers and white ear lobes, while brown eggs are laid by red-feathered chickens with red ear lobes. Chickens with red feathers are larger in body size and require more feed which is why brown eggs are more expensive on store shelves.
In nature, a wide variety of creatures lay eggs including birds, reptiles and insects. An interesting aspect is that most eggs vary in terms of size, color, texture and pattern. However, if you visit your local market or supermarket, you will mostly find white and brown eggs. So, which one should you choose? Is there a difference between brown and white eggs? Are brown eggs more nutritious than white eggs? Well, to answer such questions, here’s a quick look at some of the key differences between brown and white eggs.
What makes an egg white or brown?
The color of the egg is primarily dependent on the breed of chicken. As an example, we can consider chicken breeds like Rhode Island Reds and Plymouth Rocks that lay brown eggs. In case of White Leghorn chickens, the eggs are of white color. There are also chickens that lay blue or bluish-green eggs. However, it’s unlikely you will find these at the supermarket. The color of the egg is determined by the pigment that the hens produce. The shade of egg, i.e., light or dark, can depend on other factors such as the hen’s diet, its age, level of stress, etc.
Are brown eggs more nutritious?
Brown eggs certainly appear to be more nutritious. It is due to this perceptional superiority that brown eggs are often priced higher than white eggs. Some brands also claim that their brown eggs are more nutritious. While there could be some difference in nutrition of brown vs. white eggs, it is usually not significant enough to make any real difference to your body. What can make an egg really nutritious is the type of environment the hens are kept in. For example, hens that spend more time in the sun produce eggs with higher Vitamin D. The quality of diet given to hens can also impact overall nutrition of eggs.
Do brown eggs taste better?
Another thing that people say about brown eggs is that they are tastier as compared to white eggs. However, this again may be just a perceptional thing. Eggs can definitely have different taste, smell and aroma, but it is not dependent on the color of the eggs. Various factors can determine the taste of eggs such as type of feed given to hens, freshness of eggs, transportation and storage conditions, cooking method, cooking oil used, etc.
Next time you reach out for those brown eggs, think again if it’s really worth it. Instead of focusing on the color of eggs, you need to look into other factors such as organic, non-GMO feed, use of antibiotics and hormones, cage-free, free-range, etc. Such labels are more important than just relying on the color of eggs.
Food Facts:
What is the difference between white and brown eggs?
Eggs are packed with protein and provide numerous nutritional benefits at a relatively low cost. Whether you eat them scrambled, between a piece of sausage and a biscuit or mixed in your favorite cake or cookie, here are the answers to five questions you may have about eggs.
1. Is there a nutritional difference between white and brown eggs?
Actually, no. The difference is all about the chicken. White and brown eggs have no nutritional difference; however, they do have a noticeable price variance on store shelves. Brown eggs are more expensive than white eggs because of the difference in the hens that lay them. White eggs are laid by chickens with white feathers and white ear lobes, while brown eggs are laid by red-feathered chickens with red ear lobes. Chickens with red feathers are larger in body size and require more feed which is why brown eggs are more expensive on store shelves.
2. How do eggs affect my risk of heart disease?
The results of two recent studies indicate that eating eggs daily can actually lower your risk of heart disease. Even though studies in the past indicate that eating eggs can result in cholesterol issues, the study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicates that research participants failed to develop any increased risk of heart-clogging diseases.
3. How can you find the exact date a carton of eggs was packed?
It’s called a Julian date and you can find it on the outside of any egg carton purchased in a store. The three-digit number represents the day of the year the eggs were washed, graded and packed in the carton. For instance, January 1 is written as 001 and December 31 is written as 365.
4. Why are free-range eggs more expensive?
The cost of producing free-range eggs is higher, so the price you see in the store will be more expensive as well. Dr. Kenneth Anderson, Poultry Scientist with North Carolina State University Extension, says that labor costs are 10 to 20 times higher for free-range hens. The hens are typically larger in size and require more feed to develop and lay their eggs. Free-range hen production sees a higher mortality rate due to predators which is a financial loss for the producer.
5. How long does it take a chicken to lay an egg?
The entire formation of an egg takes between 24 and 26 hours. Of the day-long process, forming the eggshell takes 20 hours alone. Lisa Steele, writer of Fresh Eggs Daily, explains that a chicken’s diet contains a high percentage of calcium, which is used to help form the eggshell. Soon after the chicken is done laying an egg, its body will release a new yolk for the egg formation process to begin again. A good hen will lay between five and seven eggs each week during prime production in the spring and summer months.
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