When it comes to egg color, many people have a preference.
White eggs are preferred by some because they are seen to be cleaner and/or taste better, whereas brown eggs are favored by others because they are thought to be healthier or more natural.
But do brown and white eggs really differ that much inside?
Read on to find out if there really is a superior type of egg in terms of health benefits and flavor profiles.
Eggs come in a variety of colors
It’s not uncommon to see both brown and white chicken eggs at the grocery store.
Yet many are at a loss to explain the phenomenon of varying egg colors.
The basic answer is that different chicken breeds lay different colored eggs. Chickens of the White Leghorn breed produce eggs with a white shell, while those of the Plymouth Rock and Rhode Island Red breeds produce brown eggs.
Some chicken varieties, including the Araucana, Ameraucana, Dongxiang, and Lushi, even lay blue or blue-green eggs.
Pigments produced by the hens account for the variety in eggshell colors. Protoporphyrin IX is the primary brown pigment found in eggshells. It’s made using heme, the pigment responsible for blood’s red color.
Biliverdin, the main blue pigment in eggshells, is also formed from heme. The same pigment gives bruises their characteristic bluish green color.
Even among the same breed of hens, there can be a wide range of eggshell colors due to differences in genetic dominance.
Although genetics is the most important component, environmental circumstances also have a role in determining egg color.
Example: brown egg laying hens produce larger, whiter eggs as they age.
In addition to the hen’s genetics, her nutrition, and her stress levels may all play a role in the color of her shell.
These variations in tone are not intrinsic to the color itself but can affect how noticeable they are. When it comes to determining egg color, breed still matters most.
Do brown eggs contain more nutrients than white eggs?
Many people who prefer brown eggs to white do so out of a belief that brown eggs are better for them health-wise and for the environment.
Although there may be some differences in size, quality, and color, all eggs are essentially the same in terms of their nutritional value.
Both brown and white eggs are nutritious. An average egg offers a lot of vitamins, minerals, and high-quality protein, all in less than 80 calories.
However, researchers have examined the characteristics of brown eggs to those of white eggs to determine if there is a difference. Different investigations have reached the same conclusion: shell color has no bearing on egg quality or composition.
This suggests that there is little correlation between the color of an egg’s shell and its overall health. The shell’s colour is the only distinguishing feature.
Other factors, however, can impact an egg’s nutritional composition.
The hen’s surroundings, for instance, may have a significant impact. The vitamin D content of eggs laid by chickens that are given access to the outdoors is three to four times higher than that of eggs laid by hens kept in a confined environment.
The quality of a hen’s diet can also have an impact on the nutritional value of her eggs.
Chickens who are given a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids will lay eggs that are packed with healthy fat. Vitamin D has been shown to have a similar effect when fed to chickens.
Which egg color tastes better?
Some individuals insist that brown eggs have a superior flavor, while others insist that white eggs are the way to go.
Brown-shelled and white-shelled eggs taste identical, and the same holds true for their nutritional value.
But it doesn’t mean they’re all going to taste the same.
Although the color of the shell has little bearing on the flavor, other factors such as the chicken’s breed, diet, freshness, and cooking method might.
Egg flavor may also be influenced by the hen’s nutrition, which will be different in a home-grown hen compared to a hen raised in a traditional setting.
The longer an egg is kept, the more likely it may develop an unpleasant taste. Eggs’ flavor can be preserved for a longer period of time if they are kept at a steady, low temperature, like in the fridge.
Some people may prefer the flavor of eggs from birds they’ve grown themselves because of these factors.
If you’re looking for the freshest eggs possible, consider buying some backyard eggs instead of going to the supermarket. They might taste better since they’re fresher.
The way an egg is cooked can also influence its flavor.
One study investigated how adding fish oil to poultry feed increased omega-3 levels and the chickens’ egg flavor. The study concluded that the flavor of scrambled eggs produced by chickens given either fish-oil-enriched feed or regular feed was the same.
When boiled, however, eggs laid by chickens given fish oil-enriched feed had a stronger sulfur-like or off-taste.
So, while numerous factors can influence egg flavor, shell color is not one of them.
So why do brown eggs cost more than white ones?
Brown eggs typically cost more than white eggs, despite the fact that they appear to be identical in every way except for color.
This has led many to mistakenly believe that brown eggs are superior to their white counterparts in terms of health or quality.
Brown hens are larger and produce fewer eggs than their white counterparts, therefore historically speaking, brown eggs have been more expensive. Therefore, a higher price for brown eggs was required to offset the additional expenses of producing them.
These days, the cost to produce a brown hen is very close to that of a white hen. However, the price of their eggs remains higher than that of other types.
This could be because premium eggs, such as free-range or organic, are brown rather than white.
So, if color doesn’t matter, what does?
Color is clearly not a significant component. So, what criteria should you use while purchasing eggs?
Here is a quick rundown of the various types and what their labels actually signify.
All natural
Because the term “natural” cannot be defined, it is not regulated in the United States.
Eggs labeled “naturally raised” or “all natural” are the same as any other egg.
Organic
In order to earn the USDA and EU organic seals of approval, laying hens must be fed exclusively organic, non-GMO feed.
They must also have access to the outdoors all year.
They are also free of antibiotics and hormones, both of which are strictly prohibited in the raising of laying hens.
If a product claims to be organic, antibiotics may only be used in case of extreme necessity. If not, antibiotics in low doses are frequently administered via feed and water, which can lead to antibiotic-resistant microorganisms.
There is no conclusive proof that organic eggs are healthier than regular eggs.
But the quality of life for certified organic chickens is likely higher, and the eggs from these hens are likely to have a higher vitamin D content because of the additional time the hens spend outside.
Cage-free
Eggs labeled as “cage-free” may not be exactly what they seem to be.
Cage-free chickens are kept in a large, open structure or room, as opposed to the tiny cages utilized in conventional chicken farming in the United States.
However, even chickens that aren’t confined to cages typically still live in overcrowded conditions with little access to the outdoors.
Hens may do somewhat better in a cage-free environment. In terms of nutrients, however, there is probably little difference between caged and conventional eggs.
Free-range
The term “free-range” is used to describe eggs laid by hens who have access to the outdoors at all times.
This, in theory, improves the hens’ quality of life.
It may also improve the nutritional content of the eggs, as hens exposed to sunlight produce eggs with significantly greater vitamin D levels.
Omega-3-enriched
Hens that consume a diet rich in beneficial omega-3 fats lay eggs with higher omega-3 content.
Since this is the case, the egg has an exceptionally high concentration of omega-3s.
Eggs supplemented with omega-3 fats are a useful addition to a diet low in these healthy fats. Choosing omega-3-enriched eggs may provide certain health advantages.
Those who eat omega-3 enriched eggs on a daily basis have been shown in recent research to have lower levels of triglycerides and blood pressure.
Another older study indicated that breastfeeding moms whose diets included two omega-3 enhanced eggs per day for six weeks saw an increase in the omega-3 fat content of their breast milk.
In general, it’s possible that omega-3 fortified eggs provide a few extra benefits above regular eggs.
Backyard and local
The freshest eggs come from backyard flocks or those purchased directly from small, local farmers, where the chickens are allowed to roam freely and have access to natural light.
It’s also possible that the nutritional value of eggs laid by backyard hens differs from those laid by hens kept in normal settings, due to the meals these hens are fed.
This is especially true if the chickens have access to grass. Scientists in 2010 discovered that hens given both grass and standard feed laid eggs with higher concentrations of healthy fats and antioxidants.
However, backyard flocks are not governed by the same sanitary standards as commercial flocks, so make sure to only purchase local or backyard eggs from sources you are confident in their commitment to good care and hygiene.