There are different perceptions of egg colors. Some people think that white eggs taste better and clean, whereas others think brown eggs are healthier. Is there a difference between white and brown eggs or is it just the shell color? Chicken hatch eggs in different colors. The most common colors are white and brown. Eggs vary in colors depending on their breed. This is the reason eggs come in different colors. Plymouth chickens lay brown eggs whereas leghorn chicken lays white eggs.
So, where does difference in shells come from? It depends on the pigment each hen produces. There are other factors that determine the egg color apart from genetics. Age is one factor. Brown laying hens lay lighter eggs as they age. Environment is another factor that can affect the shell color.
Which one is healthier between white and Brown eggs?
People have different opinions of brown and white eggs. A lot of people think that brown eggs are healthy and natural when compared to white eggs. All eggs contain the same nutrients regardless of their color or size. White and brown eggs are both healthy. They both contain proteins, minerals and vitamins. Different kinds of studies have been carried to determine if the egg shell color affects the composition and quality of the egg. Pigment was the only difference found eggs with different shell colors.
Is there any color that tastes better than the other?
People have different answers to this question. Some people think that white eggs taste better than brown and vice versa. In real sense, there is no difference in terms of taste. Both white and brown eggs taste the same. There are a few factors that might affect the taste of eggs. Freshness, preparation method and the feed they have been eating affects the taste in some way.
Chickens that eat feeds rich in fat hatch tasty eggs when compared to those on a low fat diet. It has for a long time been proven that fresh eggs taste better than those stored for quite a while. Low or stable temperature can preserve the eggs flavor for a long time. This is the reason some people love home grown chicken eggs. Be careful on how you prepare your eggs. They determine how it tastes.
Reasons Brown eggs are more expensive than white eggs
Brown eggs are considered more expensive than white eggs despite their equal nutritional content. This has made a lot of people think they are healthier than the white ones. The reason for the price gap has been discovered. Traditionally, brown laying eggs were larger than the white laying eggs. They also laid fewer eggs. Therefore, the prices of brown eggs were spiked to compensate other costs incurred on the hens.
The prices of brown eggs have not changed despite the production cost of both brown laying eggs and white laying eggs being the same. This tradition isn’t fading away anytime soon.
What matters if not the egg color?
The shell color isn’t of vital importance. There are a couple of things people should pay attention to when purchasing eggs. Here are some labels you should pay attention to before making any purchase:
- All natural- Some eggs are labeled all natural or naturally raised. Well; there is no major difference between these eggs and other types of eggs.
- Organic- These eggs are nutritious than conventional eggs. Eggs labeled organic have don’t have any added hormones or antibiotics. Organic eggs also have a higher amount of vitamin D.
- Cage free- Cage free hens are crowded in one place and cannot freely roam outside. Cage free eggs are ranked the same level as conventional eggs.
- Free range- Free range gets enough sunlight. This improves their vitamin D content.
- Omega 3 enriched eggs- Some eggs are fed on omega 3 enriched eggs. Such eggs tend to have high amounts of nutrients.
Backyard and Local eggs
Eggs can either be bought from local farmers or from your backyard flocks. Eggs from local farmers are recommended because their eggs live in natural environments. They also have unlimited access to sun. Most of backyard hens have limited access to sunshine. Their eggs are compared to conventional eggs.
The bottom line
Eggs have different shell colors. It all depends on the breed of the chicken. There is no difference between the nutritional levels of brown and white eggs. Color and price is the only difference.