This is the Difference Between Brown and White Eggs
Is there a difference between brown and white eggs? It all depends on the chicken.
When you’re shopping for eggs to whip up a quiche, an omelette or even an angel food cake, the options at the grocery store have become increasingly complicated. Are you going to buy free-run eggs or free-range? How about omega-3-enriched eggs? And of course, the age-old dilemma: Brown vs. white eggs?
But is there a difference between brown and white eggs? It’s time to find an answer to this scrambled question.
Brown vs. White Eggs
The shell colour is the main difference between brown and white eggs. But are there any other differences between the two? It depends on the hen that laid the eggs.
Both brown eggs and white eggs are the same in structure; different hens produce different coloured eggs. A hen with brown feathers and red earlobes will likely lay brown eggs, whereas a white feathered hen with white earlobes will produce white eggs.
Does Eggshell Colour Affect Nutrition?
You won’t find any difference in nutritional quality if you’re judging an egg by its colour. The inside of the egg will look just the same, and it can be used in the kitchen in the same way.
The real difference is in the diet and environment of the chicken. The food eaten by the hen that laid the egg can directly affect how an egg tastes. Typically, hens that are pasture-raised have an opportunity to forage, and may be fed higher-quality food, therefore making the eggs taste better to some consumers. Read the label on your egg carton to learn more about the farm that’s producing your eggs.
Hens that are allowed to roam in the sunshine also lay eggs that can contain up to 3-4 times the amount of vitamin D found in eggs laid by hens that raised conventionally. Plus, hens that eat food rich in omega-3 fatty acids lay eggs that have high levels of the same nutrients.
What Are the Best Eggs to Buy?
When it comes to choosing brown vs. white eggs, it’s up to your personal preference. The feed and environment of the hens that laid the eggs is often mentioned on the carton, so if you’re looking for a particular nutrient in your eggs, you can start there.
Next, find out how to buy the best eggs at the grocery store.
