What is the difference between brown and white chicken eggs? What determines the color of the yolk and egg shell

When you go to the store for eggs, do you buy white ones or brown ones? Does color influence your preferences? Perhaps you buy white ones because you are used to them since childhood. Or you learned from somewhere that brown is better, and now you take only them. But what is the real difference?

difference in chicken

When it comes to color, the breed of chicken is the key factor. Simply put, hens with white plumage will lay white eggs, while those with tawny plumage will lay brown. 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 shell of eggs of both colors has the same thickness. If you have ever noticed that the shell is thicker, this is the effect of the age of the hen that laid it. Younger hens lay thicker-shelled eggs, while older hens have thinner-shelled eggs. This applies to both white and brown eggs.

Why are brown eggs usually more expensive?

There is an opinion that browns are more expensive than whites because they are more natural. In reality, it is not. Brown eggs are usually more expensive, as brown-feathered hens are larger and require more feed.

Little nuance

However, there is one small nuance. Many people say that brown eggs tastier since they tasted such eggs in the village. But even here color does not play any role - the fact is that in the villages you can most often find chickens with brown plumage, and a richer taste depends on the fact that domestic chickens are fed much better than those used for mass production of eggs .

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You are going to, say, bake a pie, but the main ingredient - eggs - is not. Go to the store, find a rack with the right product and see that chicken eggs They come in different colors, sizes and at different prices. Why are some eggs more expensive than others? What is the difference? What kind of eggs should you take?

No panic website he will now quickly tell you what the difference is between chicken eggs and why they are still different colors.

There is an opinion that brown eggs are homemade, and white ones are from the store.

But in fact, the color of the eggs depends on the breed of chickens. Chickens with white feathers lay white eggs, while those with brown plumage lay brown eggs. There are breeds that lay spotted and even blue eggs, but such hens are rarely bred, and therefore such eggs are rarely sold.

Decided on color. What about benefits?

No matter what they tell you, brown and white eggs have the same number nutrients and therefore they are equally useful. True, sometimes the eggshells of some eggs seem harder than others - the age of the chicken will be the reason. As a rule, young hens lay eggs with a hard shell, and old ones with a thinner one.

Sometimes brown eggs can cost more just because brown hens have big sizes than whites and require more food. In this case, the manufacturer simply wants to "recapture" the cost of feed.

But sometimes the price difference is justified.

Regardless of the color and breed of the chicken, each egg (or package) is stamped. The first digit indicates the category, followed by the country and manufacturer's code. The date is printed separately.

By the way, about the date. The letter “d” or “s” can still be on the egg, which means “dietary” or “table”. Simply put, a dietary egg is a very fresh egg (up to 7 days), and a table egg is a little more mature (from 8 to 25 days).

C3- 3rd category (from 25 to 44.9 g)
C2- 2nd category (from 45 to 54.9 g)
C1- 1st category (from 55 to 64.9 g)
C0- selective category (from 65 to 74.9 g)

And anomalously giant eggs are awarded the category "B" - the highest.

By the way, in the recipes of the same pies, the mass of 1 egg is usually considered equal to 40 g, that is, a small egg of the 3rd category is meant.

But homemade eggs are really better

So we grab the cheapest fresh eggs from the shelf and run to bake our pie as soon as possible.

Chicken eggs are white and brown. The opinion that brown is better in all respects is very common. So what determines the color of an egg in a chicken?

Depending on the breed of chickens, the shell can take on any shade from white to dark brown. But most birds lay white eggs. Chickens that lay brown eggs are less productive, and therefore of less interest to poultry farms. It is advisable to keep them only if the eggs can be sold for a higher price.

The color of the shell is associated with another particular problem. Eggs are translucent before being sold. By doing this, they try to detect unappetizing inclusions, such as blood stains, which can cause rejection in the buyer. With brown shells, blood inclusions are more difficult to detect than with white ones, and it is easier for such products to safely pass the pre-sale control and end up on the breakfast table.

The color of the shell does not at all determine the taste or quality features, and to the question of why chicken eggs are of different colors, 3 different answers can be given. Color depends on:

breeds;
environmental conditions (air temperature, stressful situations, diseases of chickens);
oviposition period.

When asked what determines the color of the yolk, experts gave the following answer.

Previously, when chickens were kept in more natural conditions, the yolk acquired a pale yellow color in winter and a golden yellow color in summer. The color of the egg yolk depends on the presence of carotenoids in the feed. Carotenoids are yellow and red hues found in corn, carrots and red peppers. The color of the yolk will not depend on the provitamin A, beta-carotene contained in carrots, but the pigments lutein and xanthophyll give the yolk a bright yellow color.

In winter, chickens receive screenings, which are a mixture of weeds and waste that are formed during the cleaning of grain after grinding. This feed contains little carotene, and hens lay eggs with pale yolks.
In summer, they independently search for food in green meadows, and the yolks are colored in golden yellow and red-brown, depending on what serves as food - greens or larvae of May beetles.

The ideal country egg contains the light of the summer sun, although the color of the yolk is not an indication of its naturalness, freshness or dietary value.

Currently, the color of the yolk no longer depends on the time of year.

Natural products have a significant drawback, namely: their components are not consistent in quantity and quality. Because of this, synthetic carotenoids are added to the feed for fidelity, and this leads to a constancy of the color of the yolk in summer and winter.

Last but not least, intuition is needed to formulate feed. The fact is that the desired golden yellow color of the yolk is obtained from the composition of red and yellow dyes.

The color of the yolk is a thing in itself: in addition to pigments, its color is also determined by other food components and factors:

antioxidants added for stabilization;
share of grain in feed;
mold poisons;
diseases of chickens;
medicines used to treat chickens;
conditions of detention (in daylight or in its absence).

All of the above are subject to various influences. And when you once again pick up an egg at breakfast, marvel at this natural miracle and the dexterity of its producers, and it will illuminate you with the sunlight of the yolk.

What color eggs are best?

At one of the agricultural exhibitions, a corresponding survey was carried out, and a third of the respondents preferred brown, a third - white, and the rest could not decide on their preferences. The consumer is inclined to believe that foods with intense color have a more pronounced taste.

What does the marking on chicken eggs mean?

According to Russian standards, the following marking is applied on the shell or on the packaging:

The first character is the letter D (dietary) painted in red or the letter C (table) painted in blue. Dietary eggs are considered only 7 days after being laid, then they go into the category of canteens.
The next character is a category, indicated by a number from 1 to 3 or by the letters O (selective) or B (highest category).

Category	3	2	1	O	AT
Weight, g	35–44,9	45–54,9	55–64,9	65–74,9	75 and above
Average weight, g	40	50	60	70	80

As an example, category 2 table eggs are labeled C2, with an average weight of 50 g. If an “egg” is indicated in a recipe for a culinary dish or a cosmetic mask, category 2 eggs are meant, although housewives sometimes refer to category 1 as “average”.

If desired, the manufacturer can apply the following (optional) signs:

your trademark;
the name of the poultry farm;
expiration date with sorting date.

Are there two-color egg yolks, and why are they possible?

Answer. It happens that the manufacturer, in an effort to maintain the constancy of the color of the yolk in summer and winter, mixes carotenoids with chicken feed. With a sudden change in the composition of dyes, a two-color yolk is found in a boiled egg.

Does Eating Eggs Raise Cholesterol and Heart Attack Risk?

Answer. In a number of authoritative studies, there is no relationship between the number of eggs eaten, the level of cholesterol in the blood and the death rate from cardiovascular disease was not identified. An elderly man is known to have eaten 24 eggs daily for 15 years. His blood cholesterol level was below 5 mmol/l.

If the egg smells like fish, does that mean fishmeal was added to the chicken feed?

Certain breeds of hens lay smelly eggs when fed rapeseed, and this applies more to hens that lay brown eggs. Another undesirable taste imparts a large number of acorns, cockchafer larvae, onion, garlic husks, swede, cabbage, cottonseed, legumes, millet and rye, which are allowed to be used as feed in limited quantities and with preliminary heat treatment.

Answer. At one of the agricultural exhibitions, 3,000 visitors were offered hard-boiled eggs, and they were asked to indicate the most delicious ones. Processing of responses revealed that for the majority of visitors, eggs at the age of 14 days were considered the most delicious. The second place was taken by 3-day ones, and at the end of the list were 21-day ones.

How to determine if an egg is fresh or not?

Answer. It is most reliable to determine the age of eggs when they are broken: in fresh, the yolk is convex, limited by a dense shell, and two zones are clearly distinguished in the protein. In the old protein, it spreads widely, there are no zones in it, and the yolk is flat and soon bursts.

Where is more protein (protein), in the protein or the yolk?

Answer. There are fewer proteins in the protein than in the yolk, the percentage content is 11 and 16%, respectively, that is, one and a half times more. Why then do bodybuilders prefer whites to yolks? Because there are no fats in the proteins, and in the yolks they are also 16%.

The color of the shell is determined by the breed of the chicken, and the color of the yolk is determined by the feed used to feed them in the last 2 weeks. The color of the shell does not affect consumer qualities, but the age of the egg can be determined by the color of the yolk and its consistency, possible diseases mother hens and conditions of its maintenance. The most valuable eggs of chickens kept in close to natural conditions who received complete food.

What is the difference between brown eggs and white ones, is it necessary to wash the product before use, how healthy are raw eggs - Teleprogramma.pro answers popular and important questions.

How many eggs per day can you eat?

The product is often scolded because of cholesterol: in one egg - more than half daily allowance. However, it also contains phospholipids that lower the concentration of cholesterol in the blood, useful vitamins and minerals.

The second argument against the daily consumption of eggs - high calorie content - is also considered a myth.

Nutritionists allow (and even recommend) to eat 1-2 eggs daily. Upper bound- for the young and healthy person. Elderly people, as well as those suffering from atherosclerosis, can eat one egg every other day or every day.

At high cholesterol in the blood, you should not eat more than 2-3 eggs per week ....

To wash or not to wash?

"Beware of salmonellosis!" - scare intestinal infection egg lovers. The threat is real, but it is worth understanding: the pathogens are on the shell, and not inside the egg - it is contact with the raw whole product that is dangerous.

Therefore, in order to protect yourself, eggs must be washed with warm water and soap before use.

Two important clarifications. First, rinse them immediately before cooking. If the product is processed in advance, the protective film of the egg will collapse and microbes will be able to penetrate inside. The second point is what to do with damaged eggs?

If there are cracks in the shell, even the smallest ones, washing will no longer help protect against salmonella.

In this case, it is worth focusing on heat treatment: cook for at least 15 minutes, and carefully fry the omelet and scrambled eggs on both sides ....

Are raw eggs healthier?

No. When used raw eggs increased risk of salmonellosis (see above). In addition, the product without heat treatment binds biotin (participates in the regulation of fat and protein balance) and is less absorbed by the stomach. The nutritional value of eggs during boiling or frying, of course, changes, but not significantly - the content of some vitamins is reduced by about 10%. By the way, soft-boiled eggs are digested the fastest ....

White and brown eggs - what's the difference?

There is an opinion that the color of the shell determines how healthy, natural and strong the eggs are. In fact, the color of the egg does not affect the taste.

The hue of the shell is associated with the breed of laying hens: birds with white feathers tend to produce white eggs, with brown - a product with a dark shell. The strength of the latter depends on the age of the chicken - young birds carry stronger eggs, and only the laying ration affects the taste and shade of the yolk. Why do brown eggs often cost an order of magnitude more? The fact is that dark chickens are larger in size, therefore they consume more feed. Manufacturers are trying to compensate for the cost of food at the cost of a dozen ...

What to choose: farm or factory eggs?

I would like to answer without hesitation - farmer. After all, it would seem that in households the conditions for birds are much better: grass, sun, free range. And in factories, poor laying hens are allegedly crowded in cages, conditions are close to unsanitary conditions, harmful additives are added to the feed, and eggs are processed before being sold so that nothing useful remains in the product. But this is only a superficial opinion.

Nutritionists do advise buying homemade eggs, but only if you are indirectly or personally acquainted with the farmer. It is likely that the farm is located near the city, and the chicken coop is located near the road, along which cars often pass - in this case, there is no need to talk about environmental friendliness. There are more important factor, which you should pay attention to when buying: the proximity of the manufacturer to the place of sale. The less eggs were on the way and "shaking" on the roads, the better ....

How to choose and store?…

The fresher the egg, the better. We are looking for a product labeled "D" on the shelves, that is, dietary. As a diet, this stamp does not apply, it shows the “production date” - no more than 7 days ago. The next category - table egg - has a shelf life of up to 25 days. This product is called a "second freshness product", but it remains edible and safe ....
On the shelves you will find five types of eggs: selected, first, second, third and the highest category- depending on the size of the egg. The largest egg (highest category) weighs more than 75 grams, the smallest (third grade) - up to 45 grams. Younger chickens give small eggs, however, according to farmers, this fact does not affect the nutritional properties of the product ....
Another important factor is appearance shells. The shell must be free of damage and cracks - there are no compromises in this matter. As for cleanliness, you should not take products with obvious contamination - droppings and feathers, as well as glossy eggs polished to a shine ....
The optimum storage temperature for eggs is from 0 to 2 degrees, in which case the product can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 months. At a storage temperature of up to 20 degrees, the shelf life is reduced to 25 days ....
We recommend storing eggs away from strong-smelling foods - the shell quite easily misses extraneous flavors. And you should not put them on the refrigerator door - firstly, this is the warmest place, and secondly, here the product is subject to temperature fluctuations when opening and closing the refrigerator. The best option- near the wall on the middle shelf or in the lower drawers ....

Scotch Eggs - A hard-boiled and peeled egg wrapped in a thin layer of minced meat and fried in breadcrumbs….

Eggs Benedict - poached egg with toast, bacon and hollandaise sauce….

Kyukyu - eggs with a lot of greens, a dish of Azerbaijani cuisine ....

Frittata is an Italian omelet stuffed with vegetables, herbs, mushrooms or nuts….

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Have you ever wondered what determines the color of eggs in a chicken? After all, there are shells of different colors, both white and all kinds of brown shades. What is it - different varieties of eggs or a sign of quality? Let's try to figure out what affects the pigmentation of the shell and yolk. And at the same time we will find out why you should not choose this product, starting from the color.

Factors that determine shell color

Among the inhabitants there is an opinion that the composition of eggs Brown color more natural, so to speak, homemade. In fact, the quality of the product produced by a laying hen depends on many factors. But the color does not affect the taste or quality of the eggs. And vice versa, the conditions of keeping and feeding the chicken in no way affect the color of the future fried eggs. And yet, what depends different colour chicken eggs?

Factor 1. Breed

So, the color of the shell in the products that are carried by domestic and industrial chickens depends on the breed of the bird. At the same time, the ability to carry eggs of a certain color is laid genetically. That is, the same chicken throughout its life produces fruits with a shell of a certain color. And such a pattern is often observed: the color of the shell depends on the tinting of the feathers.

So, laying hens with white feathers are mostly carried in white, but pockmarked and golden birds are brown. To know for sure what color your hen's eggs will be, take a closer look at the earlobe. If it is white, then the eggs will have the same color. In chickens with a red ear, the color of the shell will be brown.

For each breed of chickens, certain color characteristics are inherent. So, Leggorny and Russian White have plumage white color, and their shells are the same color. By the way, these breeds are distinguished by the greatest egg production. That is why white-shell protein products predominate in shops and markets.

AT household they prefer to have birds that are capable of both carrying eggs and confidently gaining weight. Such breeds are mostly brown in color, respectively, and their eggs acquire the same color. These include Dominican laying hens, Rhode Island, Orpington and other meat and egg chickens.

For some reason, people have the opinion that since domestic eggs have a brown tint, this is a sign of their naturalness. One way or another, this stereotype is based on the subconscious, and has nothing to do with common sense. But farmers are breeding new breeds that lay well and produce brown-colored eggs in order to win the favor of the buyer.

By the way, we are all used to seeing chicken products with white and brown shells on our table. And in South America There is a specific breed of hens that lays bluish-green eggs. The chickens themselves look very original: they do not have tails, but feather decorations have formed on their heads due to their mustaches and beards. The breed is called "Araucana" - in honor of the name of the tribe of Indians who bred such chickens.

In the middle of the last century, testicles from Araucan chickens gained unprecedented popularity, but why? Among Americans, there was an opinion that the protein product of these outlandish birds contains several times more useful substances, and the level of cholesterol, on the contrary, is much lower than in ordinary eggs. However, later studies have shown that chemical composition such eggs are no different from others, and the hype has passed.

Factor 2. Environment

The intensity of the color of the shell varies from pale, creamy shades to rich reddish. What does it depend on? Shell color is influenced by various external factors: air temperature, stressful situations, disease. The brownish color comes from a pigment called protoporphyrin. It is found in hemoglobin and various vitamins, is quite common in many forms of wildlife.

The more time it takes for the fetus to pass through the oviduct, the more intensely it stains. This is because the porphyrin acts on the membrane longer. Also, the intensity of the color depends on the laying period: the first ones usually turn out darker.

Scientific studies have proven that the color pigment that affects the formation of color is located in the cells of the uterine organ of the laying hen. Therefore, the color of the shell is determined by initial stages egg formation.

What affects the color of the yolk?

Color egg yolk sometimes worries both beginners and experienced housewives. Let's see why in one egg the yolks are pale yellow, in the other they have a bright saturated hue, and in the third there may be a poisonous orange yolk.

The color of the yolk is a consequence of the influence of pigments belonging to the group of carotenoids. Carotenoids are natural pigments that give color to plants and fruits. However, not all types of pigment affect the color of the yolk. For example, beta-carotene, which makes carrots orange, will not affect the color of the yolk. But the pigments lutein or xanthophyll are able to achieve bright color egg yolk.

The color of the yolk depends on the diet of the bird. If the chicken eats foods rich in yellow pigment, then the yolk will have a richer yellow or orange hue. This effect is given by corn of bright yellow varieties, grass flour. If you feed chickens with pale varieties of corn and alfalfa, then the tint of the yolk will be pale yellow. When feeding with colorless food, the yolk will also have a barely noticeable yellow tint.

This indicator is not a sign of freshness, naturalness or nutritional value egg product. But producers of eggs for sale are trying to feed hens with brightly colored food to make the product look more attractive to the buyer. Interesting fact: for some reason, the yolk contains more protein than the protein itself, so the benefits of the yolk are not measured by the shade.

Simple chemical processes explain why chicken eggs come in different shades both inside and out. And these factors cannot be decisive when choosing a protein-rich product for your table.

Video "Myths about chicken eggs"

The video debunks several myths that relate to the chicken product.