Which chicken eggs are better: with white or brown shells? White and brown chicken eggs: which are healthier?

Despite the variety of chicken breeds, among which there are representatives of all kinds of colors, from blue-black to intense yellow, laying hens generally lay eggs in two colors: white or all kinds of shades of brown. What determines the color of a chicken egg shell? What makes the yolk yellow? Should I buy this product based solely on color? Explanations of these questions are in the field of oology - the science that studies eggs.

Before moving on to color issues, you should understand the structure of the egg. The shell, white and yolk are the 3 components of a ripe egg, located in a ratio of 12:56:32 in relation to each other. If you do not take into account the outer shell, the proportion of white is 64%, and the yolk is 36%. Scientists have concluded that 90% of the shell is filled with calcium carbonate, and the remaining 10% comes from magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, potassium, silicon, molybdenum, sodium, manganese, copper, aluminum, iron, fluorine, sulfur and other elements of the periodic table .

On the outside, the egg is enveloped in a film above the shell, which is dried mucus. This protective layer prevents moisture from escaping and prevents exposure to harmful microbes. Inside there is another “checkpoint”: an under-shell film that retains protein and serves as an excellent filter for microbes. However, it is open to air and life-giving moisture necessary for the formation of the egg. The natural “roadblock” is completed by a soft protein film.

The thickness of the shell is 0.3 - 0.4 mm: at the sharp end of the egg it is denser than at the blunt end. The density of the egg shell also depends on the period of oviposition: at the beginning of the process it is thicker, and towards its completion it gradually becomes thinner.

The color scheme of eggs, as well as the color of plumage, is determined at the genetic level. In chickens, as in other domesticated birds, the shade of the shell is determined by belonging to a particular breed.

The brown color appears on the shell under the influence of protoporphyrin. Most often this coloring matter can be found in hemoglobin and vitamins. It takes part in the synthesis of cells of the uterine mucosa during the formation of the shell, so the shade is laid at the initial stage of this process. The more hours the egg is allowed to travel through the oviduct, the more intense its color becomes.

Factors influencing shell color

Partially, the diet of birds matters for the color of eggs in one shade or another: a lack of certain types of amino acids can lead to a decrease in color saturation. Also, its concentration is influenced by the stage of oviposition, since the color of the first eggs is usually more saturated. However, the most important factor affecting the color of the shell is the chicken’s belonging to a particular breed.

It is enough to trace the parallel between the color of the feathers and the color of the shell: females with white plumage produce white eggs, and hens of other shades lay brown eggs.

Any variety of chicken has specific color characteristics. For example, the famous Leghorns or Russian Whites have snow-white plumage, respectively, their eggs will be of the same shade. Considering that these breeds demonstrate excellent egg production, snow-colored eggs prevail on store shelves.

Leghorn chickens

Leghorn hens were bred as an egg-laying cross with high production characteristics. In addition, they have excellent adaptive abilities, have a moderate appetite and do not require much space in the chicken coop. Let's figure out how to properly maintain and feed Leghorns. And in the article “” we’ll take a closer look at dwarf chickens.

In private farms, in order to increase economic profitability, they give preference to meat and egg breeds that have a predominantly fawn or brown color, like Rhode Island laying hens, for example. Therefore, a logical chain has become entrenched in the minds of the average person: brown eggs = homemade, which means a natural product. However, in practice this formula does not work.

There is a test method that gives a 100% result: a white earlobe is a guarantee of white offspring. Owners of red ears produce products of brown shades.

The South American continent is the proud owner of an exotic breed of chickens that lay blue eggs with a greenish tint. In addition to the original color of the shell, the laying hens themselves also look quite unusual: they have no tails. The lack of appendages on the back of the body is apparently compensated for by a mustache and beard. The name of the Araucana breed comes from the Indian tribe of the same name, which breeds this species of birds everywhere. Several decades ago, this outlandish product gained unprecedented popularity thanks to a mistaken stereotype. It was believed that this product contained much more nutritional elements than eggs of the usual shades, and the cholesterol level, on the contrary, was much lower. However, recent research has refuted this consumer cliché.

Araucana and Ameraucana chicken breeds

Araucana chickens are known throughout the world for the unusual color of their eggs. However, many breeders believe that green eggs are not the only reason to love this cross. Want to know what else is unusual about these chickens? Read our article about. By the way, the “Araucanas” have a related cross - , which appeared by crossing Araucans with local American chickens.

In addition to the breed, the color saturation is influenced by the environment, the propensity of laying hens to various diseases, and even stressful situations. These circumstances can significantly affect the intensity of the color, giving the shell either a soft cream or a bright brick shade.

What determines the color of the yolk?

In addition to the color features of the egg shell, housewives are interested in the color of the yolk, which varies from light yellow to golden and bright orange. If protoporphyrin has done a good job on the brown shell, then the yellow tint is in the good hands of carotenoids. However, not all representatives of this group of pigments are given the power to color the yolk in bright colors. For example, the beta-carotene that makes carrots so orange has no effect on the yellow thick stuff. But pigments with unusual names lutein and xanthophyll are directly involved in the color of the yolk.

The coloring is determined by the nutritional system: when chickens feed on plants containing yellow pigment in large quantities, the yolk will acquire a more saturated shade. A similar effect can be achieved using rich yellow corn or grass meal. If light varieties of corn or alfalfa prevail in the nutritional pattern, the pallor of the color will be transferred to the yolk. If the diet is based on colorless food, the yolk will turn out to be almost transparent, light yellow in color.

The color of the yolk, as well as the color of the egg shell, have absolutely no effect on the quality of the product. However, breeders who breed laying hens try to give the yolk an intense color, so they feed the chickens feed containing yellow pigment. In addition, the researchers came to the conclusion that the yolk contains protein in larger quantities than the protein itself, therefore, its benefits in no way depend on the shade.

Popular questions about chicken eggs

With the help of the simplest chemical processes, it is possible to explain many questions and mysteries associated with the embryonic form of animals wrapped in a shell - an egg, in ordinary language. Below are the most common topics of discussion among housewives who actively use this product for culinary purposes.

Are white eggs more brittle than brown eggs?

The strength of the shell is affected by 2 factors:

• age of the laying hen;
• amount of calcium in food.

It has been observed that as chickens get older, they begin to lay more fragile eggs. Seasonality also affects the quality of the shell: in the spring, when the body’s condition worsens after the winter period, the likelihood of accidentally breaking an egg increases significantly.

Rules for marking eggs

Any factory-produced egg is marked. The factory “stamp” begins with a capital letter, which indicates the length of the shelf life. The number following it means the category responsible for the size. For example, “D” means a dietary egg, which should preferably be sold within 1 week, and “C” means a table egg, usable for up to 25 days. Depending on the categories, egg weight varies from 35 g to 75 g or more.

Which color eggs are healthier?

There is a widespread belief, especially among housewives, that brown eggs are more natural. However, the quality of the product is influenced not by the color, but by the content and composition of the feed. It was noticed that among brown eggs, specimens with blood spots are more often found.

Are eggs with green yolks dangerous?

The greenish tint that forms on the yolk during cooking does not affect its taste. However, you should not boil them for too long, as the quality of the protein may deteriorate: the optimal cooking time is no more than 10 minutes. It is recommended to use only fresh eggs. Cooling them immediately after cooking will also help prevent the yolks from turning green.

Which country boasts the highest consumption of eggs?

The country most interested in egg products is Mexico: each resident of this sun-kissed region eats about 22 kg of eggs annually. Several decades ago, Japan topped the egg rankings: each islander consumed at least 320 eggs per year.

How does the yolk not stick to the shell?

The protein is formed from 3 layers: a relatively strong central layer and watery layers enveloping it, external and internal. In the area adjacent to the yolk, the protein is in a more concentrated form compared to the area located directly under the shell. In the layer in contact with the yolk, elastic cords form on both edges. They are the ones that fix the yolk in the central position and, due to their elasticity, do not interfere with its rotation around its axis.

How is opaque protein formed?

The matte white tint of the white is evidence that carbon dioxide is present in a large volume in the egg. The cloudy color is due to the fact that the egg is still fresh and the CO 2 has not had time to evaporate. In eggs that were stored for a long period after oviposition, carbon dioxide safely left the shell through the pores.

Is it profitable to store eggs without packaging?

Considering that the egg shell is permeated with millions of pores that facilitate the penetration of various odors and all kinds of bacteria, it is recommended to place eggs in special trays. It is also advisable to avoid proximity to products that have a strong odor.

Is it better to place eggs with the sharp side down or the blunt side down?

It is preferable to place the eggs with the pointed end down. This is done so that the yolks occupy a central position. This position also promotes good ventilation: eggs breathe better in this position, since there are more pores at the blunt end compared to the sharp one.

How long do eggs last in the refrigerator?

Egg products can be stored in the refrigerator for about 5 weeks from the date of production. After 6 weeks of refrigerated storage, this product is not recommended for consumption. The gifts of laying hens do not spoil for quite a long time due to the fact that a protective film is formed on the surface of the shell.

What determines the size of a chicken egg?

The weight and size of eggs is determined by many factors. First of all, the weight is affected by the age of the chicken: the younger the female, the smaller the eggs she lays. As they grow older, their size becomes larger. If at the initial stage the weight fluctuates within 50 g, then when the hen reaches one year, it increases to approximately 65 g.

Why are there eggs with two yolks?

Eggs with two yolks are formed when two eggs in the hen's body mature at the same time. As a rule, a similar phenomenon occurs in very young females or one-year-old laying hens. The largest percentage of “twin eggs” occurs in the first week of laying.

Previously, such products were considered unsuitable for consumption, but given the large size of the eggs, whose weight reaches 80 g, livestock specialists are specially developing chicken breeds that lay such eggs.

The color of chicken eggs depends mainly on the breed of laying hens, and the intensity of the color of the shell is influenced by the content of carotenoid pigments in the feed. However, coloring does not in any way affect the taste and nutritional quality.

Video - Myths about chicken eggs

Chicken eggs come in white and brown. The opinion that browns are better in every way is very common. So what determines the color of a chicken's egg?

Depending on the breed of chicken, 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 farmers. It is advisable to keep them only if the eggs can be sold for a higher price.

Shell color poses another special problem. Eggs are candled before sale. In this way, they try to detect unappetizing inclusions, such as blood stains, which may cause rejection by the buyer. With brown shells, blood inclusions are more difficult to detect than with white shells, and it is easier for such products to safely pass pre-sale control and end up on the breakfast table.

The color of the shell does not at all determine the taste or quality characteristics, and the question of why chicken eggs are different colors can be given 3 different answers. 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 conditions closer to nature, the yolk became pale yellow in winter and golden yellow in summer. The color of egg yolk depends on the presence of carotenoids in the feed. Carotenoids come in yellow and red hues found in corn, carrots and red peppers. The color of the yolk will not depend on the provitamin A and beta-carotene contained in carrots, but the pigments lutein and xanthophyll give the yolk a bright yellow color.

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

The ideal country egg contains the light of the summer sun, although the color of the yolk is not an indicator 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, to be sure, synthetic carotenoids are mixed into the feed, and this leads to a constant color of the yolk in summer and winter.

Last but not least, formulating food requires intuition. The fact is that the desired golden-yellow color of the yolk is obtained from a 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;
• proportion of grain in feed;
• mold poisons;
• diseases of chickens;
• medications used to treat chickens;
• conditions of detention (in daylight or in its absence).

All of the above is susceptible to various types of influences. And the next time you 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 taste better?

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

What do the markings on chicken eggs mean?

According to Russian standards, the following markings are applied to the shell or packaging:

1. The first symbol is the letter D (dietary) painted in red or the letter C (table) painted in blue. Eggs are considered dietary only for 7 days after they are laid, then they become table eggs.
2. The next symbol is the category, indicated by a number from 1 to 3 or the letters O (selective) or B (highest category).

As an example, the designation C2 marks table eggs of the 2nd category, with an average weight of 50 g. If “egg” is indicated in a recipe for a culinary dish or a cosmetic mask, this means eggs of the 2nd category, although housewives sometimes classify them as the “average” 1st category.

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

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

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

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

Does eating eggs increase cholesterol levels and the risk of heart attack?

Answer. A number of reputable studies have found no relationship between the number of eggs eaten, blood cholesterol levels and mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases. An elderly man is known to have eaten 24 eggs daily for 15 years. The cholesterol level in his blood was below 5 mmol/l.

If an egg smells fishy, ​​does that mean fishmeal was added to the chicken feed?

Some breeds of chickens lay smelly eggs when fed rapeseed, and this applies more to chickens that lay brown eggs. Another undesirable taste is given by a large number of acorns, chafer larvae, onion, garlic peels, rutabaga, cabbage, cottonseed, legumes, millet and rye, which can be used as feed in limited quantities and with preliminary heat treatment.

Answer. At one agricultural exhibition, 3,000 visitors were offered hard-boiled eggs and asked to point out the tastiest ones. Processing the responses revealed that the majority of visitors considered eggs aged 14 days to be the most delicious. The second place was taken by the 3-day ones, and the 21-day ones were at the end of the list.

How to determine whether an egg is fresh or not?

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

Which contains more protein (protein), the white or the yolk?

Answer. There are fewer proteins in the white 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 there are also 16% of them in the yolks.

The color of the shell is determined by the breed of chicken, and the color of the yolk is determined by the food used to feed them in the last 2 weeks. The color of the shell does not affect the consumer qualities, but by the color of the yolk and its consistency, you can determine the age of the egg, possible diseases of the hen and the conditions of its detention. The most valuable are the eggs of chickens kept in close to natural conditions, which received adequate food.

You've probably heard rumors about the difference in health benefits between white and brown eggs. So, many are sure that brown ones are better because of their high nutritional value.

There are people who say that the color of eggs affects the taste of cooked dishes. For example, brown ones are better for making open-faced pies, while white ones are better for making cakes.

Is there a difference

Despite all sorts of rumors, the truth is that both brown and white eggs are the same inside, both in nutrition and taste.

In addition, the thickness of the shell of both types of eggs is more or less the same. Slight differences in thickness may occur due to the age of the chickens. The young lay eggs with relatively harder shells.

Where did the rumors come from?

Rumors that brown ones are better are the reason why they sell for higher prices in supermarkets. The general consensus is that if a product is sold at a higher price, it must be of better quality. But this belief is not true in the case of eggs.

The reason brown eggs cost more is because hens that lay brown eggs tend to eat more, which means they are fed more, and therefore cost much more to keep than hens that lay white eggs.

Which ones taste better?

There is another common belief: brown eggs taste better, and therefore they are more expensive. However, the difference in taste is also just a myth.

When you go to the store to buy eggs, do you buy white or brown? Does color influence your preferences? Perhaps you buy white ones because you have been accustomed to them since childhood. Or you found out somewhere that brown ones are better, and now you only take them. But what's the difference really?

The difference is in the chicken

When it comes to color, the breed of chicken is key. Simply put, hens with white plumage will lay white eggs, while those with tan plumage will lay brown eggs. 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 shells of eggs of both colors are the same thickness. If you've ever noticed that the shell is thicker, that's an effect of the age of the hen that laid it. Young hens lay eggs with thicker shells, while older hens have thin shells. This applies to both white and brown eggs.

Why are brown eggs usually more expensive?

There is an opinion that brown ones are more expensive than white ones because they are more natural. In reality, this is not the case. Brown eggs tend to be more expensive because brown-feathered hens are larger in size and therefore require more feed.

Small nuance

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

In the grocery section of the supermarket, we have all noticed more than once the different colors of chicken eggs - some chicken eggs are white, others are brown. Why do chicken eggs come in different colors? So,

What determines the color of chicken eggs?

The color of the shell of chicken eggs is determined by the pigment in the outer layer of the shell and it depends on the breed of the chicken that laid the egg. If the earlobe of a domestic chicken is white, then it lays white eggs, and if the earlobe is red, then it lays brown eggs.

By the way, in South America there is a breed of chicken with feathered growths on its head, it is called “Araucana”. So, Araucana hens lay blue eggs! Moreover, from this breed the Americans developed another chicken breed - the Ameraucana. Ameraucana chickens have distinctive “whiskers”, and the color of their eggs can be yellow, green and even pink.

Egg yolk color

The color of the yolk of a chicken egg depends on the food it is fed, or rather, on the pigments it contains. So, a chicken that eats bright yellow varieties of corn, which contain an abundance of the yellow-orange pigment xanthophyll, will also have bright yellow egg yolks. And yellow alfalfa or varieties of corn with a pale yellow pigment, if fed mainly to a chicken, will give a pale yellow color to the yolk of a chicken egg.

Based on materials from the publication “Book of Facts”