Did you ever notice how heavily eggshell colors influence our buying behavior? Are brown eggs healthier than white? Well, it’s true what they say about having distinct preferences when it comes to eggs, but it’s solely centered on eggshell colors.
However, one must still wonder how much deeper these differences genuinely are and if there are any more contrasts other than the eggshells. To be fair, what people crave most to know about is the nutritional value of white and brown eggs. To make them taste better, you can do some things with feeding. You can also use a good egg cooker for optimal taste.
So, let’s find out how brown and white eggs differ and if there really are any solid differences.
Why are their different colored eggs?
This is probably the most asked question on the internet, and the answer is quite simple. The USDA has explained that the eggshells’ colors solely depend on the breed and feather colors of the hens.
Moreover, the USDA has also established upon further research that hen breeds such as Cornish, White Rock, and Leghorn lay white shelled eggs.
Whereas chickens from Plymouth Rock, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island Red lay brown ones. In retrospect, some chickens in South America, namely Araucana, lay green and blue eggs. Here are a few factors that can influence the pigment of the eggshells.
- If the hens are frustrated or mentally disturbed, it will heavily control their entire egg-laying season.
- If the hens have countered any diseases such as infectious bronchitis.
- How well or poorly the producers are housing the hens.
- If the hens are strained or aged, it can impact the color and frequency of eggs laid.
Are brown eggs healthier than white?
Are brown eggs healthier than white? Here’s the real deal; the nutritional values don’t differ drastically between white and brown eggs, according to the USDA.
However, some people still proclaim that Araucana chickens’ green or blue eggs have lower cholesterol levels. While more profound research by the USDA has proven no such mannerism, it’s clear so far that the color of the eggshell has no significant varying effects on the nutritional values.
Furthermore, the USDA has proven that medium-sized eggs contain 6g of protein and 60 calories, whereas larger-sized eggs have 8g of protein and 90 calories. The Certified Egg Facts have also discovered another fact that says that the health benefits and nutritional values of what the hens are fed prior to egg season matter extensively.
To make the eggs highly nutritious, producers prefer feeding hens food with high omega-3 fatty acids, other vitamins, and nutrients. While all of these facts are scientifically proven, further research has found that hens with the permission to free-range and those who acquire enough sun exposure also produce eggs with higher vitamin D.
Are brown eggs healthier than white?
Even though the eggshells’ color is the sole significant factor that we look into before buying an egg, according to research, there’s no evidence that either white or brown eggs win the race by having higher or lower nutritional values.
To put it straight, the differences in health benefits between them vary ever so slightly. But, other factors such as what the hens are fed, if they’re allowed to free-range, their health and well-being play a considerable role in building and maintaining their nutritional worth. The distinctive color of eggs can never tell you about their quality.
Moreover, even when people try to differentiate the taste between brown and white eggs, they will fail miserably because there seems to be no difference at all. However, people often expect further nutritional benefits in brown eggs due to their expensive price range, but that still doesn’t factor in their taste, nutrition, or healthy benefit disparities.
The discrepancy between the eggshell colors starts with the hens. The theory and reality behind it are pretty simple too. White shelled eggs come from hens adorned with white feathers, and brown eggshells are productions of hens that have brown.
Are white eggs better?
There’s no superior egg. However, when asked the question of which eggs are the healthiest, experts believe that the ones which are Animal Welfare Approved, AA, USDA A certified, free-range, pastured, and organic are the most nutritious eggs.
Never minding if these come in brown or white shells, people who know these facts don’t mind spending a few more bucks to obtain the maximum benefits in their diet. On the contrary, people always mistakenly assume that white eggs have lower nutritional benefits as they’re cheaper.
However, the truth is that having white-feathered chickens and raising or breeding them costs producers a lot less. They’re also not fed as much as brown-feathered hens. Thus the overall cost and pricing are much lower.
Tips for choosing the best eggs
Egg lovers should be more bothered about the quality and freshness of the eggs that they bite into every morning rather than the exterior pigment. With that being said, here are a few notes that you must cross-check before buying eggs, according to the USDA.
- Refrigerate the eggs as soon as you buy them.
- Choose the most economical sizes of eggs for all purposes.
- Look for USDA-approved marks or shields to confirm superior size and quality.
- Always opt for unbroken and clean eggshells.
- Always ensure to purchase eggs that the retailers store in the refrigerator.
- Consider the egg grades before purchase. Furthermore, did you know that eggs need a proper inspection to check for their wholesomeness in the USA?
The grading quality may be voluntary, though. There are mainly three kinds of egg grades in the USA: B, A, and -AA. Generally, grade-B eggs are utilized for making dried, liquid, or frozen egg products. At the same time, grade-AA eggs have firm, thick egg whites, and yolks with neat and uncracked shells. And, grade-A has good firm egg whites that most stores sell often.
Conclusion
Are brown eggs healthier than white? So thus far, we have established that eggshells have varying colors. But, does their exterior affect what’s inside or their worth in any way? Absolutely not!
Eggshells have different colors solely based on the chicken’s breed to boil it down. But, the bottom line is that the color of the eggshells has nothing to do with varying nutritional values and health benefits.
Furthermore, many factors such as the hen’s health condition, diet, and living arrangements can heavily influence the eggs’ nutrition portion and flavor. Besides these factors, we can only see some distinctions visible in their colors and the price tag. So, stop worrying about what color your next carton of eggs needs to be. Simply, grab what you love!