What Is The Difference Between Brown And White Eggs
The shell color 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 colored 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.
Brown Eggs Vs White Eggs: What’s The Difference
According to Tro V. Bui, a visiting fellow in animal science at Cornell University, “There is no real difference in nutritional value between brown and white eggs.“
He added, “However brown eggs have more Omega-3 fatty acids but the difference is almost negligible.”
White eggs are laid by white-feathered chickens with white or light coloured earlobes while the brown ones are laid by brown-feathered chickens with red earlobes. You would be correct to assume that there are more white eggs in the market than brown ones but that’s because breeding and raising white-feathered chickens is much cheaper. Since they aren’t fed as much as their brown counterparts.
The reason brown eggs cost more is because they come from chickens that have a big appetite! And also because they’re a bit bigger in size. These brown feathered chickens eat more and hence are expensive to keep.
Eggs are replete with antioxidants
A lot of research has been done to identify the difference between brown and white eggs in terms of nutritional value but so far the majority seems to believe that there isn’t any. Dr.Gargi Sharma, weight-management expert believes that brown eggs are healthier than white egg and for those looking to get their fair share of protein and and at the same time wanting to keep in check things like cholesterol and calories, brown eggs are a better option.
Then Why Are Most Grocery
Does this mean the common, lily-white eggs that most of us purchase at the grocery store have been bleached, tampered with or adulterated to create homogeneous, nutrient-stripped balls of chicken embryo? The simplest answer is that the overwhelming majority of egg-laying chickens in the U.S. are White Leghorn chickens, which produce white eggs. Theyre also the most efficient mass-producers of eggs, having the unmatched ability to deliver the highest return on a farmers investment when it comes to the chicken-feed-to-egg ratio.
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I Bought Brown Eggs Instead Of White Ones Am I Healthy Now
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The first time I saw a brown egg at a grocery store, Im certain that I asked my mother if it was laid by a brown chicken. Yeah, I know that sounds problematic. But in my defense, even my young mind had deduced by that point that the skin shades of human parents were a factor in the shading of their children. So, I thought, Why not with eggs, too?
Admittedly, all these years later, it still sounds stupid. But it does beg the question: What is the actual difference between brown eggs and white eggs and are those differences any more than shell deep?
Food Facts: What Is The Difference Between White And Brown Eggs

06/26/2018
Eggs are packed with protein and provide numerous nutritional benefits at a relatively low cost. Whether you eat them scrambled, between a piece of sausage and a biscuit or mixed in your favorite cake or cookie, here are the answers to five questions you may have about eggs.
1. Is there a nutritional difference between white and brown eggs?
Actually, no. The difference is all about the chicken. White and brown eggs have no nutritional difference however, they do have a noticeable price variance on store shelves. Brown eggs are more expensive than white eggs because of the difference in the hens that lay them. White eggs are laid by chickens with white feathers and white ear lobes, while brown eggs are laid by red-feathered chickens with red ear lobes. Chickens with red feathers are larger in body size and require more feed which is why brown eggs are more expensive on store shelves.
2. How do eggs affect my risk of heart disease?
The results of two recent studies indicate that eating eggs daily can actually lower your risk of heart disease. Even though studies in the past indicate that eating eggs can result in cholesterol issues, the study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicates that research participants failed to develop any increased risk of heart-clogging diseases.
3. How can you find the exact date a carton of eggs was packed?
4. Why are free-range eggs more expensive?
5. How long does it take a chicken to lay an egg?
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Why The Difference In Color
The color difference is due to the specific breed of hen, according to the Egg Nutrition Center. Hens with white feathers and white earlobes generally lay white eggs, whereas hens with red feathers and matching-colored earlobes usually lay brown eggs. However, there are exceptions. The color really depends upon the pigments that are deposited on the egg as it makes its way through the oviduct.
Do Brown And White Eggs Taste Different
Inside the shell, most eggs look the same with a clear membrane and a yellow or orange yolk. Some chickens do produce larger and brighter yolks. Yet, white and brown eggs pretty much taste the same.
You may notice that pasture-raised eggs taste slightly richer. This is simply based on their diet/environment and the fact that they lead less stressful lives than eggs from commercially farmed chickens.
If you are looking for a more flavorful and vibrant egg, you might want to gravitate toward humanely raised birds, no matter the color of the outer shell.
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Well If An Egg Is A Color Other Than White Its Better Right
would have been happy to know that the exterior color of the egg actually has nothing to do with the quality or caliber of the egg contained therein. There is nothing inherent in the process of popping a brown egg, or an egg of any other shade, out of a hens cloaca, that manifests in a discernible nutritional difference.
How A Hen Forms An Egg
A hen takes about 25 hours to create a fully formed egg. It starts with the yolk, which is overlaid step by step with protective membranes, the egg white, and the hard white calcium shell. Finally, the last 90 minutes or so before laying are spent covering the shell with the cuticle.
The shell itself is porous, and does not prevent air and bacteria from getting into the egg. So the cuticle, which is made mostly of water-insoluble protein, serves as a protective sealant on top of the eggshell and vastly increases its shelf life.
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Does One Color Of Egg Taste Better
Some people swear that brown eggs taste better, while others prefer the taste of white eggs.
But just as with nutritional content, theres no real difference between the taste of brown- and white-shelled eggs.
However, that doesnt necessarily mean that all eggs taste the same.
While the shell color doesnt make a difference, other factors such as the breed of chicken, type of feed, freshness, and cooking method may affect the way it tastes .
The diet of a home-raised hen is not the same as that of a conventionally raised hen, which may also affect egg flavor.
Additionally, the longer the egg is stored, the more likely it is to develop an off-flavor. Storing eggs at a stable, low temperature, like in the refrigerator, can help preserve their flavor for longer.
These reasons may be why some people believe that eggs from home-raised chickens taste better than those from conventionally raised chickens.
Backyard eggs dont go through processing and shipping like conventional ones do, so they may end up on your plate more quickly than eggs bought from the store. Because theyre fresher, they may taste better.
The way an egg is cooked may affect its flavor, too.
One study looked at how fish oil, which is used in chicken feed to raise omega-3 levels, changed the flavor of eggs. It found that scrambled eggs from hens fed fish-oil-enriched feed and those fed conventional feed tasted the same .
So, while many factors may affect egg flavor, shell color does not.
Lets Make This Clear: Theres No Nutritional Difference Between Brown Eggs And White Eggs
So, if brown eggs are laid by hens that require more feed, that would make the eggs more nutritious, right? Wrong again.
Theres no nutritional difference between comparable white eggs and brown eggs. If theyre both organic, or cage-free, or whatever other label you want to slap on an egg, a brown and white egg will have no significant nutritional difference.
As explained above, an eggs content and shell are formed at opposite ends of the reproductive tract. The only difference in the reproduction process occurs at the very end, when the color is deposited. Thats after the eggs nutritional content has been formed.
I think there is a widespread misperception that somehow brown eggs are healthier or higher in certain nutritional properties than white eggs, and I think in part thats probably driven by the fact that theyre a little more expensive, Dresner explained. A lot of people are under the misimpression that if an egg is brown, its organic, which is also not the case.
Whats The Best Egg To Eat
So, the color of the eggshell doesnt matter in regards to the quality of the egg nor the taste. It has to do with the BREED of the chicken.
However, the bottom line and probably the most confusing is: Whats the difference between free range, cage free and pasture raised eggs? Whats the healthiest?
And this DOES make the biggest difference so read the article explaining the differences and which is the best egg and chicken: Free range, cage free, or pasture raised eggs?
What’s The Difference Between White Eggs And Brown Eggs

We’ve all noticed the difference in price at the grocery store as we stand scratching our heads, but have you ever stopped to wonder what the difference really is between white and brown eggs? Most of us inevitably choose whichever eggs are on sale, or we just buy the color egg we’ve always bought. Well, it turns out there actually is a difference between white and brown eggs.
It’s all about the chicken
The answer is so simple that you may be surprised. White-feathered chickens with white ear lobes lay white eggs and red-feathered ones with red ear lobes lay brown eggs . And besides that, there are certain chickens that even lay speckled eggs and blue eggs. But when you get down to the egg, nutritionally there is no difference — it’s all just in the looks.
Why are brown eggs more expensive?
Many people think that brown eggs must be better than white eggs because they’re more expensive, but that’s not the case. What makes brown eggs more expensive is as simple as size — the chickens that lay brown eggs are larger than those that lay white eggs and thus their feed costs more. As a result, the brown eggs are priced higher.
Is there any difference in the shell?
Other than the color, there is no difference between the shell of a white egg and a brown egg. Some people make the assumption that brown egg shells are harder than white, but that’s not the case. What’s true is that younger chickens lay eggs with harder shells.
Brown Eggs Vs White Eggs Nutrition
All eggs are nutritionally similar, regardless of colour, grade or size. Here is a nutritional comparison of a serving of 2 large brown eggs vs. white eggs.
NUTRITION PER 2 large eggs | BROWN EGG |
0.0 grams |
Both brown eggs and white eggs are a source of high-quality protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Nutritionally speaking, brown egg and white eggs are identical unless the hens feed has been enhanced for specialty eggs such as omega-3 eggs. In fact, studies show that the colour of the shell has no nutritional impact on the egg rather, it is the environment and diet of the hen.
Nutritional Value Of Eggs:
As per United Stated Department of Agriculture , a 100-gram serving of egg has 12.56 grams of proteins, which is why nutritionists consider it as a good, inexpensive source of protein that diabetics can have in their diet.
One large egg has about 72 calories and 4.75 grams of fat, only 1.5 grams of which is saturated fat, as per the USDA. Eggs are versatile and can be prepared in different ways to suit your palate. You can make an already-healthy food even more healthy by mixing in tomatoes, onions, and other veggies.
So, the next time you’re picking up a batch of eggs for breakfast make sure you’re more concerned about the quality of chickens it comes from rather than it’s colour.
Brown Egg Vs White Egg Which Is Healthier For Weight Loss
There is a rising trend amongst health-conscious people to consume everything brown, whether it be brown bread, brown rice or brown or wholewheat pasta. While consuming wholewheat carbohydrates definitely have merit attached to it, consuming brown eggs is not the same thing.
First things first, scientifically, there are no nutritional differences between brown eggs and white eggs in terms of health benefits. The only difference is in the pigment of the shell and the hygiene associated with it at the time of breeding. Brown eggs are hatched by chickens of darker colour while white eggs are laid by the white coloured breed. Additionally, brown eggs are often sold as organic and priced higher than white eggs because they are bred in a more hygienic environment and fed healthier food.
So, whether you consume the brown egg or the white egg, there is no nutritional difference between the two. The only difference that you might experience is the taste which is contributed by the healthier feed provided to the darker-coloured chickens.
Has A Good Satiety Value
The Satiety Index value of an egg is relatively high. The satiety index value assesses a foods ability to make you feel full while minimising your calorie consumption. Since eggs are nutrient-dense and satisfying, they promote a sense of fullness.
Consuming food such as eggs can also prevent snacking between meals. That is because they keep you full for a long time. In addition, a study suggests that including eggs in your diet helps weight loss.
What Do Different Egg Labels Mean
You know eggs are healthy and that eggshell color has nothing to do with nutrition, but when you go to the grocery store, do you still feel unsure which eggs to buy? With so many different labels, its easy for egg shopping to become a complicated ordeal. Heres a quick rundown of what different labels mean:
- Hormone-Free: All eggs are hormone-free. Its been illegal to add hormones to a chickens diet for many years.
- Antibiotic-Free: Eggs rarely come from hens who take antibiotics. If an antibiotic is used, farmers must comply with Food and Drug Administration guidelines.
- Organic: Eggs must meet strict standards for example, hens must be fed organic feed. They may have the same nutritional value as conventional eggs.
- Cage-Free: Hens are free to roam around the inside of a barn.
- Free Range: Hens have some access to the outdoors.
- Pasture-raised: Hens are raised outdoors and have the option to go indoors at night or for protection against weather or predators.
None of these labels mean that one method of egg production is better than the other. All systems present pros and cons. For example, a cage-free environment might allow hens to move around more, but it also allows hens to act out their aggression toward each other. The eggs you choose depend on your personal preference.
What Are White Eggs
White eggs are lay by broiler or hybrid chickens. Before the formation of broiler chicken there was no concept of white eggs and every kind of chicken of all breeds laid brown colour eggs. There are further two type of white eggs: first, that are used for further breeding and second that are not capable of further breeding as they are only uses for home consumption. White eggs lay by chickens with white earlobes that are mostly present in broiler chickens.
Why Are Brown Eggs More Expensive
Even though brown and white eggs seem to be the same by all measures other than color, brown eggs still tend to cost more at the store.
This fact has led many people to believe that brown eggs are healthier or higher quality than white ones.
However, in the past, brown eggs cost more because brown-laying hens tended to be larger and lay fewer eggs than white-laying hens. Therefore, brown eggs needed to be sold at a higher price to make up for the extra costs .
Today, brown-laying hens have nearly the same production costs as white-laying hens. Nevertheless, their eggs still tend to have a higher price tag .
This may be because specialty eggs, such as free-range or organic, tend to be brown rather than white.
Summary
Brown eggs used to cost more because brown-laying hens produced less and weighed more. While thats no longer true, brown eggs still come with a higher price tag.
Its clear that color isnt an important factor. So what should you take into account when buying eggs?
Heres a quick look at the different types available and what their labels mean.