Eggs are an excellent protein source, so it makes sense that many people want an endless supply. Here I discuss duck eggs vs chicken eggs.
You may consider owning a chicken since they’re the most popular for eggs. There are many chicken breeds known as the best egg layers. Chicken eggs are easy to prepare, healthy, and delicious. Of course, ducks lay eggs, as well. Certain duck breeds are well-known for having an abundance of eggs, and you may be curious as to their taste.
Switching to using duck eggs for breakfast and baking can add a refreshing change to your routine, plus they can actually be quite versatile.
While some people want more protein from the egg or have other reasons for trying alternatives, you may wonder about the differences between duck eggs vs chicken eggs.
Are they the same? Do they taste different?
Duck Eggs vs Chicken Eggs
Many people wonder about the safety of duck eggs, but they’re just as safe as a chicken egg.
Regardless of the type of poultry — chicken, ducks, quail, turkey, ostrich — the USDA has the same regulations and standards for inspecting them.
That said, here are some of the differences between chicken eggs and duck eggs:
Duck Egg Size
Duck eggs are bigger than chicken eggs. Duck’s egg whites and yolks are larger.
Even if you prefer jumbo chicken eggs, a duck egg is about 50% bigger. A rough estimate is that two duck eggs equal three chicken eggs.
Duck Eggs Taste
Do duck eggs taste the same as chicken eggs? This is a common question for people who want to try something new but have grown up on chicken eggs. They do taste differently.
A lot depends on the duck’s diet. Most ducks prefer high-protein diets, while chickens eat more plant-based meals. Farmers like that ducks eat more protein, but it can affect how the eggs taste. Overall, duck eggs have a richer flavor.
If you’re raising ducks, you may want to keep them on a plant-based diet if you want the eggs to taste somewhat similar to chicken eggs. However, ducks prefer to free range for slugs, snails, and high protein insects over plant matter.
Still, duck eggs are richer, and there are subtle and noticeable differences between the two, especially if you’ve been eating chicken eggs regularly. Some may consider them to be an acquired taste. Duck eggs are excellent for baking.
You shouldn’t eat either of them raw.
Duck Egg Shell
Keep in mind that duck eggs usually have thicker shells, so they can stay fresher for more extended periods than a chicken egg. How Long Do Fresh Eggs Last: Food Safety 101
You’ll find, though, that the thicker shell of the duck egg makes it harder to crack.
Therefore, when you try to cook scrambled, sunny side, or poach eggs, you might be picking out bits of the shell until you master the clean crack.
It’s advisable to break the egg in a separate container to avoid having shells in what you’re creating.
Color
Regarding egg color, ducks lay white, off white, shades of green or gray eggs. Chickens lay a variety of colors, including white, tan, brown eggs, blue, grayish, green. It depends on breed. Easter egger chicken can lay pink eggs. Some can be speckled, including those from the speckled sussex chicken and brahma chicken.
Number of Eggs Needed for Baking
Certain types of eggs are better for certain things. Baking with duck eggs is an ideal use for them. If possible, use the smallest duck eggs you can find when baking.
When they are all the same size, it is fine to use one duck egg instead of a single chicken egg. Most cakes and pastries require three to six chicken eggs, so you should use two or four duck eggs.
It’s also important to note that a duck egg has more albumen than a chicken egg, which makes a huge difference when it comes to baking.
Albumen gives baked goods more lift and structure, so your cakes and pastries can come out lighter and fluffier than when you use a chicken egg.
You also have to consider how easy it is to whip the eggs, especially for pastries and cakes. Duck egg whites can be harder to beat because they have less water content than chicken egg whites.
Remember also that a duck egg can’t be substituted fully for a chicken egg unless it is quite small, so you would need to experiment a bit.
Consider weighing an average chicken egg and a duck egg, and then remove some of the yolk and white from the duck egg to ensure that it weighs the same as the chicken egg. Keep these things in mind each time you bake, and you will be successful.
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Cooking Duck Eggs
When cooking duck eggs, you must be careful, too.
With lower water content, the duck egg can become rubbery if they’re cooked too long or a particular way, such as hard-boiled. It can take some trial and error to find the best way to prepare your duck eggs.
Nutritional Value of Duck Eggs
When comparing duck eggs vs chicken eggs for nutritional value, you will note differences.
Since duck eggs are larger, they tend to have more calories. However, there are also more nutrients in them when compared to the chicken egg.
Duck Egg Nutrition
Calories
Because duck eggs have a larger yolk than a chicken yolk, it contains more calories. Generally, a chicken egg has about 71 calories compared to 130 calories in a duck egg. Eggs from chickens and ducks have more calories than from quail eggs.
Fat Content
Also, a duck egg has a higher fat content. It’s creamier and richer because there is more fat in a duck egg. It contains about 9.6 grams of fat while a chicken egg only has five grams of fat in it.
Duck Omega-3 Fatty Acid
When it comes to duck egg nutrition, you will find that a duck egg has more omega-3 fatty acids: 71.4 milligrams compared to 37 milligrams for a chicken egg.
Humans need omega-3 fatty acids to metabolize the food we eat, but our bodies can’t make it, so we need to consume enough of it through food.
You find it in flaxseed, fish, and walnuts. Duck eggs allow you to diversify the sources from which you get omega-3 fatty acids.
Protein Content
The proteins within each type of egg are different. One duck egg contains more protein than one chicken egg. Generally, a chicken egg has about 6.28 grams of protein, while a duck egg has about 8.97 grams.
More protein means that you stay fuller for longer periods. If you’re on a high-protein diet, this is excellent news for you.
Cholesterol Level of Duck Eggs
The cholesterol level of duck eggs is up to three times more than a chicken egg partly because they’re larger, and their egg yolks are larger.
On average, a duck egg has about 619 milligrams of cholesterol in it, which is over twice your daily recommended limit.
As such, if you’ve got heart disease or high cholesterol, you’re actually three times over the limit if you have a single duck egg.
If you’re on a low-cholesterol diet, you might want to reconsider replacing all duck eggs with chicken eggs. However, both can have a place in a healthy diet.
Vitamins and Minerals
Overall, duck eggs have more essential vitamins and minerals than chicken eggs. This includes more vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin B6, retinol, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, folate, pantothenic acid, and iron.
Duck eggs have 15% iron, 33% choline, and 36% selenium. Choline is especially important because it helps the cells communicate with each other.
It can help your body create more neurotransmitters so that the nerves can communicate with one another. On the other hand, selenium repairs and synthesizes your DNA. It can also help with fertility, help ensure a healthy pregnancy, and regulate your hormones.
You get 63% of the daily value for Vitamin B12, which is about five times more than you have with a chicken egg. Vitamin B12 is essential for your red blood cell synthesis and DNA regulation.
According to Healthline, chicken egg whites contain more of certain proteins, including lysozyme, ovalbumin, and conalbumin.
Allergic Reaction to Chicken Eggs
Many people are allergic to chicken eggs, but often find they can eat a duck egg without any issue. However, you should discuss this alternative with your doctor if your egg allergy is severe, but it could be a safe substitution.
Duck Egg Prices
Another thing to consider is that a duck egg is more expensive than the ones from chickens. Duck eggs can usually cost $1 – $2 a piece, while chicken eggs are about 25 cents each. Depending on whether they are free range, organic, etc., these can range between $6 – $12 per dozen for ducks and $1 – $4 for chickens.
Also, keep in mind that duck eggs aren’t readily available at your local supermarket. Upscale grocers might have them. You may be able to access them at a local farmers market.
Raising Ducks or Chickens
That said, you can also raise ducks yourself and have access to all the eggs you want. If you plan to raise ducks for their eggs, this can be cost-effective for you. Ducks get along well with chickens so you may consider keeping both.
Consider the best egg laying chickens if eggs are important to you. Consider duck breeds with high egg production if you plan to raise them for eggs more than meat.
Duck eggs vs Chicken eggs: Which Egg Should You Choose?
When it comes to the difference between duck eggs vs chicken eggs, there are many advantages of using the duck egg for baking and cooking, but it can take time to get used to the taste and consistency. The USDA regulates them the same.
The biggest challenge may be accessing them in the store. You can raise poultry in your backyard and enjoy fresh duck eggs as you wish. Choose a duck breed known for laying a lot of eggs, such as Indian runner ducks.
Find new recipes, learn to adjust recipes, and learn how to cook them correctly. With less water, higher fat, and a larger egg, it’s important to experiment.
While chicken and duck eggs are similar and both taste amazing, one might not be the best choice for your diet.
If you’re counting your calories or watching cholesterol, duck eggs are high in both, but they also have more protein, vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients. If you can’t raise poultry on your property or have certain health problems, chicken eggs might be a better choice for you.
Like with most anything, eating in moderation, both types can be an excellent addition to a healthy diet and lifestyle. The bottom line here is that if you don’t have a particular medical condition, such as heart disease and high cholesterol, you likely can enjoy duck eggs and chicken eggs.
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