What is the Difference Between White Eggs and Brown Eggs?

Difference Between Brown egg vs White egg

How many times have you asked yourself, What’s the difference between white and brown eggs? The two types of eggs can be confusing to tell apart at first, but there are several differences between them that will make it easier to distinguish between the two in the future. This guide will help you understand the pros and cons of both brown and white eggs, so you can decide which egg variety works best for your needs.

Eggshell Color

The color of an egg’s shell depends on what type of chicken lays it. Some chickens are bred to produce brown eggs, whereas others produce white eggs. Chickens with white feathers typically lay white eggs. 

Chickens with red feathers may lay brown or white eggs, depending on which breed they come from. The same goes for chickens with black feathers; sometimes their plumage determines egg color, but not always. 

The breed also affects shell color—but again, not always—for example, Rhode Island Red and White Leghorn hens both lay pinkish-tan colored eggs (though Leghorns tend to be larger).

Inside of Egg and egg yolk calories

What’s The Difference Between White And Brown Eggs, Though? A chicken lays both white and brown eggs. What’s behind these different egg colors? This is because there is more than one pigment in a chicken’s ovaries that can affect egg coloration, as well as other factors like what animal your eggs are coming from—goose eggs, for example, will almost always be brown because geese lay brown eggs. 

Weighing nutrition: If you’re curious about what kinds of vitamins you’ll get from each kind of egg, a 3-ounce serving of cooked egg whites has 33 calories and 8 grams of protein. Meanwhile, 3 ounces of cooked brown eggs has about 46 calories with 5 grams of protein.

Different Types of Chickens

If you were to take a look at your local farmers market, or even your supermarket, you’d likely see that brown eggs are usually more expensive than white eggs. However, contrary to popular belief, brown eggs aren’t necessarily healthier for you. 

In fact, according to Dr. Joshua Tewksbury—professor of poultry science at Poultry Science University—egg color has nothing to do with an egg’s nutritional value or taste (Journal of Applied Poultry Research). 

So what is white egg and brown egg? The short answer: It all depends on which kind of chicken laid it. For example, white eggs come from hens that have lighter feathers and skin.

Are Brown Eggs Healthier Than White Eggs?

Brown eggs have a tendency to carry more health benefits than white eggs. Here’s a quick overview of what’s different between brown and white eggs, so you can make a smarter decision about which one to buy for your family. 

First, let’s talk protein. Brown eggs are richer in protein than white eggs because brown hens naturally produce larger amounts of Vitamin A, which aids in calcium absorption. This means that brown egg farmers typically feed their chickens corn to increase protein production.

Health Benefits of Brown Eggs vs White Eggs

While it is true that brown eggs do tend to have a few more calories than white eggs, that’s because they are usually larger in size. The shell color of an egg has no bearing on its nutritional value or caloric intake. 

Many studies have shown that brown eggs contain more beneficial nutrients than white eggs. For example, one study found that brown eggs have double the amount of omega-3 fatty acids than white eggs do. 

Additionally, another study found that when it comes to antioxidants, brown-egg laying hens had 30 percent higher antioxidant activity compared to their white egg–laying counterparts. Brown-egg layers also produce richer yolks and richer flavor overall.

Brown eggs typically cost more but are well worth it since you can use them in virtually any recipe you want with little to no change needed. Brown eggs from free-range hens also have less saturated fat and cholesterol than their mass-produced counterparts. All told, brown eggs are a better choice nutritionally; you should be eating about three servings of whole foods per day for optimal health anyway!

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