Eggshells come in a rainbow of colours, but it is a less known fact that egg yolks come in a variety of shades as well. Deep orange egg yolks or dark orange egg yolks are a favourite among many and make up for a tasty morning scrambled eggs or boiled eggs tasty breakfast.
Ever wondered why some egg yolks are darker than others?
There is a general misconception that the different shades of egg yolks are due to different chicken breeds. Though it does affect the colour of the eggshell, it’s the diet of the hen which determines the shade of its egg yolk.
Yellow-orange pigments given to hens in their feed will help them lay eggs with darker yolks. Chicken feed should not have any artificial colouring, but it is found that many farmers add marigold petals in the chicken feed to give egg yolks a colour boost of orange. Reddish egg yolks can be attained by adding red bell peppers or even adding a hint of red chilli into the chicken feed.
Carotenoids is responsible for the dark colour of egg yolks. It is a natural ingredient present in some plants. The orangeness found in egg yolks is due to the presence of carotenoid-rich plants in the hen’s feed. The hen’s feed should be a combination of insects, animal-based proteins, vegetable and grain-based ingredients. So, the presence of carotenoids in the feed of the hen is the majorly responsible for determining the colour of the egg yolk.
Did you know that there are many natural sources of carotenoids found in nature? Some that we frequently add in our daily meals are carrots, tomatoes, spinach, bell peppers etc.
The different shades of egg yolk are: –
- Deep orange colour
Eggs from the hens provided with carotenoid-rich fodder are more likely to be deeper orange in colour. Contrary to the common belief that only pasture-raised hens can produce eggs with deep orange yolk, any chicken egg can turn out to be deep orange in colour. When the chicken feed contains the nutrients that trigger orangeness, the yolk becomes deeper in colour.
- Golden yellow or mid orange
The most commonly found yolk colour found in eggs available at the grocery store. Hen diets heavy in yellow corn, green plants, alfalfa and other plant material with xanthophylls pigment produce a darker yellow-orange yolk.
- Pale Yellow colour
When the feeding regimen of the hens consists of mostly white cornmeal and wheat which are lower in xanthophylls, the yolk becomes pale yellow in color.
- Green
Hard-boiled or scrambled eggs sometimes give a tint of green colour, that’s not anything to be worried about, it is a result of sulphur and iron compounds in the egg reacting with the surface of the egg yolk. To avoid the greenish tint, make appropriate cook time and the temperature should be checked. Specifically for hard-boiled eggs, rapidly cool them after cooking by placing them in a bowl of ice water to further safeguard against greenness.
So, now we have an idea why some egg yolks have a different colour. A deep orange yolk or a pale-yellow egg yolk actually has the same amount of fats and protein. But a deep orange egg yolk has more vitamins than cholesterol in it, so there is an increasing demand for these eggs.
It is common knowledge that the darker the yolk, the tastier is the egg. This can be noticed in a hearty breakfast casserole or a simple French omelette which gets a major boost in flavours with a darker egg yolk.
Looking out for pesticide-free eggs, fresh eggs with packaging, or nutritious eggs near you, then OVO Farm provides you the best product with European-style packaging. OVO Farm eggs come with dark orange egg yolks which are a great way to get that extra protein and key nutrients boosting your diet. Hurry up and grab a healthy and delicious platter of OVO Farm eggs, because your family deserves more.
