Eggs form an integral part of our diet that many seek for a consistent supply of this excellent source of protein. Moreover, food industries the world over need them to make egg products.
Of all the eggs you see in a typical poultry meat market, a large portion of them is chicken eggs. However, in recent times, duck eggs are becoming a favorite in many families. You may wonder why, but there are compelling reasons they’re now considered superior to chicken eggs.
If you’ve been rearing chickens, that’s likely because it’s the most popular bird for eggs. And, additionally, chicken eggs are delicious, easy to prepare, and healthy. But have you tried duck eggs? You just might love them.
But are duck eggs better than chicken eggs? Here are 11 reasons to switch from chicken to duck eggs.
1. Duck Eggs Are Larger
When you compare a chicken egg and a medium-sized duck egg, you’ll realize that the duck egg is about 50% bigger than the chicken egg. Now imagine how much bigger a large duck egg is compared to a chicken egg.
Granted, a duck lays one egg on average daily, which is more or less what a chicken does. But if we consider an ounce for an ounce, a person with duck eggs has more volume-wise than one with the same number of chicken eggs.
2. Duck Eggs Stay Fresher Longer and Are Easier to Handle
Ducks, in particular the wild type, lay their eggs in wet places. To adapt to these conditions, where the eggs have to keep out mud and moisture, it’s no wonder that their shells and inner membranes tend to be naturally thicker and stronger.
For this reason, they have high stability and impact resistance. These properties enable the eggs to stay fresher for a prolonged period.
Interestingly, if you accidentally drop a duck egg, chances are it won’t break. Therefore, there’s less anxiety when it comes to their handling.
In addition, duck eggs are protein-stable at room temperature, adding to their shelf life.
3. Duck Eggs Are a Better Choice for Pastries
The main ingredient in baked products like cookies and pastries is egg albumin (egg whites).
Because duck eggs are richer in protein, have more yolk to white ratio, and contain less water than chicken eggs, they are better at baking because they foam easily.
Whipped duck eggs, the protein forms a viscous film. In addition, duck eggs have a higher absorption rate and their foam is more stable.
But what’s amazing about duck eggs is that when subjected to a lot of heat, such as during the cooking process, the high temperatures don’t affect the nutritional value whatsoever. This makes them a better choice for pastry and any other form of cooking.
What’s more, with duck eggs, you can be sure to produce lighter cookies and bread, higher souffles and meringues, and fluffier cakes.
4. Duck Eggs Are Richer and Creamier
Duck eggs are richer and have a creamier texture, thanks to their bigger yolk and fat content. In fact, the eggs also don’t taste as watery as chicken eggs.
Duck eggs are rich in ovalbumin protein, a protein known for its high inhibitory effect on food additives that food processing industries add to boost the eggs’ textural properties.
Ovalbumin is responsible for the richer and more delicious taste of a fried or poached duck egg.
5. Duck Eggs Are Richer in Protein
Duck eggs are about 30% richer in protein than chicken eggs and other poultry eggs.
When you eat a duck egg, you boost your body with five major proteins:
- Ovalbumin-40%
- Ovomucoid- 10%
- Ovomucin-3%
- Ovotransferrin- 2%
- Lysozyme-1.2%
It’s for this reason nutritionists consider duck eggs more nutritious than chicken eggs.
6. Duck Eggs Are a Richer Source of Folate
While a duck egg contains about 80 micrograms of folate, a chicken egg has about 47 micrograms. That’s a pretty significant difference.
Folate (vitamin B9) has been linked to decreased risk of complications during pregnancy. It’s also associated with lowering the risk of suffering from cancer and heart disease.
7. Duck Eggs Contain More Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Do you know where most of the essential fatty acids in an egg come from? The egg yolks. Remember, the yolk of a duck egg is larger, therefore there are more omega-3 fatty acids in it.
Omega-3 fatty acids are good for a healthy heart and keep strokes at bay.
8. Duck Eggs Are More Stable During Storage
Like we had mentioned earlier, ovalbumin is the most dominant protein in duck eggs.
Studies show that when stored, the storage temperatures have no severe effects on this protein type. But on the contrary, under the same conditions, a chicken egg suffers some effects.
Therefore, we can confidently say that albumin makes duck eggs more stable.
9. Duck Eggs Are a Source of Vitamin B12
Duck eggs have a bigger egg yolk than chicken eggs or other poultry. And with a larger yolk size comes more Vitamin B12 content.
Generally, egg whites contain less of this vitamin. And because chicken eggs typically have more egg white than yolk, it goes without saying that they have less vitamin B12.
10. Duck Eggs are the Ideal Alternative for People Allergic to Chicken Eggs
If you’re allergic to eggs, you’re not alone. In fact, allergy to eggs is common to a pretty significant portion of the global population.
Well, there’s good news. You see, what mainly contributes to food allergy in eggs is a protein called ovomucin found in egg whites.
If you’re allergic to ovomucin protein, which is highly present in chicken eggs, it’s time you tried duck eggs. It may be the best alternative for you to start enjoying eggs.
11. Ducks are Easier to Rear
Expanding the discussion to the hatches, keeping ducks for eggs is less expensive than rearing chicken for eggs.
The feed conversion ratio in ducks is generally lower. It consumes less feed than a chicken typically would for a duck to produce one egg.
In addition, ducks tend to lay more eggs all year round than chickens. That’s because they have no special requirements, such as added lighting during winter to stimulate their ovaries to release eggs. Instead, even during wet and dark days, a duck will still lay eggs.
If you’re thinking about venturing into selling duck eggs, you can be sure to make more money because the selling price of duck eggs is higher than that of chicken eggs. Considering that rearing them is also cheaper, this can be a rewarding endeavor with more return on investment.
Final Word
So, are duck eggs better than chicken eggs? Well, as you can see, there’s a lot to gain from duck eggs, but there’s also a downside to them. For example, their sturdy shells are harder to crack, the eggs are rare to find, and if you’re buying, they cost more. In addition, as mentioned earlier, these eggs have more fat content, meaning more cholesterol, and those on a diet should avoid eating them altogether.
But all in all, the benefits of duck eggs outweigh the cons. Try them. You might just love them and switch to eating them. You could also consider rearing them. Maybe even keep some in your backyard.