Just because egg yolks are orange doesn’t mean the eggs come from pasture-raised chickens.
Every time I make
eggs for breakfast
, I wonder whether the color of the yolk means anything. Sometimes, the yolks are a pleasant yellow color; other times, they’re pale; occasionally, I’ll crack an egg with a sunset-colored yolk.
Sure, it might
look
Stunning, but does the hue of the yolk really signify something? Can the yolk reveal whether the egg originated from a free-range chicken or if the bird was contented? I consulted with an expert to discover the answer.
Why Certain Egg Yolks Are a Vibrant Orange
Popular belief often claims that eggs with deeper orange yolks are superior. This perception leads people to believe that chickens producing such yolks were allowed to freely explore pastures, eating insects and grazing on lush grass. Lisa Steele, who has five generations of experience as a chicken caretaker and writes about this topic, supports this view.
Fresh Eggs Daily
, indicates that this might not always be true.
An orange yolk suggests what the chicken has been feeding on,” explains Steele. “If chickens consume many foods rich in xanthophylls—such as beta-carotene—it leads to an orange hue in their egg yolks.” These pigments can be found in plants such as marigolds, alfalfa, pumpkins, and various green vegetables. As Steele notes further, “When hens roam freely outdoors or graze on pastures, they obtain these pigments directly through their natural diet.
Nevertheless, chickens can consume such foods even when they never set foot in an expansive open field. Manufacturers of poultry feed may include components like marigold and alfalfa in their products, causing the eggs laid by those chickens to have vibrant orange yolks.
These items are nutrient-rich. The color isn’t from an orange dye,” Steele explains. “The feed producers add it since they understand consumers prefer vibrant orange yolks. Though somewhat artificial, all of these elements aren’t harmful.
Read More:
White Eggs Versus Brown Eggs: Farmers Clarify the Distinction
Ways to Identify If Your Eggs Are from Free-Range Hens
The only way to
truly
Find out if the egg you’re consuming comes from a contented chicken that freely ranges through pastures by observing the birds in their natural environment.
You could mimic the qualities of a pasture-raised egg or one from a contented chicken,” Steele explains. “They might confine a hen within a 12-inch cage and provide it with marigold and alfalfa, making you believe it led a joyful life.” He continues, “However, the genuine method involves observing the bird yourself—ensuring it has ample space for roaming, appears robust, and sports lustrous plumage.
Your neighborhood farmers market is a great spot for finding a reliable egg supplier. Nonetheless, when grocery shopping, your safest option is typically to
grasp the true meanings behind the labels found on egg cartons
—It’s not always consistent with what they suggest.
What Information Can Be Gained About an Egg Merely From Observing It?
You might not be able to figure out if the eggs in your refrigerator come from free-range chickens simply by their shell color. However, there’s something you can observe just by breaking an egg open. According to Steele, freshly laid eggs have high-standing yolks and thick, jelly-like whites. Over time, as eggs get older, the yolks will become flatter once they’re cracked into a frying pan.
It doesn’t mean your egg is spoiled.
, naturally. It simply indicates that it has been stored for quite some time.
Read the initial article on
SofTech
