This is perhaps the biggest myth of all time, when it comes to choosing Brown Eggs vs White Eggs, many of us say Brown eggs are more nutritious and contain more protein than white ones and justify the price blindly.
But are they? Do brown eggs contain more protein than white ones? We have always lived with this, let’s find out what’s the difference between Brown Eggs and White Eggs in 2023.
Brown Eggs vs White Eggs: Myth or Fact?
Let’s start by putting the color of shells, finding out why exactly they have colors, and then moving to which one is healthier, costlier, or more natural- Brown or White Eggs.
Color of Shells
The color of eggs is brown not because they are painted with something, that is because of one simple reason: White Chickens lay White Eggs while Brown Chicken lay Brown Eggs.
The breed of the chicken determines the color of the eggs. Plymouth Rocks and Rhode Island Reds lay brown-shelled eggs.
So why is the color of these eggs brown? Because the Plymouth rocks and Rhode Island Reds hen produce eggs with protoporphyrin IX, a pigment made from heme that provides it with a brown color.
The Brown Hens give Brown Eggs while White Hens give White Eggs.
Nutritional Value: Which one is Healthier?
If you ask people who take brown eggs why they prefer them, they will say they are healthier and contain more protein. If asked why, then their answers are always blunt.
The real answer is: They both have the Same Nutritional Value in terms of Protein, Vitamins, and Calories (3). To summarize, they have 3.5gm of Protein and around 80 Calories.
Does the color of the shell change the nutritional value of the egg? Again, a Big No! (6)
The amount of nutritional value may vary with Chicken quality, how well-fed it is, and how young and healthy the chicken is. For example, a chicken that roams in sunlight 3-4 times a day will give containing more amount of Vitamin D.
Likewise, a chicken fed with Omega-3 fatty acids will give eggs with more value of omega-3 fatty acids.
Check out the Nutritional value of Brown Eggs vs White Eggs below:
| Nutrient | Brown Eggs (1 large) | White Eggs (1 large) |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 6.5 g | 6.5 g |
| Fat | 5.5 g | 5.0 g |
| Cholesterol | 186 mg | 185 mg |
| Sodium | 71 mg | 70 mg |
| Vitamin A | 6% of the daily value | 6% of the daily value |
| Vitamin D | 41% of the daily value | 41% of the daily value |
| Calcium | 2% of the daily value | 2% of the daily value |
While the average nutritional value of an egg is:
| Nutrient | White | Yolk | % Total in White |
| Protein | 3.6 g | 2.7g | 57% |
| Fat | 0.05g | 4.5g | 1% |
| Calcium | 2.3 mg | 21.9 mg | 9.5% |
| Magnesium | 3.6 mg | 0.85 mg | 80.8% |
| Iron | 0.03 mg | 0.4 mg | 6.2% |
| Phosphorus | 5 mg | 66.3 mg | 7% |
| Potassium | 53.8 mg | 18.5 mg | 74.4% |
| Sodium | 54.8 mg | 8.2 mg | 87% |
| Zinc | 0.01 mg | 0.4 mg | 0.2% |
| Copper | 0.008 mg | 0.013 mg | 38% |
| Manganese | 0.004 mg | 0.009 mg | 30.8% |
| Selenium | 6.6 mcg | 9.5 mcg | 41% |
| Thiamin | 0.01 mg | 0.03 mg | 3.2% |
| Riboflavin | 0.145 mg | 0.09 mg | 61.7% |
| Niacin | 0.035 mg | 0.004 mg | 89.7% |
| Pantothenic acid. | 0.63 mg | 0.51 mg | 11% |
| B6 | 0.002 mg | 0.059 mg | 3.3% |
| Folate | 1.3 mcg | 24.8 mcg | 5% |
| B12 | 0.03 mcg | 0.331 mcg | 8.3% |
| Vitamin A | 0 IU | 245 IU | 0% |
| Vitamin E | 0 mg | 0.684 mg | 0% |
| Vitamin D | 0 IU | 18.3 IU | 0% |
| Vitamin K | 0 IU | 0.119 IU | 0% |
| DHA and AA | 0 | 94 mg | 0% |
| Carotenoids | 0 mcg | 21 mcg | 0% |
Regardless of the color, White vs Brown Eggs, both contain same nutritional value.
Then why are Brown Eggs costlier than White Eggs?
In general, brown eggs cost a little bit more than white eggs. Depending on the area and the retailer, this might change, but normally the price difference is only a few cents per dozen.
For instance, a dozen brown eggs may cost roughly $3.00 at a large grocery store chain in the United States in 2023, compared to about $2.50 for a dozen white eggs.
On the other hand, if you are planning to buy a pack of 12 brown eggs in India, it will cost you around 300 INR ($3.64) while the same for white eggs will be around 150 INR ($1.82). Double the price in 2023!
Some may say the price difference is because of the taste and better cooking. Incorrect, they have similar tastes and no distinction at all in cooking (7). Apart from their nutritional value, they possess the same taste. The taste only varies depending on the condition of the hen that lay the egg.
In earlier times, Brown eggs were usually larger than white ones, so their price was increased to make up for the extra benefit (8). Today, they both are almost same the size.
The taste of Brown vs White Eggs is same, regardless of the price difference.
Conclusion
So, next time someone tells you Brown Eggs are better than White Eggs and contain more nutritional value, slap them on the face. Don’t be a fool, believe in facts rather than statements.