What's the Difference Between White and Brown Eggs?

What's the Difference Between White and Brown Eggs?

Kelli Foster
Mar 26, 2015
(Image credit: Kelli Foster)

When it comes to buying eggs, do you reach for white or brown eggs? Does color dictate your preference? Perhaps you buy white eggs because that's what you grew up eating. Or maybe you've been told that brown eggs are better for you, so they've become your go-to.

White and brown eggs certainly look different, and there's often a difference in price between the two, but do you know why?

The Difference Is in the Chicken


Are Brown Eggs Better than White Eggs?


Do Brown Eggs Have a Harder Shell?

The shells of both color eggs have the same thickness. If you've ever noticed that an eggshell seems tougher, it's because of the age of the chicken, and not the color of the egg. Younger chickens tend to lay eggs with harder shells, while older chicken lay eggs with thinner shells. This is true of both white and brown eggs.

(Image credit: Kelli Foster)

Why Are Brown Eggs Often More Expensive?

There's a perception that because brown eggs are more expensive, they must be more "natural" or healthier. That's not necessarily true. Brown eggs tend to have a higher price tag simply because the reddish-feathered chickens that lay brown eggs are larger than the breed that lays white eggs, and as such, they require more feed. That extra cost is offset by — you guessed it — a higher price at the grocery store.

One Small Caveat!

There is one small caveat, however. If you've ever eaten eggs from home-raised chickens, chances are they were brown, and you may have noticed they tasted slightly richer or had a more vibrant yolk. There's a reason for that.

Many of the chickens commonly found in backyard coops are brown egg-producers. But it's not the color of the egg that accounts for the better taste. Rather, it's the feed that was given to the chicken. Feed plays a big role in the color of the yolk and taste of the egg.

What do you usually buy — white eggs or brown eggs?

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