Egg Yolk -Why Are Egg Yolks Such Different Colors?

Eggs are one of the superfoods that most people devour every morning for breakfast. 

Eggs are packed with nutrition and are appetizing and a versatile food item as they can be made in multiple ways. Some like it scrambled, some like it poached, while others like it boiled. Irrespective of how it is cooked, ISE egg is delicious and is one of the healthiest ways to start your day. 

One of the main sources of nutrition in an egg is its yolk; it is a rich source of healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals that the body requires to keep it healthy. There has been a persisting discussion on the subject of the color of the yolk that will tell you if the egg is healthier and more nutritious. However, this claim is far from any truth; the hen’s diet determines the color of the egg yolk. Let us understand what type of diet hen follow to get the specific-colored yolk.

Dark Orange Yolk

Eggs with a dark orange yolk are generally laid by hens raised on a pasture and are fed healthy food. As the hens raised on pasture can roam freely, their diet includes fresh grasses and nutritious foods like grasshoppers, spiders, beetles, and worms. These food items eaten by them are rich in carotenoids and protein, which gives the yolk a darker orange-colored yolk. Although, it doesn't mean that only pasture bred hens will lay the best eggs with dark orange-colored yolk; any hen having a nutritious, rich diet will lay eggs with the darker orange-colored yolk. 

Mid Orange to Golden Yellow Yolk

Hens raised primarily on a healthy vegetarian diet lay eggs with mid orange to Golden yellow-colored yolk. These hens mainly consume alfalfa, beans, corn, and other plant materials. These food items have a smaller portion of protein but are rich in a pigment known as xanthophylls. Xanthophylls is the component that gives the animals and plants their yellow color, and thereby the egg yolk of these hens also lay eggs with the same golden yellow color yolk.

Pale Yellow Colored Yolk

The yolk having pale yellow color signifies that the food consumed by the hens is low in xanthophylls. Their diet includes barley, wheat, or white cornmeal. However, there are times when the hens consuming these food items give even white yolks.

Green Colored Yolk

Whenever you scramble or hard-boil the eggs too long, you will find the yolk green in color, and it is because of the reaction of the iron and sulfur compounds present in the egg coming in contact with the yolk's surface. To avoid this green tint on eggs, follow the proper cooking time and the correct temperature at which it is required to be cooked. 

Does the Nutrient Value Change?

Orange and dark-colored egg yolks are usually more tasty and healthy dyes to the feed they get. The dark-colored yolk is premium eggs and is a bit more nutritious than others, but is definitely more tasty as compared to pale egg yolks. You will get wholesome nutrition in the egg if you eat the whole egg, as all the nutrients work best when it is consumed together.

The different colors of the egg yolks are merely an indicator of the diet of the hen and specific compounds present in the food that affects the color of the egg yolk. The best part is that this nutritious egg can be consumed any time of the day in various forms. 

Farm fresh ISE eggs are an excellent source of nutrition and are best to be consumed daily to benefit from it.