An ostrich egg is a lot bigger than a chicken egg, but does it mean that it is better and healthier than the regular chicken egg?
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In this article, we will compare these two kinds of eggs and figure out which one is more nutritious, tastes better, and best suits your taste buds.
Let’s figure it out!
What are ostrich eggs?
Ostrich eggs are simply the eggs laid by ostriches, which are the largest living bird usually found in wild Africa.
As a result, ostrich eggs are also the largest bird egg in the world.
They can be up to 12 inches long and weigh as much as three pounds.
Ostriches lay their eggs in a hole dug into the ground by male ostriches.
The female then incubates her eggs in the day while the male does in the night until their eggs hatch.
Ostrich eggs are not usually used as a cooking ingredient like chicken eggs or turkey eggs, but a lot of people have tried ostrich eggs indeed.
Ostrich eggs are believed to be more nutritious than chicken eggs with more magnesium and iron, less saturated fat, sodium, and cholesterol than their chicken counterparts.
However, ostrich eggs are lower in vitamin A and vitamin E.
On average, an ostrich lays one egg per week, or about 40 to 60 eggs annually.
Due to its giant size, an ostrich egg is even enough for the whole family.
What are chicken eggs?
[amazon fields=”B07WMM5NJ1″ value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]Chicken eggs are a very popular ingredient sold on the market.
They are a type of egg that is laid by a female chicken or called hen in order to reproduce.
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Chicken eggs are usually sold in a carton package with 10 or 12 eggs in any grocery store or supermarket from anywhere in the world.
Chicken eggs are rich sources of protein and many essential nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, calcium, selenium, B-vitamins, or vitamin A.
They can be eaten raw or cooked in numerous recipes, such as frying, scrambling, boiling, and served as a single dish or to top salad and sandwiches.
Chicken eggs are also an important ingredient in baking dishes, especially cakes.
What are the differences between ostrich eggs vs chicken eggs?
There are many differences between an ostrich egg and a chicken egg.
The comparison table below will get into detail on how they differ from each other in several main criteria:
| Comparison | Ostrich egg | Chicken egg |
| Where it comes from | An ostrich | A chicken |
| Appearance | Much larger in size (averagely 1600 grams per egg)Glossy cream-colored and thick shells marked by small pits | Smaller in size (averagely 50 grams per egg)Matte white or tan color, thinner shellsThinner membrane |
| Texture | Creamier, more gelatinous | Creamy but more watery than ostrich eggs |
| Taste | Similar to hen’s eggs but richer and even gamy | Egg white is bland and egg yolk is buttery and creamy |
| Nutritional content | Lower in saturated fat and cholesterol, lower in vitamin A and vitamin E Higher in iron and magnesium | Higher in fat, vitamin A, and vitamin E |
| Productivity | About one egg per week | Higher, about one egg per day (six to seven eggs per week) |
| Popularity | Not commonly eaten | Very popular on the market |
| Price | Higher | Lower |
What are the similarities between ostrich eggs vs chicken eggs?
Despite the key differences between ostrich eggs and chicken eggs, they do have several things in common.
Here are some similarities between ostrich eggs and chicken eggs:
1. Ostrich eggs and chicken eggs are great sources of protein and many essential nutrients for our bodies
Although there is a slight difference in the nutritional content between these two kinds of eggs, ostrich eggs and chicken eggs are both great sources of protein, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and some essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, or selenium.
Having eggs occasionally in your family diet is a great way to complement nutrients without eating too much meat.
2. Ostrich eggs and chicken eggs can be cooked the same way
Another similarity between ostrich eggs and chicken eggs is there are numerous ways to cook them.
Although ostrich eggs are not commonly eaten and sold on the market, if you have a chance to get some ostrich eggs, you can cook them in the same way as regular chicken eggs, including frying, scrambling, boiling, or using them as an ingredient in baking recipes.
However, it is recommended to consume ostrich eggs if you live in a big family because due to its huge size, an ostrich egg can feed eight to 10 people.
Which one is better?
After comparing these two kinds of eggs, it seems that ostrich eggs and chicken eggs are not significantly different from each other.
The majority of distinctions between them are because of the gap in their sizes.
Therefore, feel free to choose between ostrich eggs or chicken eggs for your family diet.
