What to Know About Egg Yolk Color

Like most things in nature, eggs have variability, and the color of the yolk is much discussed in homestead and culinary circles. The simple truth is that regardless of the source, the nutritional value of eggs is consistent:

• 70 calories

• 6 grams of protein

• 5 grams of fat, roughly 2/3 of this the "healthy" kind, unsaturated

• 186 mg of cholesterol

• Vitamins A, B12, D, B2

• Minerals selenium, phosphorous, and iron

• A trace amount of choline

The egg white is almost exclusively protein, while the yolk has everything else. Historically, the bad rap on eggs has been focused on cholesterol,l but we now know that dietary cholesterol has minimal effect on blood cholesterol. However, people with diabetes or hypercholesterolemia may need to limit egg consumption.

Egg yolk color is one of the factors that small producers, like us here at Altamont Farms, point to. Dark orange yolks are associated with hens fed a balanced diet. We like dark orange yolks as much as anyone, but this factor alone can be manipulated.

That Orange Color is From Carotenoids

Carotenoids are naturally occurring pigments that are found in plants and algae. The compounds are responsible for the bright red and orange hues in carrots, peppers, and sweet potatoes. Another group of carotenoids, over 600 in total, called Lutein and Zeaxanthin, are found in leafy greens like spinach, kale, and pasture grasses. Hold that thought.

Chickens are the poster animals for "what they are eating, you are eating." Any producer can amplify egg yolk color by increasing the supply of carotenoid-rich feed, such as supplementing feed with red peppers and carrots. The yolk will present richer in color yet remain about the same in nutritional value.

Like large producers, we feed our hens a commercial feed, albeit a non-GMO specific blend. We do this to provide our hens with a protein-rich diet balanced with the carbohydrates and nutrients they require to live healthy and stress-free lives.

What we do differently from large producers is pasture our hens on fresh grass, moving them to fresh grass every 3 days. This allows them to express their natural behavior of scratching and pecking to forage for insects and consume pasture grass.

Cage-free eggs are not necessarily from pasture-raised hens. The California law that dictates cage-free conditions stipulates that hens are not confined in a cage and have a minimum of 1 square foot of floor space per bird. "Pasture-raised" eggs offered in the grocery store can have as little as 2 square feet of pasture per bird. Our hens live in mobile coops open to pastures daily, providing 20 square feet per bird.

But What Does it Mean for Egg Quality?

If you can't look at the egg yolk as an indicator of quality, what can you point to? Let's examine that by comparing two eggs: a store-bought egg from a "premium" producer that Publix offers and an egg I pulled from a basket we collected yesterday.

Comparison of store-bought to Altamont Farms eggs

You first notice that the yolk is darker than the store-bought egg. This results from the carotenoids the hens consume from the pasture grasses and scraps we feed them.

What you cannot easily see in the image is that the yolk is firm and well-structured. The lecithin content in our eggs is superior to store-bought eggs. Lecithin adds richness and flavor to baked goods and acts as an emulsifier to help mix fats and liquids. Lecithin also improves the shelf life of baked goods by stabilizing fats.

The other difference you will notice in the egg white in the Altamont Farms egg is that it is clear and bright compared to the store-bought egg. Looking closely, you will also see that the white is not running out in the dish; it is thick. The store-bought egg has a higher water content.

We take pride in raising our hens to the highest standards, providing them with high-quality feed, abundant clean water filtered in a commercial reverse osmosis water filtration system on our property, and living on fresh pasture grasses.

What Does This Mean for You?

You are eating what they eat when you eat eggs. 97% of the eggs sold in America come from factory farms, and wholesome, well-designed egg carton labels don't change that fact. The difference between $9 a dozen eggs and $3.50 per dozen eggs in the grocery store is very little, except for the packaging and more attention to additives in the feed for the $9 per dozen eggs.

Eggs from pastured-raised producers focusing on feed quality, natural grazing behaviors, and total chicken health are superior to grocery store eggs. Studies have confirmed that eggs from chickens raised with this approach are higher in vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin A. The taste and texture are superior, and the result is better when used in baking and cooking.