Duck Egg vs Chicken Egg – What is the Difference?

Although chicken eggs are the most popular eggs among egg lovers, many people also eat duck eggs. Both chicken and duck eggs are common ingredients in many cuisines. Chicken and duck eggs may seem similar, but there are notable differences between these two types of eggs.

The most significant difference between these eggs is size. Chicken eggs are relatively smaller than duck eggs. Furthermore, duck eggs have a richer nutritional profile than chicken eggs. Notwithstanding these differences, chicken and duck eggs are rich in minerals and nutrients.

Difference Between Duck Eggs and Chicken Eggs

Duck and chicken eggs are the most common types of poultry eggs. Although these eggs may seem similar, they differ significantly in size, appearance, and nutritional profile. These are some of the significant differences between duck and chicken eggs.

– Size

One of the apparent differences between chicken eggs and duck eggs is size. Duck eggs are much bigger than chicken eggs. The average duck egg weighs about 3.5 ounces. A duck egg is also larger than the average extra-large chicken egg, which is approximately 2.5 ounces. Duck eggs are 50% larger than chicken eggs. However, duck eggs have disproportionately larger yolks.

The average size of a chicken egg weighs approximately 1.75 ounces. Some chickens, especially smaller breeds, lay eggs weighing below 1.5 ounces. The yolk of a chicken egg is proportionate to its size. If a chicken egg weighs 1.7 ounces, its yolk also weighs 1.7 ounces.

Ducks and chickens lay oval-shaped eggs, although ducks lay thick, oval-shaped eggs. Some chickens can lay eggs with bumps, ridges, and crust-like shapes. Other chickens can lay round-shaped eggs with pointed tips.

Duck eggs come in a variety of colors depending on the duck species. Some duck species la white, gray, brown, blue, or gray eggs. Ducks eggs usually have various color shades, including light green and brown shades.

Most chickens lay white eggs, although some chickens also lay brown eggs. Some rare breeds like Olive Egger and Easter Egger lay either green or blue eggs. Species like Barred Rock, Light Sussex, and Asil lay pink eggs.

Duck eggs have a dark yellow or orange yolk because of the high protein content in these eggs. Chicken eggs have light brown yolk because they don’t have a high protein content like duck eggs.

– Taste

Duck eggs have vibrant yolks that don’t only look bold but are also richer in flavor than chicken eggs. Those who consume duck eggs say duck eggs taste much creamier than chicken eggs. Chicken eggs taste almost similar to duck eggs. However, chicken eggs have a less intense flavor than duck eggs. When it comes to taste, duck eggs are tastier and more flavorful than chicken eggs.

– Nutrition

Both chicken and duck eggs boast impressive nutrition profiles. However, duck eggs are bigger than chicken eggs, which means they have a higher nutritional profile than chicken eggs. Overall, both duck and chicken eggs are low in fiber and carbs.

Nonetheless, duck eggs have more carbs and fiber than chicken eggs. Whereas chicken and ducks are excellent sources of fat and protein, duck eggs have more fat and protein than chicken eggs. Duck eggs also have more minerals and vitamins than chicken eggs. For instance, duck eggs are richer in choline, selenium, and choline than chicken eggs.

Both duck eggs and chicken eggs are nutritious. Duck eggs contain more essential nutrients than chicken eggs. For instance, duck eggs have high amounts of iron, vitamin B12, and folate. Duck eggs contain 60% more B12 than chicken eggs. B12 is essential for humans because it helps form red blood cells and DNA.

Although chicken eggs have fewer essential proteins than duck eggs, chicken eggs are however rich in essential proteins such as ovalbumin, lysozyme, and conalbumin. Scientific study shows these vital proteins in chicken eggs have potent antioxidant, antimicrobial and cancer-fighting properties.

Nonetheless, these two types of eggs are rich in cholesterol, although duck eggs have more cholesterol than chicken eggs. One duck egg contains approximately 660 milligrams of cholesterol. On the other hand, a single chicken has about 285 milligrams of cholesterol.

Duck eggs are a rich source of healthy omega-3-fatty acids. On average, one duck egg has about 71 milligrams of essential omega-3 fatty acid. A chicken egg has about 37 milligrams of these vital fatty acids. Regarding calories, duck eggs have more calories than chicken eggs.

Ducks eggs have 130 calories per egg, while chicken eggs have approximately 80 calories per egg. Although both chicken and duck eggs are rich sources of essential bioactive peptides, duck eggs contain more bioactive peptides than chicken eggs. These two poultry eggs are rich in fat, vitamins, antioxidants, bioactive peptides, and minerals.

– Price

Chicken eggs are way cheaper than duck eggs. Duck eggs are rare compared to chicken eggs; therefore, they are costlier than chicken eggs. You can purchase many chicken eggs for as low as $2. However, a single duck egg can cost between $2 and $6.

The difference between the prices of chicken and duck eggs isn’t because duck eggs are better than chicken eggs. The difference lies in the demand and supply of duck eggs.

Cooking and Baking

You can cook duck eggs the same way you cook chicken eggs. You can either fry duck eggs or hard-boil duck eggs. Due to their large yolks, you may need more time to cook duck eggs. Chicken eggs don’t have plenty of yolk like duck eggs. Therefore, you can cook them in a few minutes.

You have to cook chicken eggs under lower temperatures to ensure the white in these eggs doesn’t burn. Furthermore, duck eggs have thicker shells than chicken eggs. Therefore you will take longer to hard-boil duck eggs.

On the other hand, chicken eggs have lighter shells than duck eggs, and thus they require a shorter time to hard-boil. Because of their larger and thicker yolks, duck eggs make fantastic omelets. A single duck egg can make a large omelet equivalent to an omelet from three chicken eggs.

Baking with duck eggs can be tricky because duck eggs have higher fat content and larger mass than chicken eggs. Baking with these eggs does not correspond with how eggs work in various baking applications.

However, that doesn’t suggest that you can’t bake using duck eggs, but you will get different results if you were to use chicken eggs for baking.

Baking using chicken eggs is pretty straightforward. Chicken eggs don’t have a large mass and high fat content, unlike duck eggs. Thus, chicken eggs can seamlessly work with multiple baking applications.

Duck eggs aren’t suitable for baking cakes due to their high fat content. Chicken eggs are the best for baking cakes. Duck eggs are ideal for baking quickbreads and cookies because they require plenty of fat to bake to perfection.

Which Contain More Calories, Duck Eggs or Chicken Eggs?

Both chicken and duck eggs contain calories. However, duck eggs have more calories than chicken eggs. A single duck egg has 130 calories, while a chicken egg has 80 calories.

Because of their vast amounts of calories, duck eggs aren’t the best ideal for overweight or obese people. They are also unsuitable for diabetics and persons with a high risk of gaining excess weight.

Which Contain More Protein, Duck Eggs or Chicken Eggs?

Both types of eggs are rich in protein and some of the richest protein sources. However, duck eggs have more protein than chicken eggs. The dark yellow yolk in duck eggs shows that they have more protein, antioxidants, and omega-3-fatty acids than chicken eggs.

One duck egg has around 12 grams of protein, while one chicken egg has approximately 10 grams of protein.

Duck Eggs vs. Chicken Eggs Allergy

Duck eggs and chicken eggs make wonderful natural and nutritious foods. However, some people complain of getting allergies from eating chicken or duck eggs. If you are getting sick or experiencing allergic symptoms after consuming duck eggs, there is a high likelihood you are allergic to duck eggs.

Allergies from duck eggs are more intense than those from chicken eggs. At the same time, some people allergic to duck eggs can consume chicken eggs without experiencing allergies. Duck eggs have more fat content and higher cholesterol levels than chicken eggs.

Therefore, eating duck eggs makes most people likely to develop an allergic reaction. Some symptoms of duck egg allergy include vomiting, nausea, nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, and asthma signs like wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.

The symptoms of chicken egg allergy are similar to those of duck egg allergy. The significant difference is that the symptoms of duck egg allergy are more intense than those of chicken egg allergy.

Chicken eggs can also cause severe allergies depending on the specific nutrients in these eggs. For instance, some people can develop allergy symptoms from eating chicken eggs once their bodies react to the proteins in them.

Hives or skin inflammation is the most common allergy symptom of chicken eggs. Other symptoms of chicken egg allergy include nasal congestion, asthma signs, and digestive issues like vomiting, nausea, and cramps.

Can You Eat Duck Eggs if Allergic to Chicken Eggs?

Yes, you can consume duck eggs if you are allergic to chicken eggs. The minerals and nutrients in chickens and duck eggs are similar. However, they aren’t identical. There are many cases of people experiencing allergic reactions to chicken eggs, but they never see such reactions after consuming duck eggs.

Therefore, you can still consume duck eggs if you are allergic to chicken eggs. Unless you have allergic reactions to specific minerals and nutrients in duck eggs, you can still consume duck eggs without experiencing any allergic reactions if you are allergic to chicken eggs.

In most incidents, though, most people allergic to chicken eggs are also likely to be allergic to duck eggs.

Conclusion

Both chicken and duck eggs are fantastic sources of vital minerals and nutrients. These two types of poultry eggs have loads of protein, vitamins, and omega-3-fatty acids compared to other food sources. While duck eggs are larger and more nutritious than chicken eggs, it doesn’t mean duck eggs are better than chicken eggs.

Chicken eggs are equally nutritious and healthy despite being smaller than duck eggs. Whether you are eating chicken or duck eggs, it is wise to eat them in moderation because consuming too many chicken or duck eggs can be risky to your health.