We have a few Khaki Campbell ducks here at Zephyr Hill and they lay a decent amount of eggs, although their output can’t rival the chickens. Soon after discovering our first duck eggs, we immediately wondered “Can you eat these things?”
It’s funny how the mind works against you, though. Even though duck eggs are nearly identical to chicken eggs in appearance, we were instinctively suspicious just because it was something new. “What if they taste bad?” seemed to be the unspoken question on everyone’s mind. Nobody sells duck eggs in grocery stores and there’s a reason for that, right?
But luckily for us (and for this blog post), we’re curious types. So I scrambled up a few duck eggs for breakfast. The first noticeable difference jumped right out at me. Duck yolks are orange, not yellow, and tough to break. But with some elbow grease, I got them mixed up pretty well. After the yolks are broken, it’s smooth sailing.
So what is our verdict on scrambled duck eggs? The flavor is richer and stronger than chicken eggs, but it’s the same “type” of flavor. That’s the best way my husband and I can describe it. Both of us prefer chicken eggs, though, especially because we like omelets and don’t want the flavor of the egg to overwhelm the add-ons. The stronger taste of the duck eggs was just a little too much.
However, I’ve discovered that duck eggs are EXCELLENT for baking. Things like cookies, cakes and brownies turn out to be fluffier and more moist!
And that’s not all:
1. They have a longer shelf life and are harder to break (in this family, that’s a good thing) because the shells are thicker.
2. They have more albumen (which means more protein) in the white. This explains why they give you more “loft” in baked goods. It also means you have to be careful about overcooking them when pan frying or boiling.
3. Some people who are sensitive or allergic to chicken eggs can actually tolerate duck eggs.
Thumbs up to all you ducks out there!
Egg yolk image courtesy: Malaysiabest.net
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I also heard that they pack more protein. My husband and I are considering getting ducks vs. chickens for eggs
That’s true! There’s a higher protein content in the albumen. And I think ducks have the edge on cuteness vs. chickens. ~Anne
Interesting, I don’t think I would have ever thought of eating a duck egg…
I grew up eating wild duck eggs often as a kid. We loved them fried up for breakfast. It’s been YEARS since I’ve had one though.
Wild duck eggs? How neat! Free groceries
when I was a kid I ate duck ,chicken,and goose eggs there was even a time after I found out what I was eating I did not want to eat them and to this day if you give me a egg sunny side up well I eat them olny if the yok is heard and lots of butter ans salt and pepper
Although we did have geese, I never tried the eggs. We were always trying to hatch them out instead. Geese are hard to breed….
You know, I have never ever thought about eating duck eggs. I would love to try them. The yoke is an amazing color! So pretty.
It’s quite a difference!
I also grew up eating wild duck eggs (and various other things Daddy brought home), I wish I could find them for sale somewhere now. They are absolutely delicious! When I was a kid I loved them deviled because they seemed huge compared to chicken eggs.
i never knew you can eat duck eggs..thank you for sharing.