Have you ever been to Japan? Have you ever seen the lovely orange yolk eggs there? These are the eggs we could have dreamed of, but they are found in the real world.
They may taste better than other eggs, but on the inside, they are orange yolk. But the question arises as to why are Japanese eggs orange. While other eggs are not so impressive, why are they so colorful?
In this article, we will explain why they are orange in color and how it affects eggs.
Why Are Japanese Eggs Orange?
Why is the yolk of Japanese chicken eggs orange? It depends on the food that chickens eat.
Food is high in carotene, such as peppers, carrots, chili peels, paprika, all help to change the color of the chicken egg yolk.
In addition, marigold and rose petals help to turn the yolk orange. So, the actual reason why are Japanese eggs orange is the diet of chickens.
However, this different diet doesn’t affect the nutrition of eggs. But, the demand for beautiful orange eggs has increased.
Because, it is common in Japan to serve raw eggs with many foods, which is why the yolk must look beautiful and healthy.
What Does An Orange Yolk Mean?
Usually, the yolk color of eggs is yellow or pale orange. And, this color of egg yolk dramatically depends on the food that chickens eat.
If their food contains corn, beans, or alfalfa, then the yolk color will be yellow. Because, all these diets have a pigment, xanthophyll, which gives a yellow color to egg yolk.
While, if their diet contains pigments like carotene or carotenoids, then the yolk color will be orange or dark yellow.
Traditionally, the egg yolk is orange in Japan, meaning that chickens are also fed vegetables and grains in addition to insects. Chickens find insect-like food in open fields or field farms.
Almost all eggs are obtained from industrial egg farms, which means chickens don’t have access to food that comes from outside. They give that food which is profitable for the farm.
Is It Safe To Eat Orange Egg Yolk?
There’s no harm to eat orange egg yolks. Instead, you can also consume raw orange yolks, and it is pretty safe to eat.
Basically, the color of egg yolk depends on the feed of chickens. And, this feed doesn’t affect the nutrition of egg yolk. Also, there’s no difference between the nutrients of yellow and orange egg yolk.
However, the bold and attractive color of orange yolks gives a pretty look to your food recipes. Additionally, orange yolks look healthier and beautiful, and also go great in many food dishes.
Thus, Japanese eat cooked as well as raw orange egg yolks, and there’s no disadvantage of doing this. In Japan, orange yolks are very popular over white rice with little soy sauce.
Why Are American Eggs Yellow?
In the United States, chickens eat mostly corn or cornmeal. Maize is an easy-to-grow plant and is also very cheap.
That’s why most chickens in the United States are fed cornmeal. This cornmeal affects the color of the chicken eggs.
Corn turns the yolk of chicken eggs yellow. But it does not affect the nutrition of the eggs.
The color change of egg yolk depends on the different pigments in the food.
It does not mean that there will be any change in the quality of the eggs. Egg quality is affected by the treatment of the chicken.
Japanese Eggs Vs American Eggs
Japanese eggs are different from American eggs in many ways. I don’t know whether you ever notice this difference or not, but I notice it. And, I am here to tell you all those distinct features of Japanese and American eggs.
Firstly, they have a different appearance and thickness. The shell of Japanese eggs have light-color spots on them, but a little hard to crack them.
Whereas, the American eggs have no spots on their shells and crack easily as compare to Japanese eggs.
Secondly, the American eggs have light-yellow yolk, while the Japanese eggs have dark orange egg yolk. Also, the orange yolk retains a more spherical shape than the American eggs.
Thirdly, they differ on the base of the thickness of yolk. The Japanese eggs have a thick orange yolk than American egg yolk.
When you puncture them, you need to push pretty hard if it is Japanese, and also it doesn’t run like American egg yolk. While, American eggs have thin yolk, which runs all over.
And, the last difference is their flavor and texture. The Japanese eggs are rich in flavor with a creamy texture. In contrast, American eggs have a less prominent flavor and texture than Japanese eggs.
So, these are some prime differences between Japanese and American eggs.
What Do Chickens Eat?
The chickens usually eat what they find in the grass, such as insects, bugs, worms, and seeds. This type of food is eaten by chickens that are farmed on a small scale, usually in homes or in the fields.
Poultry feed mostly contains grains, low salt, and little sugar pellets. Chickens also need vitamins and minerals in their diet, so these things are especially important in their diet.
Now we will tell you some of the prime ingredients that are essential to make chicken food. Ground corn, soybeans, oats, ground oyster shells or limestone, calcium, sunflower seeds are prime ingredients to prepare chicken feed.
Although, one can reduce or increase these ingredients because these depend on the size of the hen, age, or whether it will lay eggs or not.
For example, laying hens always need a diet rich in minerals and vitamins. Eggshells have calcium in them, so the hens that lay eggs would need more calcium. So that, they do not have to take calcium from their bones to make an eggshell.
Chickens that are farmed in order to get more eggs for business need a diet high in calcium. So that with the help of calcium they can make the egg shell properly.
In addition to these, there are ingredients in the diet of chickens that make their egg yolk orange. Too many pigments in food such as paprika, chili flakes, marigold, rose petals, etc. are ingredients that make the egg yolk orange.
Most Eggs in Japan Are Caged Eggs
You may ever hear that orange yolk eggs obtain from healthy, free, organic chickens. It is both true and false.
It is true that a healthy hen spreads its wings, breathes fresh air, moves to different places, and eats a variety of foods. Because of its good diet and good life, its eggs are orange yolk ones.
The above is incorrect when orange yolk eggs obtain from cages. Chickens in cages do not move freely and do not get a variety of food, but their egg yolks are still orange.
It is very common in Japan. In Japan, most poultry is open, but there is not enough space to build all the farms in an open environment.
There are very few chances for the chickens to roam freely in the fields so they have very little space. Poultry farming is slowly improving, that will make room for more chickens.
The poultry world has brought an excellent light point in this regard. More work will be done to get free range eggs, which will increase the demand for workers.
If Japan succeeds in changing that, it will have to consider the workers as well. Aviary-type farms are an excellent option for Japan, and they are much better than battery cages.
Why Are Japanese Eggs So Clean?
An interesting point about Japanese is that they keep their eggs very clean. Well, the Japanese often offer raw eggs with their dishes. So they clean the egg shell entirely so that there is no dirt or bird poop on it.
In some countries, eggs are washed and refrigerated. In some countries, eggs are kept at room temperature without washing.
The Japanese like clean things so they like to keep the eggs clean and with different designs.
In fact, you can see that the Japanese have a special fondness for keeping eggs clean and giving them a different design.
If you ever get a chance to eat an egg in Japan, never underestimate it.
Summary
The color of egg yolk is orange just because of the diet that chickens eat. In Japan, the diet of chickens comprises substances that have carotene or carotenoid in it. These chemicals are the main cause of the orange yolk of Japanese eggs.
And, the prime difference between Japanese and American eggs is the color of their egg yolks. Also, they have different flavors, textures, and thicknesses.
If you are curious about food and want to know about different foods, stay tuned to this website.
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