Whether for scrambling, frying or poaching—or for its original purpose of incubating and protecting a developing chicken fetus—the egg does its job well. Its perfectly designed layers protect the contents from bacteria and the dangers of the environment, all while offering abundant nourishment to growing chicks or consuming humans.
The chicken egg is the perfect protein. A pastured hen’s egg yolk contains vitamins A, D, E and K, loads of good cholesterol, lecithin (a natural emulsifier that helps break up fats and ease digestion) and lots of healthy fats. An egg yolk is a wonderful natural source of choline, an essential nutrient that contributes to proper liver function and healthy brain development—critical for pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children.
The albumen, or white, is a nutritional powerhouse, too. It contains a bit more protein and a bit less fat than the yolk, and it’s packed with B vitamins, including B-2, B-6 and B-12. It even has a low-calorie count. Those with allergies or egg sensitivities tend to be less reactive to the albumen than the yolk, too, so it’s a good place to start for someone who is assessing the suitability of eggs.
While the yolk and the albumen are wonderful on their own, together they make an exceptional, unrivaled food source. In many ways, the yolk and white must be eaten together to reap the benefits the egg has to offer. For example, the vitamin E found in the yolk works together with the selenium in the egg white to create antioxidant qualities, helping to prevent the breakdown of body tissues.
Most notably, a whole egg is one of the few food-based sources of all nine essential amino acids that the human body needs for healthy immune function. The human body can’t produce these essential amino acids on its own—we can only produce ones called dispensable amino acids—so we must get them from food. Amino acids also combat the absorption of excess fat, so consuming the fattier yolk will help fight fat better in the long run than eating only the egg whites.
Finally, you might know about omega-3 fatty acids. Just like essential amino acids, the body can’t synthesize them, so we have to source them from the foods we eat. Hens with a varied diet, such as those that are pastured, raised on grass and able to forage, produce eggs naturally higher in omega-3s. Grazing for part of their diet is good for your hens and good for you, too.
Under the Shell
Now that we know how nutritious the egg is, let’s see what the yolk and albumen look like under the shell.
The Yolk
Before it’s scrambled into a meal, the yolk’s primary purpose is to nourish the developing embryo through the process of incubation. Contrary to popular belief, the yolk doesn’t become the chick; it feeds the chick. With hatching imminent, the fetus absorbs the whole yolk in preparation for hatching. The newborn is then nourished by the remainder of the yolk sac for as long as three days while it waits for its siblings to finish hatching.
The yolk’s color doesn’t change based on the breed of hen that hatched it or the breed of chick that will hatch. Rather, the color comes directly from the variety in a bird’s diet. A hen that has dined on greens, grass and a range of foraged proteins produces yolks deeper in hue. Compare this with the pale-yellow yolks of store-bought eggs.
The Albumen
Transparent in its raw, liquid form, the albumen turns white when heated and cooked—hence its common name. The albumen is packed with protein—about 40 proteins, actually—while the rest is water. It includes four sections: the outer thin, the outer thick, the inner thin and the inner thick.
The albumen connects to the yolk and shell with two cords called chalazae. One chalaza connects to the top of the yolk, and one connects to the bottom, suspending the yolk and keeping it stationary. This is an important job, as the chalazae correctly orient the fragile insides of the egg in anticipation of growing a healthy chick embryo. You might be familiar with the chalazae, just in a different context: As an egg is cracked open, the two cords snap back toward the yolk and appear as small knots or strings on the surface of the egg’s contents.
The Shell
The shell’s main function is maintaining the integrity of the egg’s yolk and albumen and protecting the developing embryo. It seems to do this primarily through its hard, calciferous outer structure, but the shell has three layers.
- The first inner layer connects the albumen to the shell.
- The second spongy layer contains pores that allow oxygen to flow and helps the innards release moisture and carbon dioxide.
- The cuticle layer, also called the bloom, is an invisible layer located on the shell’s outside, sealing the egg’s pores and preventing bacteria from harming the growing chick.
Chicken-keepers come into contact with the bloom often. It’s water-soluble and easily washed away, which is why it’s so important to refrigerate washed eggs: The water destroys the bacteria-repelling properties of the bloom, leaving the inside vulnerable. For the keeper interested in eating the egg, this means that an egg deteriorates faster and becomes increasingly unsafe to eat. The conclusion: Don’t wash your eggs unless you absolutely have to.
Culinary Creations
The egg is a dutiful worker in the kitchen and bakery, creating magic through its role as a binding or thickening agent, an emulsifier and a glaze, among other things. The egg’s many culinary feats can be attributed to its proteins and how they react to different elements, temperatures and applications. The proteins and moisture content contribute to leavening, for example. As an egg is rapidly beaten, the proteins unwind into a flexible film that encloses air bubbles, creating a fluffy texture that holds its shape. This process is critical for creating a meringue or soufflé.
When an egg is heated, the moisture converts to steam, creating air pockets in a food or baked good that give the product texture. The yolk enhances almost any food’s richness and flavor; think of the delicious gooeyness in a perfectly baked cookie or brownie. The proteins continue to work in other ways: Heating an egg naturally congeals its proteins and allows the egg to act as a binding agent to create structure. Think of the way meatloaf, meatballs or casseroles can hold their shape.
Lecithin, an important fat emulsifier you might recognize from reading food labels, is also present in an egg yolk. Yolk lecithin works to break apart fats and suspend the rest of the food together. Without lecithin, we couldn’t achieve the velvety texture in hollandaise sauce or mayonnaise.
The egg is an incredible feat of nature, a superfood that chicken-keepers have in abundance. Of course, in its primary role as the first home for a developing chick, it’s a superior incubating structure, too. In combination with the mother hen’s fluffy feathers, gentle movement and ambient warmth, the egg expertly ushers new life into the henhouse.
