WHY IS EGG YELLOW INSIDE
Answers
Answer:
Egg yolk is a source of lecithin, as well as egg oil, for cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. Based on weight, egg yolk contains about 9% lecithin. The yellow color is due to lutein and zeaxanthin, which are yellow or orange carotenoids known as xanthophylls.
The Real Reason Why Egg Yolks Are Different Colors
Camille Berry
Duck egg yolk and hen egg yolkSHUTTERSTOCK / ONANONG THONGNOUM
The color of egg yolks can range from pale yellow to deep orange. We break down eggs-actly why that happens, and what color means for flavor and nutrition.
We’ve all seen the rainbow of colors eggshells come in, but did you know that egg yolks come in a variety of shades as well? We’ve all seen the pale yellow egg yolks found in store-bought cartons and you’ve likely encountered the richly hued orange egg yolks when you pick up eggs at a farmers market. Either way, they make for a tasty morning scrambled egg feast!
But do you ever wonder why some egg yolks are darker than others? Stick around and we’ll break it down for you.
The Secret Behind Egg Yolk Color
Despite this common misconception, the exact shade of your egg yolks has nothing to do with the chicken breed–although it can affect the color of the eggshell. The shade of an egg yolk is completely determined by the hen’s diet. Hens who are given feed full of yellow-orange pigments will lay eggs with darker yolks. It’s as simple as that! No artificial coloring is allowed in chicken feed, but some farmers will add marigold petals to give egg yolks an orangey color boost. Reddish yolks are made possible by adding capsicum (i.e. red bell peppers) to chicken feed, and throwing in a dash of paprika can have the same effect.