Erin Elizabeth
Nearly all poultry eggs are edible. From giant ostrich eggs to tiny pheasant eggs, there are many types of eggs you can eat.
Most are similar to chicken eggs, while others have incredibly unique characteristics. There are speckled chicken and pheasant eggs and vibrant green emu eggs.
First, we’ll tell you about the familiar chicken egg and talk about the alternatives in comparison. We’ll reference size and taste compared to chicken eggs to give you a clearer idea of what you’re getting into.
Some grocery stores carry unusual eggs, but you’ll find that sourcing some unusual selections may prove difficult. You can meet local farmers or try your hand at foraging.
You can get even more adventurous with some non-poultry selections on our list. We’ll share information about caviar and even crocodile eggs!
However you choose to eat your eggs, you’ll always get a dose of healthy protein along with other essential nutrients like Vitamin A and B.
Types of Eggs
Learn about different eggs you can eat below, starting with classic chicken eggs.
Chicken Eggs
The most common type of eggs you’ll find at your grocery store are chicken eggs.
Most egg connoisseurs will tell you that not all chicken eggs are equal.
Try the free-range organic eggs or buy them from a country farm stand to see if you notice a difference too. The yolks tend to have a darker, richer yellow color.
There are hundreds of ways to prepare chicken eggs, including frying, boiling, poaching, and scrambling. Eggs are one of the most popular breakfast foods in America.
The more fresh the eggs are, the easier they are to poach or peel after hard boiling.
Duck Eggs
Want a bigger, bolder-tasting egg? Try duck eggs. They are up to twice the size of chicken eggs with a deep orange yolk that is thicker and creamier than chicken egg yolk.
They are less common in stores, but you can find them at Whole Foods and other high-end grocery stores.
Duck eggs pack more nutrition than chicken eggs as well. You’ll get more Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin A from duck eggs.
You can prepare duck eggs in many of the same ways such as scrambling, hard boiling, and poaching. One thing to keep in mind about duck eggs is their more fragile shells.
Crack them gently on a flat surface. Lower them into the water with a slotted spoon if you are boiling.
Ostrich Eggs
These titans of the egg world taste similar to hen’s eggs but slightly more buttery and sweet.
They contain all the same nutrients in a much larger package. One ostrich egg equals about 20 chicken eggs!
Invite some adventurous friends over for breakfast to try a load of a scrambled ostrich egg.
You can use the same method for regular scrambled eggs but plan on this batch taking 20-30 minutes to cook.
One egg will cost about $30 if you can get it locally from a farm. Be careful searching online since many retailers only sell the shell for decorative purposes.
Quail Eggs
Brilliant and bite-sized, quail eggs are gaining traction among egg aficionados.
They are about 1/3 the size of a chicken egg with a similar taste. Their shells are cream-colored with brown blotches.
Deviled Quail eggs are sure to be the show-stopper for your next dinner party. They are tiny, cute, and full of flavor.
They have a more balanced ratio of filling to egg-white, making them an excellent alternative to traditional deviled eggs.
Egg prices tend to fluctuate. You’ll find quail eggs in grocery stores like Walmart ranging from $.30 to $1 per egg. That puts a dozen at $12.
Turkey Eggs
We’re all familiar with turkey on the Thanksgiving table, but what about the eggs?
You can eat turkey eggs. They are slightly bigger than chicken eggs with a thicker shell and membrane. They taste nearly identical.
You won’t find turkey eggs in any grocery store because farming turkeys for egg production would not be practical.
They produce fewer eggs during a shorter time in their lifespan than chickens. They also need larger coops and nests to accommodate their jumbo ovum.
To try turkey eggs, visit a farm stand that sells them. Start simple by preparing them the same way you would a chicken egg.
Pheasant Eggs
Pheasant eggs will add beauty to your kitchen and rich taste to your plate.
They are either lush brown or olive green in the shell. Their taste is much richer than chicken eggs making them a great choice for omelets and quiches.
Pheasant eggs are about half the size of a chicken egg. When substituting in a recipe, use two pheasant eggs for each egg called for.
Like eggs from other game birds on our list, you’ll have to search local farms to purchase eggs.
If you find that you love them and need them on your table, you can raise a flock for egg production.
Emu Eggs
Green eggs and ham, anyone? Because emus lay large eggs with lustrous green shells. The inside is much like chicken eggs, of course.
You’ll need some pals from your ostrich egg exposition to help you with the emu scramble. One emu egg is equal to about 10 chicken eggs.
Making a frittata or quiche is the best use of so much egg material.
Cost may be what keeps you from venturing into emu eggs. They can cost anywhere from $30-$50 each.
Goose Eggs
Goose eggs are about three times the size of a chicken egg. They have a thicker shell and membrane than requires more effort to crack.
But the inside is remarkably similar to chicken eggs except for a higher yolk-to-white ratio. That’s good news if your favorite part of an egg is that silky, golden center.
Goose eggs are more difficult to substitute into recipes unless the recipe calls for eggs in multiples of three.
Your best bet is to scramble or fry them up for breakfast. These larger eggs make a hearty sandwich.
Pigeon Eggs
The rarest and tiniest eggs on our list come from pigeons. Few pigeon farms for egg production exist today since these birds are notoriously difficult to gather eggs from.
They know how many eggs they have and will become depressed and fail to lay again. Keepers replace collected eggs with fake ones to avoid this problem.
You could forage for eggs. City birds often eat anything available which exposes them to toxic materials.
Woodland pigeons tend to have a healthier, more natural diet making their eggs a healthier choice too.
Gull Eggs
Seagull eggs are larger than chicken eggs with blueish or greenish shells. The yolks are deep orange or even red.
They can have a “fishy” taste resulting from the bird’s primary diet. You can prepare them the same way you would prepare chicken eggs. Most people who enjoy gull eggs say they taste the same as chicken eggs.
If you’re worried about having too fishy of flavor, use gull eggs in a dish with some spices and other ingredients like a frittata.
Caviar
Eggs from poultry are not the only types of eggs you can eat. Caviar is fish roe, meaning unfertilized eggs.
Black caviar comes from sturgeon, and red and yellow caviar comes from other fish such as salmon or trout.
As the most expensive eggs on our list, a jar of caviar can range from $40 to $450 online. Several factors contribute to the price.
Sturgeon fish were once nearly wiped out and are protected fish in the wild. Sturgeon farms have helped to bring the price back down.
The type of fish your caviar comes from, and the quality of the roe affect the price. Sturgeon farms raise fish for about 10 years before harvesting.
Crocodile Eggs
A unique fact about crocodile eggs is that they have no yolk.
They are all white inside but packed with many of the same nutrients, such as protein, that make all eggs a wonderfully healthy food choice.
One egg can cost between $20 and $30. You’re not likely to find one outside of Australia, though.
Most eggs are harvested from the wild to raise the crocs on farms for meat and skins. Eating the eggs is less common.
Tasting a crocodile egg will likely involve some epic traveling. Some say they taste strong and fishy.
Types of Eggs
- Chicken Eggs
- Duck Eggs
- Ostrich Eggs
- Quail Eggs
- Turkey Eggs
- Pheasant Eggs
- Emu Eggs
- Goose Eggs
- Pigeon Eggs
- Gull Eggs
- Caviar
- Crocodile Eggs
Final Thoughts
Eggs are a delectable source of protein and many essential vitamins. Preparing and eating a range of interesting eggs is a culinary adventure. You’ll have to get creative to source your unusual egg desires and probably meet some interesting people along the way.
While the internet is usually the go-to source for any hard-to-find item, read listings carefully. Many of the “exotic” eggs on our list are sold as blown-out shells for crafts and decorations.
You may go on a real adventure foraging for eggs from pigeons or seagulls. Or you can travel down under to test your taste buds on a crocodile egg. Not only will you have a delightful dish to enjoy, but a fascinating story to go with it.
