Can you eat wild turkey eggs?

In this article, we will answer the question “Can you eat wild turkey eggs?” and discuss how big are turkey eggs?

Can you eat wild turkey eggs?

Yes, you can eat wild turkey eggs. Those who raise turkeys in their backyards say that their eggs taste very much like chicken eggs. While the shells are a little harder and the membrane that separates them from each other is a little thicker, they are generally similar to each other.

In a study, eggs of different poultry species were compared. Results show that the proportion of yolk to egg weight was highest in goose (37.91%), followed by duck (32.40%), quail (30.19%), turkey (29.83%), chicken (27.52%), and pigeon (19.33%) (1).

According to a publication from the University of Georgia, the U.S. produced more than 230 million turkeys last year. Only chicken, beef, and pig are eaten more often than turkey in the United States. Over 230 million turkeys are produced in the U.S. every year, with 46 million turkeys eaten each Thanksgiving, 22 million on Christmas, and 19 million at Easter (2). 

Why don’t you consume eggs from turkeys?

You may not be able to purchase them. As a result, it does not imply that they are incompetent eaters or that they do not care about their health. Some research has revealed that turkey eggs are both tasty and high in calories. In fact, the higher calories are due to the higher egg weight. A chicken egg weighs in average 60 g and a turkey egg weighs in everage 90 g. The amount of proteins in turkey eggs is the same as from chicken eggs and the amino acid composition is very similar. The amount of minerals is slightly higher (1).

They aren’t eaten because of a lack of manufacturing and distribution in the market. The reason for this is mainly economic. Broodiness – the hen’s instinctual desire to sit on eggs to hatch them – has not been bred out of turkey hens, as it has in chickens, and so they do not produce as many eggs as chickens. Domesticated turkey hens lay only about 100 eggs per year, depending upon the breed and conditions of the hatchery. By comparison, a laying chicken can produce almost 300 eggs per year. In addition, turkey hens take longer to mature, so more costs are incurred in raising them to laying age. Because of the limited supply, virtually all turkey eggs are used for production of more turkeys. In addition, breeders are not usually licensed to sell the eggs as food. Indeed, in the United States, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) has no inspection or grading regulations for turkey eggs (3).

In spite of this, consumers in North America are happy to part with their cash in order to eat one of these eggs. 

What Is the Flavor of Turkey Eggs?

Like a chicken egg, a turkey egg has a comparable flavor. Having a larger yolk/ albumen proportion makes it even creamier and more flavorful, because the lipids are concentrated in the yolk (4). It has a thick outer layer. To put it another way, ending a relationship takes time. There is no difference between the inside and outside of this egg. This egg doesn’t need any particular cooking method. As with a chicken egg, you can boil or cook it.

Is Turkey Eggs a delicacy?

Turkeys do consume eggs, but not as many as they do chickens or ducks. Because hens don’t produce as many eggs as chickens and ducks, they aren’t as valuable as chickens and ducks. A higher price might be the consequence of decreased output. 

So don’t expect to cook them too frequently. If a chicken lays 300 eggs a year, a turkey hen only lays 100 eggs (3). That doesn’t mean, however, that people aren’t in love with them. They’ll devour them if they’re easy to get their hands on. Today, turkey eggs can be found on the internet.

Why Aren’t We Eating Turkey Eggs in Our Breakfasts?

A typical observation is that people consume chicken eggs much more often than they do turkey eggs. Several factors are to blame for this lack of popularity. 

  • Two eggs are laid by a turkey hen per week. Turkeys have a shorter gestation time than other birds. As a result, egg output is never very high or very low.
  • It is not encouraged by breeders to sell these eggs in this manner since they will not be able to raise chicks for meat.
  • They cost anything from $4 to $5 per egg.
  • It is dangerous to get turkey eggs from outside the city.
  • If local breeders are selling it, you can get turkey eggs.
  • Some people find the turkey egg to be a little odorous.

Turkey Eggs: Cooking Instructions

Turkey eggs can be prepared the same way as chicken eggs. Everything you need to do is already there. It can be boiled or cooked. A spicy omelet may also be made using the instructions below.

The ingredients for a Turkey egg omelet are listed below:

  • After washing your hands, place an egg in a bowl.
  • Wash your hands again and thoroughly stir it.
  • One by one, add the salt and chile peppers.
  • Mix in cumin seed at the very end, and you’re done!
  • Pour the egg mixture into a pan of hot oil and let it to cook for a few minutes.
  • Cook it to a golden brown color.
  • Crushed cheese may also be added to this dish if desired.
  • To ensure that the food is cooked evenly, rotate the pans on all sides.

Turkey Eggs are a good source of protein and other nutrients.

If served for breakfast, turkey eggs are an excellent source of calories and nutrients. It will provide you with the energy you need to get your day off to a good start. Vitamin A, minerals, and lipids are all found in it. There are 135 calories in one egg per day. Eggs have, on average, 140 calories in 100 g (5). A turkey egg weighs about 90 g (1).

What Is The Size Of A Turkey Egg?

Depending on the type of turkey, the egg’s size and weight might vary. In the United States, a turkey egg is typically 2 to 2.7 inches in length. The diameter is 5 inches and the width is 1.5 to 2 inches. An egg’s typical weight varies from 66 grams to more than 110 grams, depending on the kind. According to studies, a chicken egg weighs 57 g, a duck egg weighs 74 g, a goose egg weighs 139 g, a turkey egg weighs 90 g, a quail egg weighs 11 g and a pigeon egg weighs 22 g, on average (1).

When compared to heritage breeds, midget breeds tend to lay eggs that are less than half the normal size. In comparison to chicken and duck eggs, a turkey egg is larger but smaller than a goose or ostrich egg. The eggs of a turkey are laid in a specified location.

To learn more about eating wild turkey eggs click here

Conclusion

In this article, we answered the question “Can you eat wild turkey eggs?” and we discussed how big are turkey eggs?

Reference

  1. Sun, Congjiao, et al. Egg quality and egg albumen property of domestic chicken, duck, goose, turkey, quail, and pigeon. Poultry sci, 2019, 98, 4516-4521.
  2. Stewart, R. Turkey Production in the US. 2020. University of Georgia.  
  3. Smith, Andrew F. Turkey Eggs. Eggs in Cookery: Proceedings of the Oxford Symposium of Food and Cookery 2006. Oxford Symposium, 2007.
  4. Chen, De-Wei, Dimitrios P. Balagiannis, and Jane K. Parker. Use of egg yolk phospholipids to generate chicken meat odorants. Food chem, 2019, 286, 71-77.
  5. Réhault-Godbert, Sophie, Nicolas Guyot, and Yves Nys. The golden egg: nutritional value, bioactivities, and emerging benefits for human health. Nutrients, 2019, 11, 684.

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