Duck Eggs : why you need them in your kitchen

Last Updated on June 20, 2024 by Michelle

A few years ago I wrote a simple post “everything you need to know about duck eggs.”

And, well, apparently the world is itching to know about duck eggs, because that simple post gets lots of views every week.

I love raising ducks and I’m always up for talking about them, so let’s do it… Let’s talk all things duck eggs.

Sidenote: don’t miss the conclusion… you need ot know the 3 Reasons You Should be Eating Duck Eggs.

Do duck eggs taste different?

When compared to chicken eggs, duck eggs have a larger yolk-to-white-ratio, which results in a richer, almost creamer taste.

Eating one duck egg would almost be like adding an extra yolk to your chicken egg (or eating a double yolker!).

In my experience–especially depending on how you cook them–duck eggs also tend to have a more “rubbery” texture (think over-easy eggs) than a chicken egg would if cooked the same way.

Why are duck eggs better for cooking?

Generally I prefer using duck eggs for baking and chicken eggs for frying or scrambling. It’s not that duck eggs aren’t good for eating straight up–they are–but my family tends to prefer the softer texture of scrambled chicken eggs versus the slightly rubbery texture of scrambled duck eggs.

Pro tip: If you scramble 1 duck egg in with 3-4 chicken eggs, you get more of a variety of nutrients and you won’t even notice the different texture of the duck egg.

On the flip side, duck eggs literally enhance baked goods.

The extra large, creamy yolk lends itself incredibly well to chewier cookies, more soft and tender muffins, higher rise on enhanced breads, and richer flavor in puddings, ice cream, or pound cakes.

Overall, duck eggs are a magic secret ingredient in any and all baked goods. I promise if you made the same cookie recipe side-by-side with chicken eggs and duck eggs, the result would be better with duck eggs.

BTW, whenever I scramble or fry an egg, duck egg or otherwise, this is my favorite seasoning to add. (Code “soulyrested” for 15% off, all the time.)

Why people don’t eat duck eggs?

At the end of the day, the main reason people consume way more chicken eggs than duck eggs is simply because it’s easier to raise chicken eggs commercially. Ducks are a bit more high maintenance and need more space and resources to raise compared to chickens. So with the rise of commercial farming, chicken eggs were king and remain so today.

But that’s not necessarily to say chicken eggs are better than duck eggs, they’re just what we’re more used to now.

Do duck eggs tastes like eggs?

Many folks are afraid of what they don’t know, but are surprised to find out that duck eggs do, in fact, taste like eggs!

When compared to a chicken egg, duck eggs do have a slightly different flavor, mostly based off of their diet. The flavor could be described as lightly gamey or grassy. (Keep reading for more thoughts on this.)

If you’ve only ever eaten commercially raised chicken eggs, the flavor of farm fresh duck eggs might be slightly different than what you’re used to–but if the flavor is very strong or off-putting, chances are your duck eggs are bad or were mishandled by your farmer.

How to substitute duck eggs for chicken eggs

Two duck eggs is about equal to 3 chicken eggs. So if your recipe calls for 3 large eggs, use 2 average duck eggs instead.

When baking with duck eggs, keep in mind that duck eggs tend to be about 30% larger than the average chicken egg. Even so, you can substitute duck eggs for chicken eggs 1-for-1 with these 3 tips:

1. Cook your baked goods at a slightly higher temperature (up your oven temperature 5-10 degrees).
2. Bake them for just a minute or two more than if you used chicken eggs in the recipe.
3. Add slightly less liquid to your recipe.

What are the disadvantages of duck eggs?

My family and I love duck eggs, but there are some downsides.

1. Some folks find that duck eggs don’t agree with their stomach. Strangely, sometimes people who have no issues eating chicken eggs will find themselves with a hefty stomach ache after consuming duck eggs. This could be due to an allergy, or could simply be the richness of the larger-yolked duck egg that their stomach isn’t used to.
2. Some duck eggs can taste slightly “fishy.” This would mostly be due to either diet or mishandling of the eggs. If ducks are kept near or on a pond and eat a diet similar to wild ducks, you might find the eggs taste a bit gamey. If eggs are kept in too warm of a temperature or not handled or cleaned properly, this flavor will intensify. 
3. Duck eggs can be pricier if you’re purchasing them. This will just depend on availability in your area.
4. The eggshells on duck eggs tend to be much thicker and harder to crack, with a thicker membrane inside the eggshell than chicken eggs. The reason this is a downside is simply because you’re more likely to wind up with small pieces of eggshells in your scrambled eggs. Just something to watch for and be aware of.

What are the pros and cons of duck eggs?

Cons:

1. Some people may find duck eggs more rubbery than chicken eggs and not enjoy the texture.
2. In some instances, duck eggs are much more rich than chicken eggs and could lead to an upset stomach, or the richness just might not be your favorite.
3. In some cases, people who eat chicken eggs just fine might be slightly allergic to duck eggs which could be as simple as an inconvenient upset stomach, or, in rare cases, could actually lead to a more serious allergic reaction.

Pros:

1. Due to their large size and richness, and higher calories and protein content, you need to eat less duck eggs to keep you full.
2. In some cases, people who can’t tolerate chicken eggs may be able to eat duck eggs with no issues.
3. Some folks prefer the slightly gamier flavor of duck eggs over chicken eggs and see duck eggs as a tasty delicacy. 

Is it OK to eat duck eggs every day?

Yes, you can eat ducks eggs every day.

Keep in mind that duck eggs are a bit higher in calories compared to chicken eggs. Here’s how they compare:

• The average chicken egg= 72 calories
• The average duck egg= 130 calories

They’re also a bit higher in fat than a chicken egg. But I see this as a good thing, since most of us are lacking in the good fats.

• More here about how lard and tallow are great choices.
• And remember we need the good fats if we want all the good vitamins and minerals. (source)

Bonus: duck eggs add more protein, antioxidants, and minerals to your plate as well. Huh, that’s pretty cool, right?

So yes, go ahead and eat duck eggs every day. You deserve it.

Can duck eggs be stored at room temperature?

Fresh-laid and unwashed duck eggs can be stored at room temperature, thanks to the bloom on the outside of the shell that seals the pores of the egg.

Ideally, it’s best to eat your fresh eggs within a few weeks for the best flavor and nutrition, but they can be kept for much longer than that.

Bonus: compared to chicken eggs, duck eggs should last even longer, thanks to their thicker shells and membranes that protect the egg inside from bacteria.

One caveat to storing duck eggs is that–even more so than chicken eggs–duck eggs tend to get dirty right after they’re laid. This is because ducks stay on the ground to lay their eggs, whereas chickens often jump up higher into a nesting box to lay their eggs, get the job done, then jump back down and resume their life.

Our ducks tend to lay their eggs before we let them out of their duck house every morning, then proceed to walk over them, and often do their business right next to or on them, which means the duck’s eggs are always dirtier than our chicken’s eggs.

Pro tip: When the eggs are unusually dirty, I will wash them right after bringing them into the house and then store them in the fridge. The ones that are relatively clean because they somehow escaped the duck’s carelessness get stored on the counter and washed before they’re used.

3 reasons you should be eating duck eggs

In the end, yes, there are pros and cons, and yes there are disadvantages of duck eggs compared to chicken eggs, but I whole-heartedly believe we all should be eating duck eggs, if we can. It comes down to 3 reasons:

1. Duck eggs are a magic secret ingredient in any and all baked goods.
2. The pros outweigh the cons.
3. They offer more good stuff to your diet that chicken eggs simply don’t have.

Details about Duck Eggs and other such things:

• Everything you need to know about duck eggs (part 1)
• Would I rather raise chickens or ducks?
• Training my dog to like my birds in 5 simple steps
• A huge mistake I made when incubating chicks
• Make lasagna noodles with fresh flour (great made with duck eggs!)

And be sure to Download my FREE Pantry Checklist and all the discounts on the best ingredients

Talk to me about Duck Eggs…

If you have questions, leave a comment below. And please tag me on ig to show me your duck egg delicacies @souly.rested.

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“Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Cor. 10:31