Content Overview:Quail eggs - these are rapidly gaining popularity in the culinary world as a small and cute alternative to hen eggs. Quail eggs have a remarkable flavour, very similar to that of hen eggs, but are small - usually only a third the size of a standard hen egg. They have cream shells with brown spots and deep yellow yolks.
Considering their tiny size, these cute quail eggs are actually packed with nutrients. However, there are some precautions to take when handling them, especially if you are pregnant or have an egg allergy.
ThisBiopedia article looks at everything you need to know about tiny quail eggs. If you want to incorporate them into your daily routine, or experiment with a few quail egg recipes, make sure you read the information below.
Nutritional value of quail eggs
Because they are so small, these eggs are surprisingly rich in nutrients. One quail egg provides a significant portion of your daily needs of vitamin B12, selenium, riboflavin and choline, along with some iron. And all this in a serving that contains only 14 calories.
Selenium and riboflavin are important nutrients that help your body break down the food you eat and transform it into energy. Selenium also helps ensure healthy thyroid function.
Meanwhile, vitamin B12 and iron promote healthy nervous system function and help maintain optimal energy levels through their role in red blood cell formation.
Additionally, choline is vital in helping your body produce acetylcholine. It is a neurotransmitter that sends messages from your nervous system to your muscles.
Benefits of quail eggs
Baby quail eggs are nutrient-rich and full of health-boosting antioxidants that can help prevent cell damage and treat allergy symptoms.
A 7-day study in 77 people with allergic rhinitis found that symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion and runny nose improved within 1 hour after taking a quail egg antioxidant and zinc supplement. However, it is not clear whether the egg compounds alone are responsible for the good results.
Furthermore, a mouse study found that quail egg yolk alleviated symptoms of eosinophilic esophagitis, a severe inflammatory condition caused by food allergies.
Precautions
Pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems should therefore avoid quail eggs or make sure they are fully cooked without liquid yolk before eating them.
If you are allergic to hen eggs, chances are you are allergic to quail eggs as well. You should be extremely careful if you want to test your quail egg tolerance.
You may be allergic to quail eggs even if you are not allergic to hen eggs. If you have any concerns, you should discuss them with your GP before you decide to consume these tiny eggs to check for yourself.
Quail eggs compared to hen eggs
Quail eggs are much smaller than hen eggs - about a third of their size. For their size, however, quail eggs have large yolks. Because many of the nutrients in eggs are found in the yolk, some people argue that quail eggs are more nutrient-dense than chicken eggs, meaning they contain more nutrients compared to their size.
Quail eggs contain more fat and protein by weight, double the iron and riboflavin, and about a third more vitamin B12 than hen eggs. On the other hand, hen eggs contain more choline.
Quail eggs are also harder to find and more expensive. Because of their size, you'll need more of them than hen eggs if you want to use them as a protein source. Thus, your feeding costs increase.
Quail eggs are healthy, but not superior to hen eggs as a set of nutrients. It's up to you whether you add them to your diet.
Quail eggs - uses
Quail eggs can be prepared in many of the same ways as hen eggs, although the cooking time is considerably shorter due to their smaller size.
In Japan, quail eggs are considered a delicacy and are often used raw in sushi. Other Asian countries, such as South Korea and Indonesia, regularly use quail eggs as a snack or side dish.
In South American countries, eggs are used as a topping for foods such as hot dogs and hamburgers. An easy way to try these eggs is to eat them boiled. They can be eaten as a snack, added to salads or other dishes. You can also use these eggs to make desserts.
Quail eggs are an unexpected alternative to hen eggs. They are small but packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. However, they are more expensive than hen eggs.
Plus, most of these eggs are unpasteurized, so pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems should only eat them if they are fully cooked.
