Egg (food)
Chicken egg (left) and quail eggs (right),
types of egg commonly used as food
Also see: List of egg topics.
An egg is a round or oval body laid by the fe-
male of any number of different species, con-
sisting of an ovum surrounded by layers of
membranes and an outer casing, which acts
to nourish and protect a developing embryo
and its nutrient reserves. Most edible eggs,
including bird eggs and turtle eggs, consist
of a protective, oval eggshell, the albumen
(egg white), the vitellus (egg yolk), and vari-
ous thin membranes. Every part is edible, al-
though the eggshell is generally discarded.
Nutritionally, eggs are considered a good
source of protein and choline.
Roe and caviar are edible eggs produced
by fish.
Culinary use
See also: List of egg dishes
Bird eggs are a common food and one of the
most versatile ingredients used in cooking.
They are important in many branches of the
modern food industry.[1] The most commonly
used bird eggs are those from the chicken.
Duck and goose eggs, and smaller eggs such
as quail eggs are occasionally used as a gour-
met ingredient, as are the largest bird eggs,
from ostriches. Gull eggs are considered a
delicacy in England,[2] as well as in some
Scandinavian countries, particularly in Nor-
way. In some African countries, guineafowl
Ostrich egg (right), compared to chicken egg
(lower left) and quail eggs (upper left)
eggs are commonly seen in marketplaces, es-
pecially in the spring of each year.[3] Pheas-
ant eggs and emu eggs are perfectly edible
but less widely available.[2] Sometimes they
are obtainable from farmers, poulterers, or
luxury grocery stores. Most wild birds’ eggs
are protected by laws in many countries,
which prohibit collecting or selling them, or
only permit these during specific periods of
the year.[2]
Fried chicken egg
Most commercially produced chicken eggs
intended for human consumption are unfertil-
ized, since the laying hens are kept without
roosters. Fertile eggs can be purchased and
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Egg (food)
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