Duck Eggs 101

What can you do with duck eggs?
Anything you can do with chicken eggs, and more!

comparing Duck vs. chicken eggs

A duck egg tastes like a chicken egg, only more so! 

"Made French Toast this weekend from the Hearth and Haven eggs and it was deemed the best I've ever made by the family." -- John Evans

"We had the duck eggs this morning. They're amazing. The difference to chicken eggs is just like you said. :)" -- Cesar Blum Silveira

TASTE

Duck eggs taste a lot like chicken eggs, only richer and creamier. Comparing the taste of chicken and duck eggs is a lot like comparing skim milk and whole milk - they're basically the same, but one is far more rich, luscious, and creamy.

They’re both egg-y, but duck eggs are just so much more interesting!

As with all eggs, however, the final flavor depends a great deal on what the bird has been eating. At Hearth & Haven, our lovely ladies are fed an organic, GMO-free, locally-milled grain from day one. Our birds are also given plenty of treats (like lettuce, bananas, and tomatoes) and get to hunt for tasty, natural snacks out in their green pastures year round.

We believe that this varied diet is not only fun for the birds, but ensures that they always have the nutrients they need for optimum health. Healthy birds lay the best eggs, and we think you'll love the results!

NUTRITION

Duck eggs are nutrition powerhouses. They have more vitamin A and B-12, more protein, and much more of those important omega-3 fatty acids than chicken eggs. Now that’s a great way to start your morning!

Allergies

Know someone with a chicken egg allergy? Many people who are allergic to chicken eggs can actually eat duck eggs! (Check with your doctor first, of course.)
We don’t raise any chickens on our property, so there’s never a danger of a chicken egg accidentally ending up in your carton. They’re all duck, all the time!
Soy allergy? Our birds eat a soy-free, organic, non-GMO diet from their very first day, so their eggs are packed with top-quality nutrition.

Appearance

Not only are duck eggs larger, but the shell is a lot thicker than most chicken eggs.  That means that they stay fresh even longer - but it also means you also need to give them a good solid crack to open them. Cracking the first one can seem a little strange, but pretty soon you'll wonder how those fragile little chicken eggs ever manage!
Inside, you'll find an extra-big yolk and nearly transparent white. The white of a duck egg is a little stickier than that of a chicken egg, so don't be surprised if you need to work to get that last drop out of the shell. 

Delicious duck eggs for breakfast

Scrambled, boiled, fried, poached, coddled, smothered in Hollandaise sauce - however you like them, duck eggs can be cooked the same way as chicken eggs! No need to change anything, just prepare them as you normally would and enjoy the extra-rich taste.
If you're a fan of cheese with your eggs, you simply must try a duck egg omelette. They're amazing!

baking with duck eggs

With very few exceptions, I've found that you can substitute duck eggs for chicken in almost any recipe. The extra-large yolk of duck eggs helps baked goods rise higher, so you'll suddenly be enjoying the richest cookies, biggest cakes, and fluffiest pancakes you've ever made. If you want it to rise, duck eggs will help - even your meringues and souffles will be more stable!

If you're planning on some gluten-free baking, you definitely need some duck eggs. Without gluten to add body, many baked goods struggle to rise. Those big duck egg yolks can make up for that, providing the wonderful fluffiness and texture you're looking for. 

Just one word of caution - be careful when using duck eggs when you have a recipe that you don't want to rise. Pie crusts, for example, can puff up a bit too much when using duck eggs, leaving little room for the pie filling! I usually double the crust recipe and eliminate one egg to make sure the crust doesn't puff up out of control.