Can You Eat Muscovy Duck Eggs?
Muscovy ducks are often raised for their meat and egg production. In this article, I look at how good these eggs are from both a health and taste perspective.
Their eggs are not only edible, but they’re also quite healthy as compared to chicken eggs.
They have more protein content which is useful for building muscle, improving skin health, and boosting mental health.
In the article below, we will talk more about how Muscovy eggs fare against eggs of other fowls, how healthy they are, and things to look out for.
Are Muscovy Duck Eggs Edible?
Yes, Muscovy duck eggs are edible.
They’re rich in minerals and protein and hence are very healthy to consume as compared to chicken eggs.
Muscovies produce about 60-120 eggs in a year, so they are not very big egg producers. But the eggs are of very high quality.
What Do Muscovy Duck Eggs Taste Like?
Muscovy duck eggs taste more or less like chicken eggs. However, their flavor is a little more intense as compared to those. This is because of the muscovy duck’s diet.
Ducks tend to eat a lot more creepy crawlies than chickens, which gives them a protein boost.
Hence chefs will often prefer duck eggs over chicken eggs simply because of the enhanced flavor.
Additionally, pastry chefs prefer using duck eggs in baking because they give more fluff to their pastries.
Are Muscovy Duck Eggs Good to Eat?
Muscovy duck eggs are far healthier as compared to chicken eggs. There are several benefits of eating Muscovy duck eggs over others.
First, Muscovy duck eggs contain more protein than chicken eggs.
Hence, it helps in building lean muscle, which facilitates quick recovery when injured and also assists in healthy weight gain.
These eggs contain a lot of Vitamin B, which is great for your skin health.
Vitamin B1 prevents acne, and Vitamin B2 reduces skin inflammation and encourages the production of collagen.
The remaining B vitamins all help to promote good skin health by preventing infections, boosting skin cell regeneration, and locking in moisture into the skin at various degrees.
Muscovy Eggs vs. Other Duck Eggs
There is not a whole lot of difference between Muscovy duck eggs and eggs of other ducks when it comes to taste or nutritional benefits.
However, if you wish to rear ducks for eggs and meat, you might want to note certain differences.
Muscovy ducks lay a lesser number of eggs as compared to other duck species during a year.
So if you plan to rear only muscovies, the yield may be limited.
Secondly, Muscovy eggs are cleaner and whiter as compared to eggs of any other duck species.
You will notice these eggs are often creamy white in color.
You can use Muscovy duck eggs in regular cooking to make omelets and scrambled eggs or use the duck yolk for baking fluffy pastries.
Muscovy Duck Eggs vs. Chicken Eggs
Muscovy duck eggs are better than chicken eggs when it comes to the level of nutrition, as already explained.
Duck eggs have more protein and vitamins as compared to chicken eggs.
Duck yolks are larger in size than chicken ones. This means they have higher concentrations of fat and cholesterol.
Similarly, duck egg whites are clearer, unlike chicken egg whites, which have a slight yellow tinge.
Duck eggs make fluffier and better pastries are creamier, and have less water content.
If you wish to rear ducks for eggs, keep in mind that Muscovy ducks, in particular, lay fewer eggs than any other duck or fowl species.
Hence their yield is lower, but typically they compensate for that through the higher price they can fetch.
Muscovy eggs are bigger and whiter too.
Duck eggs also have a longer shelf life than chicken eggs because of their thicker shell and membrane.
Can Eating Muscovy Duck Eggs Make You Sick?
While there aren’t any major concerns with muscovy duck eggs, there are three points to note.
Firstly, egg allergy is fairly common in our youth, but many people are able to grow out of it when they grow older.
However, duck and chicken eggs do not have the same composition, and duck eggs are less commonly available.
It might be possible that they can trigger an allergic attack.
Symptoms of egg allergy include vomiting and diarrhea. But in severe cases, it might also lead to palpitations and anaphylaxis.
If you are unsure, please check first with a healthcare provider when trying out a new variety of eggs.
The second concern, of course, is heart disease.
Muscovy duck eggs might raise bad cholesterol in some people, but more often than not, they might be beneficial as well.
Diabetics or those with a history of heart disease should consult their doctors before trying them out.
The last concern is related to bad eggs, which we cover in the next section.
What Do Muscovy Duck Eggs Look Like When Bad?
Muscovy duck eggs, just like chicken and other poultry, can go bad after some time.
Normally, it is easy to spot this using the same tests that one would do for a chicken egg.
The easiest way is to put the egg in a bowl of water and see if it floats – if it does, the egg is fine. Otherwise, it may be beyond an edible state.
If you crack open the egg and find that its white portion has turned pink, that could indicate that the egg is infected with Pseudomonas bacteria.
Cracks in the yolk are another sign of bacteria.
Lastly, if you notice that the shell has become powdery, it could indicate that the egg has been infected by mold and is not safe for ingestion.
Do Muscovy Ducks Eat Their Eggs?
Normally ducks will not eat their eggs. If it happens, though, this is a serious sign that the bird has a lack of calcium or protein in its body.
Muscovy ducks have a high-protein diet in nature.
They are omnivorous and prefer to eat a variety of insects, such as spiders, ants, mealworms, and so on.
If you are not giving them a chance to forage for themselves and not offering the right diet either, they will become deficient in these nutrients.
Duck egg shells are usually harder than chicken eggs.
If the birds are able to break them with their beaks, it indicates that the eggshell is too weak and lacks calcium.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do Muscovy duck eggs taste like?
The texture of the yolk is firmer and denser, and the egg whites are thicker and slightly more opaque.
Due to their larger size, some people find them too big for everyday consumption.
However, due to their higher density and fat content, these eggs are an excellent choice for baking.
What are the benefits of Muscovy duck eggs?
They have a higher amount of protein.
They are also higher in certain vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin B-complex, iron, and phosphorus.
The yolks are darker in color due to the presence of a high concentration of carotenoids.
This makes them ideal for dishes in which the egg’s flavor will come through, such as quiche or French toast.
How much are Muscovy duck eggs worth?
They tend to be larger than chicken eggs and have thicker shells, which makes them popular in commercial bakeries and candy-making kitchens.
Muscovy duck eggs are also expensive because they can take almost two months to incubate before hatching.
Thus, it is a very costly affair for hatcheries that want to breed purebred Muscovy ducks.
Are muscovy ducks good egg layers?
They usually start laying eggs at around eight months old and can lay up to 100-120 eggs per year.
These ducks also tend to be easier to keep as compared to other duck breeds and tend to have fewer health issues.
If raised in a natural environment with the right nutrition, muscovy ducks can make great backyard egg producers.
Wrap Up
Muscovy duck eggs are delicious and full of nutrition.
These birds are often reared for their meat production, but their eggs are no less beneficial.
They are also considered excellent for pastries because of the extra fluffiness that they can offer.
Muscovy ducks yield much fewer eggs than chickens, but the egg quality is better.
Lastly, those who used to have an allergy to chicken eggs should be mindful of trying out muscovy duck ones.
Since the composition is different, it might trigger a reaction in them.
