Duck eggs fell out of fashion just after the Second World War when a health scare connected eating duck eggs with outbreaks of salmonella poisoning.
The evidence seemed a little thin, but the connection in the public consciousness took hold, and demand for duck eggs plummeted. The mass producers ignored ducks in favour of the more easily farmed chicken.
Later, people forgot why they didn’t buy duck eggs, they just didn’t buy them, and the large scale farming methods involved in chicken egg production took control of the whole egg market. Chicken eggs were cheaper, more convenient and didn’t have that connection to salmonella, at least until Edwina Currie’s infamous anti-egg crusade of the mid-1980s.
Duck eggs are still not widely available, but they’re out there in farm shops, delis, whole food shops, farmer’s markets and the like. For those willing to hunt some down, the hunt is worth it.
Mine come from the local butcher, who runs his own farm, raising beef steers, pigs and chickens, along with a small flock of ducks. Some of the ‘posher’ supermarkets also stock them – they cost more, and they probably aren’t as fresh. The butcher’s are £1.99 for half a dozen oddly sized eggs, more than hen’s eggs, but they’re bigger and fresher.
A duck egg can be used as a direct substitute for a normal hen’s egg. The yolks are larger and higher in fat than a hen’s egg, which makes them richer and perhaps a little ‘gamey’. They’re also packed with vitamins and minerals, and provide a powerful protein boost, approximately 15% of the adult recommended daily allowance.
Duck eggs are especially useful in baking, given the higher proportion of yolk to white – you’ll hear plenty of tales about the near supernatural lightness of cakes, etc – but they also make a superb omelette and lift the humble pancake to new heights.
To me, the best thing to do with a duck egg is to fry it gently in butter, and eat it with a couple of rashers of bacon, toast, some good coffee and the Sunday papers.
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{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
Do what I did with Duck eggs…
I bought 6 put them in an incubator and 4 hatched, I now have 2 breeding pairs and 2 fresh duck eggs every day.
They are much nicer and absolutely superb to bake with, sponges are always fluffy
Incubation was very easy and rewarding.
I adore duck eggs.
During my childhood close family friends had both ducks and geese so we’d often enjoy duck and goose eggs.
Since then, it’s been harder to find them – as you say supermarkets only rarely stock them.
I do buy them now and again when I pass a farm shop on the way out of London to the North, it’s only open on Saturdays and we don’t pass it that often. And sometimes, when we do, they’ve run out as the duck eggs are popular!
my sister eat often this eggs,only boiled.but i ‘m to scare about salmonella…
a girl in my class at school always used to eat them..somehow…I don’t know….they just were always off limits…thanks for the explanation why
The only time I have ever eaten duck eggs was at a hotel in Scotland a couple of years ago. I thought they were delicious and really rich. I will have to look out for them.
Great post. I’m intrigued – I’ve seen duck eggs in the grocery store, but I’ve been fairly ambivalent on eggs until recently.
My favorite chocolate chip cookies are so much better when I substitute with duck eggs. They are impossible to purchase in the US; but a family friend has some ducks and the 3 hour drive to their farm is definitely worth it.
I enjoyed this post and am now going to search for duck eggs!
Seldom do i see fresh duck eggs in the market as well, but they are still popular for use in making Cantonese style noodles.
I would LOVE to get my hands on duck eggs.
Good info. Back here, salted eggs are made from duck eggs, so is the century egg. But fresh duck eggs are hard to come by, not so popular as hen eggs.
i never had duck eggs, heck I never knew you could eat duck eggs. This is very informative!
Ooh, I’ll have to keep an eye out at farmer’s markets or specialty stores. I’ve never had duck eggs, but I like the idea of baking with them to compare the consistency of favorite recipes.
It is hard to find fresh duck eggs. Usually they are cooked or salted already. I agree that duck eggs are best eaten simply.
What a coincidence, I just had preserved duck eggs today!
Funny I bought duck eggs yesterday and was thinking to make an omelette and post it tomorrow. Great post!
Glad you raised this topic – maybe we need a duck egg awareness campaign! I use duck eggs in my baking all the time. I’m lucky enough to have a local organic shop that sells them – properly free range and organic. In fact I wrote a post on my blog about duck eggs a couple of months ago.
Here duck eggs are salted egg which are used very common in cooking.Like salted egg crab,prawns etc.
These are very rare in the US. The only sure source I know of to get them in the Chicago area is at asian markets. You’re able to find them shipped in from surrounding farms there.
Thanks for a great article on an under used, wonderful alternative to the chicken egg!
I grew up eating duck eggs and in fact my grandparents used to raise ducks. The ducks used to chase after us when we took their eggs away. It’s been so long that I’ve forgotten how they taste, and this is a good reminder for me to seek them out.
funny I’ve never had duck eggs nor have I ever thought about them on the same plane as chicken eggs. Thanks for the exposure!
Hi everyone, Its great to read these comments on duck eggs! We set up a new business last year producing and seling duck eggs! We are the largest in Ireland now with over 2500 ducks! Our company is called Glenfin Free Range Duck Eggs. Visit our website http://www.glenfinfarm.ie and if you are visiting Ireland at some stage, keep an eye out for them! They are delicious. Has anyone ever tried them poached? yummy!…
Hi everyone,
I am selling free-range duck eggs. My own ducks produce around 30 large eggs a week, but in total we collect around 140 eggs a week. We currently sell them at the local poultry auction as their isn’t much demand for them privately. However this forum has suggested that there actually is demand. I wanted to find out reasons for people ignoring Duck eggs, so I visited this site and now I know! You guys have really positive views on Duck eggs, so that’s a relief. The excuses about salmonella poisoning has little truth, and we have had no problems with our eggs. I have advertised our eggs on the village’s webpage but have had no sales yet. The article is correct about duck eggs – they are fantastic for baking (much better than those Chicken eggs) mainly because Chicken eggs have a higher water content in the white than a duck’s white. There is more yolk to white than in a Chicken egg, too – making them better for use in Omlettes etc. I am hoping to hatch out more ducklings this year so that I can sell the eggs next year – and if adequate demand is there (and I’m selling most of the eggs produced a week) I will have them all vaccinated for salmonella to put any anxieties to rest.
The duck eggs are larger than chicken eggs, are free-range, are collected fresh every day, and are washed and packed ready for you to enjoy.
Duck eggs are £2.40 for a dozen (Our local Waitrose branch sells them for £4.70 for a dozen!).
If you are interested in purchasing fresh, free-range Duck eggs, or just want to find out more information, please call 01672 540819 (Wiltshire) or e-mail w_geary@live.co.uk
Thank you.
I eat duck eggs all the time. I’d never eat hen’s eggs if I were able to have a duck’s egg instead. Some of the prices mentioned here are terrible though! I get them from a local farmer for £1 a half dozen!
£1 – £2 for half a dozen seems about right.
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