Ostrich eggs are delicacies unusual for a Russian person. Recently, however, demand for this product has increased dramatically. Ostrich eggs are considered a more useful alternative to chicken. So what is the reason for the popularity of these eggs, what is their nutritional value and calorie content, what useful properties they have, how to cook them and much more - further.
Weight, size and color of eggs
Eggs vary in shape, size, weight, structure and porosity of the shell. Ostrich egg is oval, with a glossy, porcelain shell and hundreds of pores. It is gigantic in size, its parameters are 13 by 16 cm. And the weight of one instance can reach 1200-2000 g, which is equivalent to 24 chicken.
The shell may be pearl white or cream in color. However, there are eggs of an exotic color, it depends on the breed of the ostrich. So, for example, an ostrich nandu carries yellow eggs, a white-gray ostrich has a yellow-pink hue, and an emu has green.
Only unfertilized eggs, which are obtained from young females, are used in food!
Nutritional characteristics and vitamin-mineral composition
The composition of an ostrich egg practically does not differ from the eggs of other birds. The lipid and protein content is close to the indicators of the chicken product, but the calorie content is low, only 118 kcal per 100 g.
Due to its huge size, one egg is a real storehouse of nutrients. It contains:
- vitamin A - 19.5 mcg / g;
- carotenoids - 36.6 μg / g;
- Vitamin E - 116.5 mcg / g.
The product also includes:
- iron;
- zinc;
- selenium;
- magnesium;
- calcium;
- manganese;
- phosphorus.
In addition, ostrich eggs are superior to chicken in terms of lysine, threonine and amino acids. But sodium is completely absent.
The nutritional value
The content of proteins, fats and carbohydrates in 100 g of the product:
Protein (g) | Fats (g) | Carbohydrates (g) | Ash (g) | Water (g) |
12,5 | 11,8 | 0,7 | 1 | 74 |
Useful and harmful properties
The benefits of an ostrich egg are due to its vitamin and mineral composition and the ideal ratio of BJU (proteins, fats, carbohydrates). In general, the product has the following beneficial effects on the body:
- strengthens the cardiovascular system;
- improves eyesight;
- promotes muscle building;
- improves the general condition of hair, nails and skin.
The danger of eating an ostrich egg
The use of a delicacy, in addition to useful properties, also contains certain dangers:
- people suffering from allergies to chicken eggs should abandon the use of the ostrich equivalent, as, most likely, an allergic reaction will be on this product;
- it is recommended to eat eggs in limited quantities due to increased fat content, the introduction of ostrich eggs in the daily diet can lead to blockage of blood vessels;
- it is forbidden to use for people with individual egg intolerance;
- there is a risk of salmonella infection, since ostriches are susceptible to this disease, it is recommended to heat-treat the product in order to eliminate the risks of infection.
If the bird content meets all the rules and sanitary standards, then infection of ostriches with salmonella is impossible.
How to choose an egg and evaluate its freshness?
Since an ostrich egg is an expensive product, it is important to be able to choose and evaluate its freshness. When buying, consider the following:
- It is recommended to buy the product on specialized farms, and it would be useful to ask the owner for product certificates.
- Females rush from April to November, this should be considered when buying, since eggs purchased in mid-winter or early spring will definitely be of poor quality.
- It is not recommended to buy eggs with traces of bird excrement or violations of the integrity of the shell.
- It is possible to check if the product is fresh, if you shake it a little - there should be no squelching sounds, since aging of the product causes the release of liquid and an increase in the depth of the air chamber.
- Another way to check is by immersing an egg in brine. Fresh product will sink to the bottom of the dishes.
How to cook an ostrich egg?
Buying an “overseas bird” egg is half the battle. But to break it down and cook it, you also need to have special knowledge.
How to break an ostrich egg?
There are several ways:
- They find the dull side of the egg, put a knife with a pointed tip in the center. Lightly tapping on it with a hammer, mark the hole. With a knife, expand the hole until a tube can be inserted into it. Insert the tube, hold it up and down to break the shell. Turn the egg with the hole down over the dishes and blow it into the tube. The contents pushed out by the air entering the shell will spill into the dishes.
- The egg is placed sideways on a plate for stability. Drill, supporting the egg with one hand, make a hole closer to the top. After making a sufficient hole, place a long wooden stick in it and mix the contents. Pour it into a container.
- Tap the center of the blunt side with a knife handle. When a crack appears, pieces of the shell begin to break off until an opening is sufficient to extract the contents.
- If it is necessary to keep the yolk intact, make a wide hole. Using a small saw, file the top of the egg around the circumference. Carefully remove the top of the shell and open the shell. The contents with a whole yolk are poured into a container.
In the following video you can clearly see how to break an ostrich egg:
How to separate the protein from the yolk?
If it is necessary to separate the protein from the yolk, then the egg should be broken into two halves. But to do this is not as easy as with chicken. With the help of a hammer, small dents are made along the equatorial circumference, then the shell is cut with a knife along the intended line.
For this purpose, a notched electric knife is perfect, which can cope with a thick shell.
Cooking options
Ostrich eggs are used in cooking in the same way as chicken eggs. They taste a little sweeter than the chicken equivalent. It is advisable to use them where you need a large number, for example, chicken eggs. So, use them for making meringues, biscuits or custards.
Omelet, fried eggs are prepared from them, and a boiled ostrich egg is added to salads, fillings, or simply lay out slices on a sandwich.
In order to get a soft-boiled egg, it is boiled for about 45 minutes, and for cooking hard-boiled eggs - about 60 minutes!
Portuguese Ostrich Egg Omelet Recipe
To prepare a delicious dish you will need:
- ostrich egg - 1 pc.;
- tomatoes - 5 pcs.;
- young zucchini - 2 pcs. (small);
- grated cheese - 100 g;
- vegetable oil for frying;
- tomato sauce, spices, herbs - to taste.
Cooking:
- Beat the egg and pour it into a large heated pan;
- Fry the product, periodically raising the edges;
- Cut tomatoes and zucchini, fry them in another pan in vegetable oil;
- Put the vegetables on the egg and wrap them in a roll;
- Sprinkle with cheese, herbs and spices to taste, you can also add tomato paste.
The dish is ready.
In some European countries, ostrich eggs are prepared for Easter as follows - they open the shell from above, mix the contents and bake for half an hour in the oven.
How to store?
The optimum storage temperature for an ostrich egg is 0 ... + 8 ° C. A product with an intact shell can be stored at this temperature for 3 months and will not lose its beneficial properties.
If the contents were extracted, but were not used immediately, then you can send the leftovers to the refrigerator, in this form the product can be stored for 2-3 days. But no longer!
Where can I buy?
Today, the purchase of ostrich eggs is a common thing. You can purchase the product in specialized stores, on farms, or order on the Internet. Here are some places to buy a good quality ostrich egg:
- Private farms that specialize in breeding ostriches - this is the best place to buy. For example, the Russian Ostrich Farm, which is located in the Moscow Region, is one of the largest ostrich farms today. On the farm's website you can find a range of products, they offer a table egg, empty or decorated shells. You need to find out about the delivery by phone numbers presented on the site.
- The Straussland farm is no less famous among fans of delicacies. It delivers a table ostrich egg in Moscow and the Moscow Region. In addition, it offers for sale various natural products, as well as guided tours of the ostrich ranch.
- Food stores. Not many grocery stores sell ostrich eggs, but there are several places where you can find the product. For example, the ABC of Taste supermarket chain not only sells eggs, but also delivers in Moscow and the Moscow Region and is a trusted supplier.
The average cost of an ostrich egg ranges from 800-2000 rubles, depending on weight.
How to use the shell?
Although the shell of an ostrich egg is thin, only 2-5 mm, it can withstand a load of about 120 kg, it is an extremely strong and durable material that can be used for various purposes.
So, the use of shells for making unusual souvenirs is due to its durability and beauty. It is used as the basis for delicious carved caskets, interior decorations, and the empty shell, from which the contents were blown, but which retained the shape of an egg, are used as a souvenir in itself or decorate it with painting or intricate decor.
More recently, a new type of art has appeared, although not very common - shell carving, and exclusively ostrich eggs are used for this. Masters create lace and lace patterns, and sometimes even write whole pictures.
But in the desert, the shell is a valuable find, since it is used as a cutlery, because in such a “bowl” it can fit up to a liter of liquid.
Since the shell is rich in calcium, it is used as a fertilizer or food supplement, pre-chopped.
Interesting Facts
We offer some interesting facts about ostrich eggs:
- ostrich eggs are the largest in the world, the largest egg was found in China, its weight was more than 2 kg and its diameter was 18.6 cm;
- a female ostrich is able to lay 40-80 eggs in one season;
- from one egg, you can cook scrambled eggs and feed them 10 people;
- males hatch eggs at night, and females - during the day;
- lately it has become popular to paint ostrich eggs for Easter, from which interesting and unusual “puppies” are obtained;
- ostriches in one nest can hatch up to 25 eggs at a time;
- for comparison, the thickness of the shell of a chicken egg is only 0.3-0.4 mm, of a goose - 0.55 mm, ostrich eggs are also record holders here with a shell thickness of 2-2.55 mm.
Ostrich Egg Reviews
There are a lot of reviews about ostrich eggs, someone likes them, someone doesn't, because they don’t argue about tastes.
Svetlana Yagudina, Vladimir Region, 45 years old. Recently I discovered ostrich eggs for my family. We like the taste, but at first it was unusual, but now I cook everything from them, I have almost replaced them with chicken.
Irina Eremeeva, 35 years old, Rostov Region. We somehow decided to try a curiosity - an ostrich egg. The husband opened it with difficulty, succumbed, probably, from the third. We prepared an omelet, the whole family gathered. I didn’t like the taste, the smell is also specific, we tried it and we won’t.
Ekaterina Matveeva, 62 years old, Moscow region. We were tormented by the egg, we could not open, as a result, we took up the ax, it helped, but all the contents mixed with the shell, I had to choose. But the taste of the egg we liked, a little different in consistency than chicken eggs, more viscous. But delicious, we will buy more!
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Ostrich eggs are considered more beneficial than chicken eggs. They are less caloric and rich in various vitamins and minerals. But this product is not for everybody, as there is a specific smell and taste. Some people do not like them, some are crazy about them. It is worth trying this delicacy, if only in order to determine which category you belong to!