Ostrich egg

Besides the fact that ostriches are the largest representatives of birds, they also hold the record for the size of the eggs laid. But if you proportionally compare the size of the egg to the size of the bird, it turns out that ostriches carry the smallest eggs. Amazing, right? And these are just some of the many amazing facts about these giants.

What is special about ostriches and their eggs?

The ostrich is one of the oldest representatives of ratites (flightless) birds. ^[1]. Archaeologists have found a fossilized skeleton of this bird, which is over 120 million years old. This is the largest bird known living today, native to Africa. Males can be recognized by their black and white plumage and larger sizes. Some individuals reach almost 2,5 meters in height and weigh more than 130 kilograms. Females are usually sandy in color and tend to grow to 170-200 cm. ^[2].

In the wild, every year for 25-30 years, a mature female after mating lays from 12 to 15 eggs. This process is usually repeated every few weeks. On farms, eggs from the ostrich nest are quickly taken to prolong the laying period. ^[3]. In this way, for a season that usually lasts from mid-March to mid-August, 80-100 eggs can be obtained from one female. However, for these birds, indicators of 40-50 pieces are more characteristic. It is interesting that both parents incubate the offspring – the male sits on the nest at night, and the female warms the future chicks during the day. And it is no coincidence. At night, due to the dark plumage, the males on the nest are not so noticeable to predators, and during the daytime, the gray-brown females camouflage themselves, merging with the sand. However, for 35-45 days of the incubation period, only 10% of the deferred offspring survive on average.

It is also interesting that all females in the flock lay eggs in a common hole (up to 60 pieces).

In this case, the laying hen, which was the first to lay offspring, remains dominant. She determines which of them to incubate, and throws out the future descendants of the weaker members of the pack from the pit. Surprisingly, despite the fact that all ostrich eggs are the same, the female is able to determine in the nest which ones are her own.

Wild ostriches are found in dry hot savannas and woodlands of Africa. In the past, these giant birds have been found throughout Asia, Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. But after several centuries of ostrich hunting, their habitat narrowed south of the Sahara. However, in captivity ostriches are grown all over the world.

What does a giant egg look like

One ostrich egg weighs about 1,2 kg, and its contents are equivalent to 24 average chicken eggs. The usual size of an ostrich delicacy is 13 by 16 cm ^[4]. The shell color varies from pearl white to cream, and the glossy surface is covered with hundreds of pores. The shell is relatively thin (2-4 mm), but very strong and able to withstand loads up to 120 kg. Almost a kilogram of the total weight of such an instance falls on protein.

In addition to large oval specimens, sometimes you can see slightly different ostrich eggs. For example, a deformed shell indicates that the bird did not eat well during egg laying and lacked calcium. Very small – this is the so-called test egg. It is not fertile and does not contain yolk. This is the first egg that the female lays. Over time, she will eat it as a source of calcium.

Nutritional characteristics

An ostrich egg can provide the human body with 2000 kilocalories (100 g of the product contains approximately 120 kcal). It is 47% protein and 44% fat. This product is rich in calcium, phosphorus, vitamins B, A, E, as well as trace elements such as magnesium, manganese, selenium, zinc, copper, iron ^[5]. True, as for vitamins A and E, there are much fewer of them in ostrich eggs than in chicken ones. At the same time, ostriches have richer reserves of vitamins B, magnesium and iron. Another nutritional argument in favor of giant eggs is the lower cholesterol content and much higher amount of omega-3 fatty acids compared to the chicken product. Polyunsaturated fatty acids make up a significant portion of the yolk. In general, compared to the eggs of other birds, ostrich eggs are more nutritious.

Main advantages

Low in cholesterol and saturated fat

If we compare 1 chicken egg and the equivalent amount of an ostrich egg, it turns out that both products contain the same amount of fat – about 5 g. Meanwhile, the calorie content of ostrich fat is slightly lower. In addition, saturated fats are completely absent in the ostrich product, which is about 2 g in chicken. But, perhaps, the most important argument in favor of ostrich eggs is the extremely low cholesterol content. If the chicken product contains 211 mg of cholesterol (approximately 70% of the daily requirement), then the equivalent portion of the ostrich contains only 11 mg, which corresponds to 4% of the allowed limit.

Protein source

The body of an adult male requires approximately 56 g of protein daily. For women, the norm is about 46 g. Although an ostrich egg contains slightly less protein than a chicken egg, it still remains an excellent source of protein. A serving equivalent to 1 chicken egg will provide about 10% of the daily protein requirement. In addition, the balanced composition of amino acids makes it a so-called “complete” protein. Unlike the eggs of other poultry, the ostrich product contains more threonine and lysine, but slightly less alanine.

How to choose eggs and break the shell

Before buying an ostrich product, it is important to check its freshness. And this is the first moment that raises questions among those who want to try the delicacy. Still, the product is not cheap and no one wants to miscalculate with a choice. One of the most noticeable changes that indicate a stale egg is its loss in weight, evaporation of liquid and an increase in the air chamber. To check the quality of the delicacy, you need to take a giant egg in your hands and shake it slightly. A gurgling sound under the shell is a sure sign to refuse a purchase.

The second problem faced by exotic lovers is how to properly break the shell of this giant. You should immediately warn that this is not so easy to do. Still, the thickness of the protective shell is almost 10 times greater than in chicken specimens. Although it is thanks to such a strong and thick shell that the product can be stored in the refrigerator for up to six months.

Depending on how the person plans to use the egg, there are different ways to “open” the shell. If you want to keep the shell as intact as possible, then you need to break it with extreme caution. With a sharp tool (a chisel is also suitable), you need to make a small hole and pour the contents through it.

If you need to separate the yolk from the protein, then a small hammer and a serrated knife will come to the rescue. Small dents should be made around the circumference of the shell with a hammer, and then sawed with a knife along the marked line ^[6].

The biggest scrambled eggs, or what to cook from an unusual product

In Africa, ostrich meat and eggs have been used as food for at least the last 150 years. Ostrich eggs can be cooked in exactly the same way as other poultry products: fry omelettes and scrambled eggs, boil, bake, add to dough and casseroles. It is important to understand that it will take longer to cook them. To cook such a giant, you need to spend at least an hour and a half ^[7]. But one egg can feed 10 people. Ostrich eggs taste like chicken eggs, but have a slight sweetish aftertaste.

The easiest way to cook is to boil a giant egg. This will be a ready-to-use product. And you can make a more interesting dish out of it. The boiled egg, together with the shell, must be carefully cut into 2 equal parts. Take out the protein and yolk, cut them into pieces and knead thoroughly. Add spices, herbs or fried onions to the egg puree (however, there can be many filling options), mix everything and fill both halves of the shell with the resulting mass. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and bake in the oven until a golden crust of breadcrumbs forms.

How to use the shell

The unique characteristic of ostrich eggs is their extremely hard shell. It is so durable and beautiful (many say that it resembles porcelain) that it is often used as the basis for elegant boxes with intricate carvings and interesting paintings. By the way, some works of such unusual art can cost several hundred dollars. And in the desert, these split “bowls” are used as cutlery, which can hold more than a liter of liquid.

Ostrich eggs, despite the impressive cost, are becoming increasingly popular. There are many who want to surprise guests with an exotic dish from a giant product. Increasingly, they are remembered for Easter holidays and other family celebrations. Moreover, this product is useful, nutritious and looks original on the table.

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