Ducks are an enjoyable and hardy member of the family; watching their inquisitive and playful nature is a relaxing experience. Me & McGee Market is home to a small flock of Welsh Harlequin—who are also affectionately known as Neva’s girls. As a descendant of the popular breed Khaki Campbell, they are phenomenal egg producers. The Welsh Harlequin ducks have proven to be a great backyard duck breed. These fantastic foragers are capable of laying 240-300 eggs per year. The Welsh Harlequin is a great all-around duck that we think they are gorgeous.
As far as cooking with duck eggs, if it can be done with a chicken egg, it can be done with a duck egg. This includes scrambling, frying, omelets, and baking. Baking with duck eggs, in our experience, has lead to the finished product being more creamy and rich—which makes them even more delicious! We assume it has something to do with larger yolks, which in turn leads to a larger yolk to white ratio in comparison with chicken eggs. One difference is it’s a little easier to overcook duck eggs; once you get used to it, however, there should be no more problems. Personally, we prefer the taste of duck eggs to chicken eggs. They are also considerably larger than chicken eggs. We are huge fans of eggs in general, and duck eggs have great flavor. The larger yolk size contributes to a richer eating experience.
An interesting note, research has shown that people with egg allergies can consume duck eggs without experiencing the bad effects of chicken eggs. We don’t have an egg allergy in our immediate family and don’t have personal experience, but there is a lot of information supporting the claim.
A Duck egg quality is a very thick shell and is harder to crack. This minor inconvenience has a couple advantages over chicken eggs. Accidentally breaking duck eggs in the carton is more difficult and the hard shells allow for the eggs to stay fresh longer compared to chicken eggs.
Shown in the growing theme of cancer research is the correlation between an alkaline environment and the inability for cancer to survive in such an environment. It is said duck eggs create an alkaline environment in the body. Cancer has affected our lives deeply, and we will continue to gather information to help others fight and prevent this plight.
Since duck eggs aren’t largely carried by chain grocers, buying them typically is a great way to get a local product from a local producer!
Duck eggs beat chicken eggs in almost every nutritional category!