Why are nutritious goose eggs not often eaten and rarely sold?

Goose eggs, as a nutritious egg, rarely appear on our daily tables, and are even hard to find in the market. Compared with chicken eggs and duck eggs, goose eggs seem to have a much lower presence.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics show that my country's poultry egg production in 2023 was 35.63 million tons, of which chicken eggs accounted for 28.39 million tons, and duck eggs accounted for the bulk of the rest, while other types of eggs, including goose eggs, were very few.

Why are goose eggs rarely sold or eaten? This is due to the characteristics of goose eggs themselves and the influence of market supply and demand. Today, we will uncover the reasons behind the "unpopularity" of goose eggs and see what kind of story is hidden in this seemingly ordinary egg.

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Why are goose eggs selling in low quantities?

1

Mother geese are not naturally good at laying eggs

There is a saying about how often poultry lay eggs: "One day for a chicken, two days for a duck, and three days for a swan."

Anyone who has raised chickens and ducks knows that hens lay eggs almost all year round, while geese only lay eggs every 2 or 3 days, and there is also obvious seasonality (they usually start laying eggs in September and stop in May or June of the following year), and they may only lay dozens of eggs a year .

In addition to the low egg production, what is even more worrying for farmers is the high cost of raising geese. This is because geese have a long growth cycle, require a lot of breeding space, eat a lot, and have high breeding costs. There are few mother geese, they lay small eggs, and they choose the right day to lay eggs, which means that goose eggs are difficult to produce on a large scale.

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2

Storage and transportation are both difficult

The shell of goose eggs is thicker than chicken and duck eggs, but it looks strong but is actually fragile. Currently, there are too few fresh-keeping packaging and cold chain equipment designed specifically for goose eggs, so many businesses can only make do with the logistics plan for chicken eggs. Goose eggs are three times larger than chicken eggs. When a box is full, the eggs on the bottom have to withstand dozens of kilograms of pressure from above. The plastic trays of ordinary eggs cannot withstand it at all and will break into pieces with a slight bump.

Not only is the breakage rate high, but goose eggs also have a short shelf life . This is because the eggshell has large pores, which causes water to be lost faster during storage, making them less durable than chicken eggs.

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Why do few people eat goose eggs?

In addition to the fact that goose eggs are scarce and difficult to buy on the market, there are three main reasons why people don't like to eat goose eggs.

1

Too big

A single goose egg weighs as much as three chicken eggs, and the yolk is the size of a ping-pong ball when cooked.

For those who live alone: ​​"It's troublesome to eat half an egg at a meal, and it's too much to eat a whole egg." After all, the "Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents" recommends eating 40 to 50 grams of eggs (the amount of one egg) every day, which is about 1/3 of a goose egg.

2

Strong fishy smell

Geese are omnivorous waterfowl. When strolling by the water, they eat water plants and small fish and shrimps in the water. These ingredients may produce some fishy substances during metabolism. In addition, goose eggs have a high fat content and a richer smell. Therefore, those who accept it find it fragrant, while those who do not find it fishy.

Image source: A social platform

In addition, the protein of goose eggs is firm and the yolk has obvious granularity. If the cooking time is not controlled well, it will become rough and difficult to digest.

3

Price discourages most people

When the price of chicken eggs was still less than 1 yuan, goose eggs were already sold for 8 to 15 yuan each. What's more heartbreaking is that most people would have this question: "Why spend ten times the price to buy something that is almost the same?"

Image source: e-commerce platform

What is the nutritional value of goose eggs?

Some people say that goose eggs are nutritious, and although they are expensive and taste a bit worse, they are worth eating; others say that eggs are similar in nutrition, so there is no need to spend a lot of money to buy goose eggs. Which statement is right?

Let’s first take a look at whether goose eggs have more nutritional advantages than other eggs?

Comparing the nutrition of goose eggs with other eggs, goose eggs have the following characteristics⬇️

1

High in monounsaturated fatty acids – good for cardiovascular health

More than half (55.8%) of the fatty acids in goose eggs are monounsaturated fatty acids, which is close to the proportion in olive oil (more than 70%). They can help the body increase the level of "good cholesterol" and lower the level of "bad cholesterol", which is good for cardiovascular health.

Source: Self-made (data from "Chinese Nutrition Science Encyclopedia (Second Edition)")

2

Selenium and Vitamin E High

Selenium and vitamin E are both excellent antioxidant ingredients in food, which can remove free radicals and reduce damage to organs.

Among several types of eggs, goose eggs have the highest selenium content, containing 27.24 micrograms per 100 grams, which is twice that of chicken eggs. A single goose egg can provide 40% of the daily requirement of selenium. This "antioxidant guard" is essential for thyroid function and immunity.

Although the vitamin E content of goose eggs as a whole is not high, the content in the yolk is off the charts, containing 95.7 mg per 100 grams, which is much higher than that of chicken and duck egg yolks.

3

Rich in iron

In addition to the above nutrients, goose eggs also have a higher iron content than other eggs. Each 100g contains 4.1 mg of iron, which is higher than pork, beef and mutton.

But in fact, eggs contain phospholipids, which will affect the absorption of iron. Moreover, most of the iron in eggs is non-heme iron, and the absorption rate is not high. Therefore, based on the above two points, although goose eggs are high in iron, they are not a good source of iron supplementation.

4

The overall nutrition is rich, which is not outstanding among eggs.

Compared with other eggs, goose eggs have their own nutritional advantages, but more ingredients are at the bottom among common eggs.

Because of the high fat content, the calories are higher. The content of protein, vitamin A and calcium is slightly lower than other eggs.

In addition, the cholesterol in goose eggs is indeed higher than that in other eggs, with 100 grams of goose eggs containing 704 mg of cholesterol. Although for healthy people, cholesterol in the diet does not directly lead to increased blood cholesterol, and eating eggs in moderation does not increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, people with abnormal blood cholesterol still need to pay attention.

In general, goose eggs are rich in nutrients, and among the common egg family, they are characterized by "outstanding advantages but not superior in comprehensive nutrition."

Try eating goose eggs like this

More delicious

If you really want to unlock this "giant egg", you might as well start by selecting it.

1

Selection 4 Principles

Look at the price: Goose eggs are expensive, and the market price in different regions varies from 3 to 15 yuan. If the price is less than 3 yuan per egg, you need to be cautious.

Shake and weigh: If the egg liquid inside is full and not shaking, weigh it in your hand and choose the one that is the same size but heavier. Heavier goose eggs are usually fresher because fresh goose eggs have a higher water content and are relatively heavier.

Look at the appearance: Choose goose eggs with complete shells, no cracks, and smooth surfaces. High-quality goose eggs have natural shell colors without spots or abnormal colors.

Smell: Grassy and lightly fishy, ​​no peculiar smell.

2

Cooking method to remove fishy smell

If you think goose eggs have a strong fishy smell, you can actually improve it through cooking methods, odor masking, etc.

Odor masking: Combine with strong-smelling ingredients when cooking, such as mixing chopped chives or Chinese toon into omelettes

Deodorizing seasonings: rice wine, cooking wine, white vinegar, etc., use volatilization or decomposition of fishy substances to reduce the fishy smell

Cooking method: Dip in sauce after stir-frying or hard-boiled eggs (chili powder, pepper salt, or soy sauce are all OK)

3

Storage Tips

Do not wash goose eggs after buying them, otherwise the pores will be damaged and bacterial contamination will increase. In order to avoid contamination of other foods and extend the shelf life, you can put them in a food-sealed bag and refrigerate them for 1 month.

Source: Reference [7] (Haff unit: egg freshness index)

Although goose eggs are nutritious and have a unique taste, they have never become a regular on the table like chicken or duck eggs. However, for those who pursue freshness and unique flavors, goose eggs are a delicacy worth trying. Perhaps, with people's pursuit of food diversity and innovation in cooking methods, goose eggs will have a chance to get out of the "unpopular" and be recognized and loved by more people in the future.

References

[1] National Bureau of Statistics. Annual data - livestock product output. https://data.stats.gov.cn/easyquery.htm?cn=C01

[2] Sun Congjiao, Yu Aizhi, Wang Yang, Yang Ning. Development status, future development trends and suggestions of the laying hen industry in 2023[J]. Chinese Journal of Animal Husbandry, 2024, 60(3): 307-311.

[3] Hou Shuisheng, Liu Lingzhi. Waterfowl industry and technology development report in 2023[J]. China Animal Husbandry Magazine, 2024, 60(3): 318-321.

[4] Chinese Nutrition Society. Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2022 Edition). People’s Medical Publishing House, 2022.

[5] Yang Yuexin. Chinese Food Composition Table 6th Edition Volume 1[M]. Peking University Medical Press, 2018

[6] Chinese Nutrition Society. Encyclopedia of Chinese Nutrition Science, 2nd Edition (Volume 1). People's Medical Publishing House, 2019

[7] Yu Bin, Wang Xibo. Study on the correlation between storage conditions and egg quality[J]. Food Science and Technology, 2012(6):5. DOI:CNKI:SUN:SSPJ.0.2012-06-021.

[8] Jing Yuanqiang, Yang Weiren, Wang Ping. Feeding management and development status of laying geese[J]. Feed Expo, 2010, 000(007):23-25.DOI:ConferenceArticle/5a9fcfc0c095d7222059bf99.

[9] Baidu Library. New Technology for Poultry Product Processing 03. Poultry Egg Storage Technology. https://max.book118.com/html/2024/1209/7013065145010005.shtm

Planning and production

Author: Li Chun, registered nutritionist

Review丨Shi Wenqing, Senior Animal Husbandry Specialist at Beijing Animal Husbandry Station

Zhang Na, Associate Researcher, Peking University School of Public Health

Planning丨Wang Mengru

Editor: Wang Mengru

Proofread by Xu Lailinlin

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