The color of egg yolks ranges from pale yellow to deep orange. Here's what that means for flavor and nutrition.
The Real Reason Why Egg Yolks Are Different Colors
Updated on Feb. 26, 2025
You know that eggshells come in many colors, from deep brown to bright white. Did you know that egg yolks come in a variety of shades as well? Many store-bought eggs have pale yellow yolks, while some farmers market eggs boast deep orange yolks.
Shoppers prefer a yolk with rich color, seeing it as a mark of quality. But why are egg yolks different colors? Do certain yolks pack more flavor—or more nutrients? Let’s crack open the truth.
Why are egg yolks different colors?
Whether an eggshell is brown or white usually depends on which breed of chicken lays the egg. The color of the egg yolk depends mostly on a chicken’s diet. As a rule of thumb, chickens that eat more carotene, present in plants like marigold or alfalfa, have darker-colored yolks.
Light yellow yolks
Pale yolks suggest a diet heavy in grains, such as wheat, barley or corn.
Bright yellow yolks
Extra-yellow yolks indicate that the chicken ate a diet featuring corn or alfalfa.
Deep orange yolks
Darker yolks can mean that the chicken had a richer, more healthy diet. You’ll see this color yolk in pasture-raised eggs or farmers market eggs purchased in the summer. These hens have access to the outdoors and eat a wider variety of plants and even insects, leading to deeper yolks.
That said, the coveted orange yolks can also be created by special orange or red ingredients added to a hen’s diet. No artificial coloring is allowed in chicken feed, but some farmers add marigold petals, capsicum (e.g., red bell peppers) or paprika to chicken feed to achieve an orange-tinted yolk.
What does egg yolk color mean?
Eggs are nutrient-dense. They’re rich in protein and vitamins, including vitamins A, B, E and K and minerals like calcium, iodine and zinc, according to this study in the National Library of Medicine. Does a darker yolk mean a more nutrient-rich egg? The truth is, yolk color isn’t a great indicator of nutrient content.
The vitamin content of eggs depends on the hen’s age, breed, diet (organic or not, for example) and living environment (indoor vs. outdoor, access to vegetation and even the time of the year). The protein and fat content of eggs is fairly consistent.
Some still folks swear that the darker the yolk, the tastier the egg. You may not notice it as much in a hearty breakfast casserole, but when it comes to a relatively simple French omelet with a few ingredients, an egg with a darker yolk can give your breakfast a flavor boost.
