We’ve all heard of eggs being boiled, fried, scrambled, or even cooked into an omelet. Yet, did you know that certain eggs are matured before being sold?
They are known as century eggs, and they provide a unique flavor experience for any adventurous diner.
These eggs are cooked with traditional Chinese seasonings such as salt, rice wine, and a hint of lime. Before the eggs are mature, they are aged for roughly three months.
In this piece, we’ll go over what a century egg tastes like, how they’re manufactured, and who eats them.
Some people find the concept of eating old eggs disgusting since they may sometimes seem rotten or damaged on their shell surface, but if you’re new to this food item, we have some pointers that may be useful.
Contents
- What exactly is a Century Egg?
- The Creation of a Century Egg
- How Does a Century Egg Taste? Is a Century Egg Delicious?
- Is the Century Egg Healthy?
- Is it necessary to cook Century Egg?
- Conclusion
- FAQs
- Are century eggs better than normal eggs?
- Do you need to cook century egg before eating?
- Why would anyone eat a century egg?
- Are Chinese century eggs healthy?
- How are century eggs not rotten?
- Does century egg taste like salted egg?
- Do century eggs go bad?
- Why is century egg black?
- What animal lays black eggs?
- How old is the oldest century egg?
What exactly is a Century Egg?
A century egg is a preserved duck or chicken egg covered in clay, ash, and salt. Chinese farmers discovered the practice of preserving eggs as early as the Qing dynasty (1644-1912) to keep eggs for lengthy durations without refrigeration during the winter months.
It’s a preserved Chinese delicacy dating back a century. To manufacture a century egg, eggs are soaked in salt water and then coated with lime for around 100 days to produce the sulfurous or ammonia-like stench due to their high alkalinity level.
Due to oxidation, the yolk gets dark green, while the white turns brown ugly yellow, and the exterior transforms into a deep black crust.
The Creation of a Century Egg
Then, you must choose the appropriate eggs. It is critical to utilize extremely fresh eggs. Dry, broken shells are not suitable for this technique because they may shatter and fracture during the boiling step, potentially contaminating the water.
The second step is to cook them in a salty water solution until they are tender. To make the pickling solution, dissolve the salt in water and then add the lime.
Then you place them in jars or buckets with lids that have been pre-packed (with layers of eggs) for around 100 days before eating.
The eggs will develop a dark brown or greenish-black tint as they age.
After 100 days, delicately peel the eggs with your fingers to uncover the yolk within, which has become a dark green-black hue with an earthy fragrance.
How Does a Century Egg Taste? Is a Century Egg Delicious?
Century egg is a sort of Chinese preserved delicacy made mostly of chicken or duck eggs that is popular in China.
It’s tough to offer a correct response since there are so many different methods to make this meal, which results in varying flavors and textures depending on how it’s cooked.
Some like them with soy sauce, ginger, and scallions. They are often consumed as a snack with tea or rice wine, but they may also be prepared in a variety of cuisines such as congee or noodles.
Century eggs have an ammonia-like stench that many people find unpleasant at first tasting. The flavor is often characterized as earthy with undertones of ammonia.
Is the Century Egg Healthy?
Century eggs are a popular diet meal since they are strong in protein and low in carbs.
The eggs are also high in vitamins and minerals, including as vitamin A, which is vital for maintaining vision, and calcium, which is crucial for creating strong bones and regulating pulse rhythm.
Some individuals, however, may not find century egg appetizing due to its intense odor and strange flavor.
Century eggs are supposed to enhance skin complexion and strengthen nails due to high quantities of sulfur amino acids. There are, however, no scientific studies to back up these assertions.
Sulfur may also accumulate in the arteries and induce blood vessel irritation, which is a negative effect of eating century eggs on a regular basis.
Is it necessary to cook Century Egg?
The century eggs have been cured for 100 days, so they may be eaten raw. You may peel them and eat them whole.
Soak the century egg yolk in water for a few hours before peeling to make it gooier and easier to peel.
You may also use them in other meals like stir-fries, salads, and spaghetti.
Cooking the century egg alters its taste. But, bear in mind that these eggs are not suitable for everyone.
Conclusion
Finally, if you want to try something new and exciting, purchase century eggs. They are high in protein, have low salt, and contain no cholesterol or fat.
Yet, because to their high content of hydrogen sulfide, they may be harmful to one’s health, which is why experts do not advocate eating them on a daily basis.
FAQs
Are century eggs better than normal eggs?
Health Benefits of Century Eggs
Century eggs have many advantages over regular eggs, including: a high iron content. Nutrition with a high protein content. Excellent source of vitamin D.
Do you need to cook century egg before eating?
The eggshell is peeled away once the layer of mulch is broken off, exactly like a hard cooked egg. It’s ready to consume with only a brief rinse. There is no need to cook.
Why would anyone eat a century egg?
Century eggs are a popular diet meal since they are strong in protein and low in carbs.
Are Chinese century eggs healthy?
Century eggs include protein, iron, and vitamins A, B, and D. They also have a reduced calorie and cholesterol content. They are often consumed as part of a healthy diet.
How are century eggs not rotten?
Alternatively, calcium hydroxide. Century eggs are manufactured from pasteurized or homogenized whole eggs that have been soaked in an alkaline solution comprising a variety of chemicals such as potassium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, and sodium chloride.
Does century egg taste like salted egg?
The outside egg white becomes dark brown or black and becomes gelatinous throughout this process, while the inside egg yolk turns dark green. When eaten, century eggs have a salty flavor and a smooth, creamy texture.
Do century eggs go bad?
The eggs will keep in the cupboard for many months and, theoretically, forever if refrigerated.
Why is century egg black?
So what makes them black? The Maillard process, a natural browning mechanism intensified in a highly alkaline environment, is responsible for the century egg’s distinctive color. Sodium hydroxide has an alkaline pH. The two chemicals react as it breaks down the protein in the egg into glucose and amino acids.
What animal lays black eggs?
The Cayuga Duck lays black eggs.
The genetics of the duck may also play a role in its capacity to deposit black eggs early in the season. Duck eggs are tasty and taste similar to chicken eggs.
How old is the oldest century egg?
Despite the exact date of the century egg’s discovery is unknown, experts believe it goes back more than 500 years to the Ming Dynasty. Apart from certain modern procedures for large-scale manufacturing, the egg preservation process has remained mostly constant.