Do Coturnix quail eggs taste gamey or weird? Are they just like chicken eggs? I’ll tell you the honest truth about how they taste, whether scrambled, hard boiled or used in baked goods. Spoiler alert: quail eggs bake just like chicken eggs but quail are easier to keep than chickens!
How Do Quail Eggs Taste?
Quail eggs taste very, very much like chicken eggs. They have a different ratio of yolk to albumin (egg white), which means they have less white than chicken eggs and as a result taste just a little bit creamier and richer. If you are not told you’re eating quail eggs, you usually cannot tell. They taste that similar.
Will I Like Them?
This is what most people actually want to know when they ask how quail eggs taste. I actually dislike the taste of ALL fried and scrambled eggs. I know that is strange for a chicken and quail keeper to say, but I don’t eat eggs by themselves often; I prefer them to be mixed with other foods. Or baked into cookies! Most people cannot tell the difference between chicken and quail eggs in a dish. (Except for hard boiled eggs – the little quail eggs are SO CUTE!!!)
How Do Quail Eggs Taste Scrambled?
Scrambled quail eggs taste so incredibly like chicken eggs that I almost cannot tell the difference in taste, other than they are slightly creamier from the higher percentage of yolk to white. Truthfully, I can only tell they are quail eggs because it is easy to accidentally get tiny pieces of quail egg shell in the scrambled eggs.
Quail Egg Scissors are Required
Quail egg scissors are a MUST. Tiny quail eggs do not crack on the side of a bowl like chicken eggs do. Instead, they fracture in your hand when you strike them. You should also wash your quail eggs before use since the hens like to lay them in the sand bath bowl and that sand can get in your omelet if you don’t rinse them! Scissoring the quail eggs open into a separate bowl makes it easier to remove any shell pieces with a spoon before scrambling. Jumbo quail eggs are easier to work with so you’ll get less shell pieces falling in. (Affiliate links.)
How Do I Cut Them Open?
Quail egg scissors are used by placing the pointy end of the quail egg into the circular portion of the scissors. When you squeeze the scissors closed, the sharp cutting edge slices the top ¼ of the egg shell open, allowing you to then pour the contents of the quail egg into your bowl. I do strongly suggest always washing your quail eggs and pouring just-cut quail eggs into a white bowl or clear measuring cup on a light color surface so you can remove any shell fragments. They do happen a bit often at first as you are learning to use the scissors. (Affiliate link.)
How to Taste Test Quail Eggs for Yourself
If you know someone who keeps backyard quail, order yourself a pair of quail egg scissors and ask to purchase a few eggs from them. 3 standard quail eggs is roughly the equivalent of 1 chicken egg and would give a large enough sample for one or two family members to try. You can also try visiting a local Asian market, where fresh quail eggs are often sold because of their popularity in some Asian cuisine. (Japanese Coturnix quail is the full name of the domesticated species because they originated in Japan and have been kept as domesticated fowl in Asia for over a thousand years!)
How Do Quail Eggs Bake?
Quail eggs bake just like chicken eggs in most recipes. You can use them in place of chicken eggs for cookies, boxed dessert mixes, baking mixes, dredging bread for french toast or coating chicken to apply breading. They work the exact same. The only catch is the quail egg is small and a little more difficult to separate the yolk from the white for recipes that need only the yolk. Finicky, advanced-skill-required cuisine that calls for all whites or just yolks may not turn out quite the same if quail eggs are used. But for your everyday cooking and baking use, you’re going to be thrilled with how quail eggs perform!
How Do Quail Eggs Hard Boil?
Yes, you can hard boil quail eggs! They boil up quick in just 3-4 minutes. Simply cool, peel and eat them just like a hard boiled chicken egg. They are diminutive and charming when sliced and added to salads!
Should I Get Jumbo Quail?
If you want backyard quail for eggs to use in the kitchen, I am always going to enthusiastically advise that you seriously consider keeping Jumbo quail. Jumbos may be harder to find. You might need to purchase an incubator to hatch your own jumbo eggs shipped from a breeder. I know the celadon blue quail eggs are so pretty and very tempting but as someone who has owned all the types of quail: standard, standard rare feather color, celadon and jumbo, the jumbos are the best layers, the best eggs for kitchen use and the best meat birds. (Even if you only want eggs, I still suggest getting jumbo Coturnix quail!)
I Tried Quail Eggs and Love Them! What Next?
If you’ve decided you’d like to keep backyard quail, here are the next steps you need to take:
Step 1: Check your neighborhood’s rules
Check your neighborhood HOA’s rules and/or deed restrictions to ensure quail are allowed. Coturnix quail are classified as game birds or pet birds in all US states and your deed restrictions must forbid quail or game birds explicitly by name. Otherwise you are allowed to keep them!
Step 2: A Secure Coop is Needed
You need to provide Coturnix quail with a secure coop or hutch. It should be made with ¼ inch hardware cloth covering any sides or windows and be predator proof. Free quail coop plans can be found here and I sell our custom designed Quail Cottage Coop building plans in our website store.
Step 3: Locate a Breeder
Once your quail coop is built, it is time to find a breeder! Seek to join local Facebook quail keeping groups and request breeder contact info. Quail chicks need special care but they feather out quickly. Most quail chicks are sold as 3-4 week olds when they have feathers to keep them warm and can now live in an outdoor coop.
How Long Do Quail Take to Start Laying?
Quail hens come into lay shockingly fast, producing eggs as early as 6 weeks old and often laying daily by 10 weeks old. (Celadons will take 10-12 weeks to come into lay if they are hatched before July. After July they will probably not lay until the next spring.)
Quail Eggs Taste Just Like Chicken Eggs!
I hope this article about how quail eggs taste has been a pleasant surprise! I promise, quail eggs scramble, hard boil and bake just like chicken eggs. When I lived in my house in the suburbs, I very much wish I had known about Coturnix quail. They are sweet little birds who are truly fun to keep and the supply of fresh eggs from your own backyard (that the HOA is not even aware of!) is such a delight! If you have homesteading dreams, seriously consider Coturnix quail keeping.
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