Egg yolk facts for kids

Egg yolk

The egg yolk is the bright yellow part found in the middle of an egg. It's like the heart of the egg, designed to provide all the food a baby chick would need if the egg were fertilized and hatched. Even though it looks like a lot, the yolk is actually just one single cell.

You often see egg yolks when you make fried eggs. If you mix the yolk with the egg whites and cook them, you get scrambled eggs. Egg yolks are also a very important ingredient in many kinds of cooking and baking.

What is an Egg Yolk?

The egg yolk is the main food source for a growing chick inside an egg. It holds all the nutrients needed for the chick to develop. The yolk is usually a round, yellow ball, but its color can change depending on what the hen eats. For example, if a hen eats a lot of plants with yellow or orange pigments, her egg yolks might be a deeper orange.

What's Inside an Egg Yolk?

Egg yolks are packed with important nutrients that are good for you. They contain a lot of fat, which gives you energy. They also have many vitamins, like Vitamin D, Vitamin A, and several B vitamins. You'll also find important minerals like iron and phosphorus in the yolk.

While the egg white is mostly protein, the yolk has a good mix of protein, fats, and vitamins. This makes the yolk a very nutritious part of the egg.

Why Do Some Eggs Have Two Yolks?

Sometimes, you might crack open an egg and find two yolks inside! This is called a "double-yolked egg." It happens when a hen releases two egg cells at the same time, and both get covered by the egg white and shell.

Double yolks are more common in younger hens who are just starting to lay eggs, or sometimes in older hens. They are perfectly safe to eat and are just a fun surprise!

How We Use Egg Yolks

Egg yolks are super versatile in the kitchen. Their rich flavor and creamy texture make them perfect for many dishes.

• Baking: Yolks add richness and moisture to cakes, cookies, and pastries.
• Sauces: They are key ingredients in creamy sauces like mayonnaise and Hollandaise sauce. Yolks help to thicken these sauces and make them smooth.
• Custards and Puddings: The fat and protein in yolks help custards set and give them a silky texture.
• Emulsifiers: Yolks can help mix ingredients that usually don't blend well, like oil and vinegar. This is why they are great for salad dressings.

Images for kids

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  Diagram of a fish egg; the yolk is the area marked 'C'

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  Three similarly sized eggs in a hot frying pan. Each of the two yolks in the double-yolked eggs are smaller than typical for that size of egg.

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  A chicken egg frying with an extremely thick red yolk. A normal-coloured yolk can also be seen, having been accidentally burst during the frying process.

See also

In Spanish: Yema de huevo para niños