In this post, you will learn how to boil Quail Eggs. Quail Eggs are small edible eggs that can be soft or hard boiled and eaten alone or used as an ingredient in salads, brunch recipes, as an appetizer and even as a garnish. Their size, rich flavor and creamy texture add a touch of elegance to any dish.
You will also learn what they are and how they compare to chicken eggs, the benefits of Quail Eggs and other ways to cook them besides boiling. There are other recipes for Quail Eggs to show you how to eat Quail Eggs should you find yourself in receipt of a dozen or two!
What are Quail Eggs?
In simple terms, they are the eggs from Quails. So, what are Quails? They are a small bird commonly found in N. America and other countries. They only weigh between 5-10 ozs (150g-300g). Due to their size and weight, these birds are favored as prey for larger birds and small mammals. As a result most Quail do not live longer than 1 year. Quail themselves can be eaten. Their meat is lean and juicy and best prepared by roasting. Quail meat is often found in grocery stores selling exotic meats.
Back to Quail Eggs – these eggs are considerably smaller than chicken eggs. According to Brinsea Incubation Specialists, the average quail egg is about 35 mm long and 27 mm in diameter, while the average chicken egg is 62mm long and 43 mm in diameter. Quail Eggs shells can be completely white, light brown or have a slight blue or olive hue. Most of the time they are covered with dark brown specks.
Quail Eggs vs Chicken Eggs
How do Quail Eggs compare with the eggs from chickens? We’ve just covered their size and appearance, so let’s compare their taste, how to substitute them, uses and nutrition:
- Taste: We all know what chicken eggs taste like, but what do Quail Eggs taste like in comparison? Scrambled and fried Quail Eggs will not have any noticeable taste difference compared with chicken eggs. In baking however the higher concentration of egg yolk provides a richer batter (cake or pancake.) Quail and chicken eggs would be hard to tell apart in a blind taste test.
- Substitution: the volume of these eggs are different as Quail Eggs are considerably smaller than chicken eggs. Use 3 Quail Eggs for 1 chicken egg.
- Uses: Treat Quail Eggs as you would chicken eggs with regard to recipes. Anywhere a chicken egg is asked for, you can substitute it for Quail Eggs, just times the quantity needed for chicken eggs by 3 to get the right amount of Quail Eggs to use.
- Nutrition: If you take the nutritive value of a Quail Egg and multiply it by 3, then compare it to 1 chicken egg, the results are surprising in terms of nutrition! Quail Eggs contain 3 times as much choline (needed by the brain and nervous system) and riboflavin (helps metabolize carbohydrates, proteins and fats), and pantothenic acid (needed for cellular energy production). Quail Eggs contain almost double the Vitamin A and Iron content of chicken eggs.
Benefits of Quail Eggs
Quail egg benefits are numerous! When compared with chicken eggs, they appear to be mini superfoods! In addition to the nutrition comparison above, and according to WebMd, Quail Eggs also:
- Have a high protein content.
- Balance cholesterol.
- Boost immunity.
- Treat allergies.
- Increase energy.
- Boost metabolism.
- Improve vision.
The advantages of using Quail Eggs besides their nutritive value is sometimes when a recipe is halved and contains 1 chicken egg, this can pose a problem – use 1-2 Quail Eggs instead.
There are only 14 calories in 1 boiled Quail Egg. If it takes 3 Quail Eggs to equal 1 hen egg, then the equivalent calorie count is 42 calories (3 x 14 calories). A hen egg is 78 calories.
Boiled Quail Egg Recipes
You’ll see below just how easy boiling Quail Eggs can be. So what can these boiled eggs be used for? Here are some suggestions:
My favorite way to use boiled Quail Eggs is as a salad ingredient, like in this Spinach and Arugula Salad.
How to Boil Quail Eggs
I have found this to be the best way to boil Quail Eggs.
Place Quail Eggs in a bowl of clean cold water. Quails lay their eggs standing, so dropped eggs can pick up all sorts of debris and dust from the ground. A quick 2 minute soak in cold water will help remove unwanted particles.
Gently lower the raw, clean Quail Eggs into a pot of boiling water (feel free to add about a tbsp of vinegar to facilitate easy peeling). Set your timer once the Eggs are in the boiling water. Boil between 2-4 minutes – see below for more information on hard and soft boiled Quail Eggs.
Once boiled, use a slotted spoon to transfer the eggs from the pot of boiling water to a bowl of cold water. Add ice if desired. Leave them in the cold water for at least 5 minutes or so. Refrigerate Quail Eggs if not using them right away.
Soft Boiled Quail Eggs Time
Two minutes seems to be the time needed to produce soft boiled Quail Eggs. Follow the directions above and remove the Eggs from the boiling water after 2 minutes.
A word of warning though – most quail eggs are unpasteurized. They have not been heated to 140°F / 60°C and held at that temperature for 3.5 minutes. This means bacteria such as salmonella may be present in the eggs. Medical experts advise against eating raw or runny quail eggs, especially if you are pregnant or have a weakened immune system.
Check with the producer of the Quail Eggs if they are pasteurized or not. They typically provide a sticker on the box with a website or phone number that can be used to contact them.
Hard Boiled Quail Egg Time
So, how long do you boil Quail Eggs for a hard boiled version? The sweet spot tends to be around 4 minutes. For a slightly fudgy Egg yolk set the time for 3½ minutes.
Hard boiled Quail Eggs are easier to peel and safer to eat.
Peeling Boiled Quail Eggs
With the addition of white vinegar or baking soda in the pot of boiling water, the peeling of boiled Quail Eggs is easier. Gently tap the round end of the Egg on a hard surface. This should break the shell but not shatter it. Use this rupture to peel away the rest of the shell. Once all the shell has been peeled away, rinse the eggs under cold water or wipe with kitchen paper to ensure all the shell has been removed.
Other Ways to Cook Quail Eggs
Besides boiling Quail Eggs, there are other ways to cook Quail Eggs. Just as with hen eggs, Quail Eggs can be fried, poached and scrambled.
One of the greatest challenges when preparing Quail Eggs for these above mentioned cooking styles is how to crack Quail Eggs. It seems simple, but it can be a bit challenging due to their tough egg shell. Applying pressure to the shell will only result in a shattered mess with fractured egg shell throughout the broken egg. The best solution is to use Quail Egg Scissors which are well worth the $5 or so price tag. These easy to use kitchen shears snip through the shell, releasing the raw egg into a bowl to be beaten, or into a pan ready to be fried.
Scrambling or frying Quail Eggs takes less time compared with hen eggs.
Storage of Boiled Quail Eggs
Boiled Quail Eggs can be refrigerated for up to 7 days. Store them unpeeled. Do not freeze.
Raw Quail Eggs have a protective coating surrounding them that allows them to be refrigerated for four or five weeks. Boiling the eggs removes this coating. With this in mind, refrigerate Quail Eggs in their raw state and boil them when needed.
Got Questions?
I’ve got answers – hopefully!
Boiled Quail Eggs last for up to one week in the refrigerator.
Examining Quail Eggs will not tell you how fresh they are. The only way to know is to place them in water. If they float to the top they are bad. The air sac at the round end of the egg fills with air because the shell is porous. The older the Eggs are, the more air enters the sac. The egg will float as a result.
How to Soft and Hard Boil Quail Eggs
Ingredients
- 12 Quail eggs
Instructions
- Place quail eggs in a bowl of clean cold water for a quick 2 minute soak to remove unwanted dust and debris.
- Gently lower the raw, clean quail eggs into a pot of boiling water (feel free to add about a tbsp of vinegar to facilitate easy peeling). Set your timer once the Eggs are in the boiling water. Boil for 2 minutes for a soft boiled egg and between 3-4 minutes for a harder yolk.
- Once boiled, use a slotted spoon from the pot of boiling water and transfer them into a bowl of cold water. Add ice if desired. Leave them in the cold water for at least 5 minutes or so. Refrigerate quail eggs if not using them right away.
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