Ostrich eggs are still perceived as a delicacy by our compatriots, but as the number of ostrich farms is steadily increasing, the interest in this product is steadily increasing. Ostrich testicles are recognized as a healthier alternative to chicken, and you can also prepare a dish for a large family from a single copy. If you are not familiar with this product, you should try it, and we will help you learn how to choose, store and prepare this delicacy.
Nutritional value of the product
The largest bird's egg on the planet has great nutritional value. Depending on its size, it may replace from 20 to 40 chicken. 
Calorie content
100 g of the product contains about 120 kcal, that is, the calorie content of one ostrich egg of medium size can reach up to 2000 kcal!
The ratio of BZHU is the following:
- proteins - 12.2 g;
- fats - 11.7 g;
- carbohydrates - 0.7 g
Did you know? The smallest bird eggs in the world are the hummingbird's testicles - usually the female reproduces 2 eggs weighing 0.5 g and only 1-1.2 cm in diameter.
Vitamin and mineral set
Ostrich eggs are rich in vitamins A and E, carotenoids, B vitamins (B2, B9 and B12), essential amino acids (lysine and threonine), as well as micro and macro elements: iron, zinc, magnesium and selenium, to a lesser extent contain calcium , manganese and phosphorus. It is noteworthy that sodium is completely absent in the mineral composition of this delicacy, therefore the ostrich product is preferable for people with a restriction of this mineral in the diet. 
Useful properties and risks of use
Useful properties of this product are due to its special vitamin-mineral composition, as well as the ratio of BJU. So, having eaten a portion of omelet from ostrich eggs, you can get a daily amount of high-grade, easily digestible protein, monounsaturated fats, and for a long time to quench the feeling of hunger. Eggs contain less cholesterol, which means that the dish will not affect your waist and vascular condition.
Learn more about the benefits of eggs: chicken, duck, goose, guinea fowl, turkey.
In general, ostrich eggs have such useful properties:
- strengthen the cardiovascular system;
- improve the condition of hair, nails, skin;
- strengthen eyesight;
- promote muscle building.
However, there is some danger in the use of delicacy. If you are allergic to chicken eggs, it is likely to manifest itself in ostrich, so you need to enter the product into the diet in very small portions (which can be problematic for its size) and monitor the reaction of the body. There is also a certain risk of Salmonella contamination if the farm does not comply with the rules for keeping birds. Therefore, you need to select only the fresh product, before using it, rinse it with water and soda, then heat treat it for a set time. 
How to choose the egg
It is very important to choose a fresh and high-quality product, because ostrich eggs are not a cheap pleasure, and one hardly wants to throw money away. In addition, when using a low-quality product there is a risk of getting health problems.
Important! The period of ostrich females' productivity lasts from April to November, and the shelf life of the product when stored in the refrigerator does not exceed 3 months, therefore, it is impossible to get fresh, high-quality ostrich eggs in the middle of winter or early spring - with high probability such a product will be spoiled.
It is best to buy eggs on specialized farm, there is also worth asking the owner about the documents on the products. The size and color of the product are not the selection criteria - the average weight is 1.5 kg, however, significant deviations in both directions are possible, and the color depends on the breed and plumage of the ostrich and may be white, beige, yellowish or greenish.
What shouldn't be in a product is an airbag. It is formed during long-term storage of eggs, as a result of which the mass decreases due to evaporation of the liquid, and the air gap grows. To check this moment, shake the egg a little - there should be no gurgling sounds. It is also possible to check the freshness of the product by immersing it in a concentrated brine. If it is fresh, it will sink to the bottom of the tank. Do not buy eggs with traces of litter or other contamination, damage to the shell. 
How to cook
Having bought this delicacy for the first time, you can feel some confusion, because you need to properly break it and be able to prepare the dish in such a way as not to spoil it. Next, consider how to extract the contents and create a delicious treat for the whole family.
Extract content
It is not so easy to break an ostrich's egg, despite the lightness and fineness of the shell (about 2 mm). It is so strong that a person weighing up to 50 kg can easily stand on the egg laying! Therefore, to extract the content, you have to make some effort.
- Method number 1. Need a drill. Egg should be placed on the side of a small bowl or a plate for stability. Then, holding it with one hand, the second one needs to be done with a drill to make a small hole closer to the top. No need to apply excessive pressure. When the hole is made, use a wooden long stick to mix the white with the yolk and carefully pour it through the hole into the container.
- Method number 2. This option is preferable if you want to keep the yolk whole, because the opening for this will have to be done wider. Using a file, the egg at the top must be sawn around the entire circumference (5-6 cm diameter is enough), until the file penetrates the side through. The process can take up to 5 minutes. Next, the shell must be carefully separated, under it will be a shell. After opening the shell, the contents with a whole yolk can be poured into a container.
Cooking
One of the most popular and simple dishes is, of course, an omelet. We will give a classic recipe with the addition of milk, herbs and vegetables, you can change it to your taste by adding poultry or meat and other ingredients.
Did you know? The biggest omelette in the world was cooked in Portugal in 2012. To create it, it took 145 thousand chicken eggs, 400 kg of olive and 100 kg of butter, as well as 150 cooks and a 10-meter frying pan. As a result, the giant omelette weighed 6 tons!
Ingredients:
- medium-sized ostrich egg (about 1.5 kg);
- 200 ml of milk;
- 4 tbsp. l olive oil;
- 2 bunches of greens (spinach, cilantro, dill);
- 1 bunch of green onions;
- 1 bulb onion;
- 400 g frozen vegetable set (bell pepper, zucchini, eggplant, carrots and other vegetables);
- salt and pepper to taste.
The preparation of this dish is very simple and quick:
- It is necessary to wash the egg with water and soda, dry it, get the contents in any way possible and pour it into the pan.
- Add milk and beat with a mixer until smooth.
- Grease a baking sheet with olive oil, heat the oven to +200 ° С, chop onions and greens.
- Add greens, onions and vegetables to the mixture, mix thoroughly, salt and pepper.
- Pour the mixture on a baking sheet and bake for 30-40 minutes.
Video: Ostrich Omelet Cooking Recipe
How to store the product
A broken egg can retain all its beneficial properties for 3 months. The best option is to use the entire specimen at once, but this is not always the case. In this case, the product can be partially used, the residue can be placed in a refrigerator and consumed within 2-3 days. After this period, the product will deteriorate.
Important! The optimum temperature for storage is 0 ... +8 ° С.
Where can I buy
At the moment, buy ostrich products is not difficult. Ostrich eggs are not represented in most grocery stores, so they need to be bought directly on farms or ordered online.
- For example, a large enterprise for breeding ostrich is the Russian Ostrich farm near Moscow. On the site you can get acquainted with all the products, among which there are fresh eggs (available for ordering in season), empty, as well as painted artistic copies. The price of one ordinary copy is 2000 r, empty - 500 r, the cost of decoration starts from 1500 r and depends on the complexity of the work. On the possibility of delivery of products need to know by phone.
- The product from the "Alphabet of Taste" has a proven quality. The price of a table ostrich egg is 2190 p. Orders are carried out in Moscow and the Moscow region.
- The company "Strausland" is also engaged in the delivery of ostrich eggs in Moscow and the Moscow region, the cost of one copy is 1800 p.
It is interesting to get acquainted with the basics of breeding ostriches at home.
Shell Use Options
The shell is durable and resembles porcelain in properties, so it is used primarily to create souvenirs. In ancient times, they created glasses from the shell, but now it can be lamps, painted and carved souvenirs, globes, jewelry boxes. From the pieces of the shell, you can create original key chains and pendants. 
The cost of such products is very high, because it requires great skill - one wrong movement by the engraver can lead to cracking and damage to the entire product. Sometimes to create one successful souvenir you need to spoil a few empty instances. However, even by itself, without painting and engraving, an egg of such impressive size can be an interesting decor item. Simple, but perfect and thoughtful by nature form and attracts the eye. 
In addition to creating souvenirs, the shell can be used for the production of food additives and fertilizers, as it is a rich source of calcium carbonate.
Ostrich egg reviews
Ostrich eggs do not belong to the main product of ostrich breeding, as these birds are bred primarily for feather, meat and skin, besides most of the testicles are fertilized and are used for further breeding. However, table ostrich eggs are a useful and valuable food product. Their regular use may seem like an expensive pleasure, but at least once to feast on a dish from this exotic product is simply necessary!
