Quail Eggs vs Chicken Eggs: Nutrition, Price and Swaps
Quail eggs vs chicken eggs comes down to size: USDA portion data puts one large chicken egg at about 5.6 quail eggs. Per egg, quail has less protein and cholesterol; per gram, more iron, vitamin B12 and cholesterol. In Cairo, price per egg decides it, so the EGP maths is below.
Quail eggs vs chicken eggs is mostly a question of size. A quail egg weighs about 9 g and a large chicken egg about 50 g, according to USDA portion data, so one chicken egg equals roughly 5.6 quail eggs. Almost everything else, from protein to price, follows from that ratio.
For a Cairo household the useful question is cost per serving, because chicken eggs are bought by the 30-egg carton. Below you will find how many quail eggs equal one chicken egg, the USDA numbers per 100 g, per egg and per serving, a cost formula in EGP, and the safety points that apply to both.
Quail eggs vs chicken eggs comparison table
| Criterion | Quail egg | Chicken egg | Ahead on this point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical weight | 9 g | 50 g (large) | Not comparable, sizes differ |
| Protein per 100 g | 13.05 g | 12.56 g | Quail, slightly |
| Cholesterol per 100 g | 844 mg | 372 mg | Chicken |
| Iron per 100 g | 3.65 mg | 1.75 mg | Quail |
| Vitamin B12 per 100 g | 1.58 µg | 0.89 µg | Quail |
| Total choline per 100 g | 263 mg | 294 mg | Chicken, slightly |
| Cost per egg in Cairo | No current price found | About 3.8 EGP | Chicken, on the evidence available |
The figures are USDA values for raw whole eggs per 100 g, taken from the entries for quail eggs and chicken eggs. Quail wins on iron and vitamin B12 per gram, while chicken is lower in cholesterol and slightly higher in choline.
How many quail eggs equal one chicken egg?
Use five to six quail eggs for one large chicken egg. USDA lists a 9 g quail egg and a 50 g large chicken egg, and 50 divided by 9 is about 5.6. A smaller or larger chicken egg moves the egg size ratio: USDA's 38 g small egg works out near 4.2 quail eggs and its 63 g jumbo near 7.
Sellers quote different ratios because quail eggs vary in size. Hatching Time, a US egg carton and incubator seller, gives 10-14 g for standard Coturnix quail eggs and 4-5 quail eggs per large chicken egg (checked October 2026). To get your own conversion factor, weigh a few eggs from your carton and divide 50 by the average weight.
Quail eggs nutrition per egg and per serving
Per egg, the chicken egg is far bigger, so it holds more of everything. The fairer comparison is a serving of five quail eggs (45 g) against one large chicken egg (50 g), calculated here from the USDA per-100 g values above.
| Per portion | 1 quail egg (9 g) | 5 quail eggs (45 g) | 1 large chicken egg (50 g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | 14 kcal | 71 kcal | 72 kcal |
| Protein | 1.2 g | 5.9 g | 6.3 g |
| Fat | 1.0 g | 5.0 g | 4.8 g |
| Cholesterol | 76 mg | 380 mg | 186 mg |
| Iron | 0.33 mg | 1.64 mg | 0.88 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.14 µg | 0.71 µg | 0.45 µg |
| Choline | 24 mg | 118 mg | 147 mg |
At near-equal weight the two are close on calories and protein. Five quail eggs deliver about twice the cholesterol of one chicken egg, more iron and B12, and less choline, so quail eggs nutrition looks richer per gram but not uniformly better.
Are quail eggs healthier than chicken eggs? A 2021 review of Japanese quail eggs concludes they are richer in nutrients than other poultry eggs, which matches the iron and B12 figures. Richer is not the same as healthier, though, as the cholesterol column shows.
Cholesterol, allergy and food safety
People who have been told to limit dietary cholesterol should count quail eggs by weight rather than by number, and follow their clinician's advice.
Allergy is the other common question. A 2024 case series gave three boiled quail eggs to 62 children with hen's egg allergy, and none of the 59 who completed the challenge reacted. The authors say patients with acquired tolerance to hen eggs may not need to avoid quail eggs, but that does not clear anyone with a current allergy, so ask an allergist first.
Salmonella risk is the same kind for both. The WHO names eggs first among the animal-origin foods that most often carry non-typhoidal Salmonella to people, and the FDA says even clean, uncracked fresh eggs may carry it. Healthline notes that most quail eggs are unpasteurized and that pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems should avoid them or eat them fully cooked.
- Cook both until the yolk and the white are firm.
- Keep eggs at 4°C or colder, in the fridge, until you cook them.
- Skip raw quail egg drinks, a folk habit in some households, for the same Salmonella reason.
Quail eggs price vs chicken eggs in EGP
On 9 October 2026 a 30-egg carton of white chicken eggs traded at 113-115 EGP on the Egyptian poultry exchange, according to an Egyptian business news site, and at 115-118 EGP in wholesale and semi-wholesale shops. That is about 3.8 EGP per egg, or roughly 0.076 EGP per gram. Chicken egg prices swing a lot: in November 2024 the Ministry of Agriculture arranged for supermarket chains to receive table eggs at 150 EGP per carton, about 5 EGP an egg.
Here is the break-even sum for any quail carton you are offered:
- Chicken price per egg = carton price ÷ 30.
- Quail price per egg that matches chicken by weight = chicken price per egg × 9 ÷ 50. At 3.8 EGP that is about 0.68 EGP.
- Quail price per egg that matches a five-for-one swap = chicken price per egg ÷ 5, about 0.76 EGP.
Quail eggs price data for Egypt is thin, and the only figure found is dated: in January 2023 a Ministry of Agriculture outlet in Dokki sold them at 0.75-0.80 EGP each. A 2023 price against a 2026 chicken price is not a fair comparison, so check today's quail price before you do the sum. For illustration only, at 1 EGP per quail egg five eggs cost 5 EGP, which is 1.2 EGP more than one chicken egg at 3.8 EGP.
If you are buying poultry rather than eggs, see organic chicken in Egypt, and for beef see grass fed vs grain fed beef in Egypt.
Swapping quail eggs for chicken eggs in recipes
Quail eggs shine where the whole egg is visible: halved and boiled on salads, in stir-fries or on top of a bowl. One chef quoted by Food Republic recommends sauces, salads, stir-fries and baking, and advises against quail eggs in scrambled eggs, omelettes and quiches. It is also simply fiddly: it takes five or six quail eggs to replace one chicken egg.
For baking, convert by weight and not by count:
- Weigh 50 g of beaten quail egg for each large chicken egg in the recipe.
- Crack the quail eggs into a bowl first, so any shell fragment is easy to spot.
- Cook through until the yolk and white are firm, as the FDA advises.
Verdict: which should you buy?
Chicken eggs win for everyday cooking. They cost about 3.8 EGP each on current evidence, one large egg replaces five or six quail eggs, and they carry less cholesterol per gram. Quail eggs lose on convenience and, on the evidence available, on cost; they come close on calories and protein per gram, and win only on iron and vitamin B12 per gram and on bite-size looks.
Buy quail eggs when the small size is the point, such as salads, canapes or a snack of boiled eggs, and keep chicken eggs for scrambles, omelettes and baking.
Frequently asked questions
How many quail eggs equal one chicken egg?
About 5 to 6 quail eggs equal one large chicken egg by weight. USDA lists a quail egg at 9 g and a large chicken egg at 50 g, which gives 5.6. Sellers who quote 4 to 5 are usually counting bigger quail eggs of 10 to 14 g, so weigh yours if a recipe needs exact amounts.
Are quail eggs healthier than chicken eggs?
Neither is clearly healthier. Per gram, quail eggs have more iron and vitamin B12 but about twice the cholesterol, and chicken eggs have slightly more choline. Per egg, chicken eggs supply more of every nutrient listed because they are larger. Choose by taste, budget and any dietary advice you have received.
Do quail eggs have more cholesterol than chicken eggs?
Per gram, yes: USDA lists 844 mg per 100 g for quail eggs against 372 mg for chicken eggs. Per egg, a quail egg is lower at about 76 mg against 186 mg, because it weighs only 9 g. Five quail eggs, the usual swap for one chicken egg, carry roughly 380 mg.
Can you eat quail eggs raw?
It is not advised. The FDA says to cook eggs until yolk and white are firm, because even clean, uncracked fresh eggs may carry Salmonella. Healthline adds that most quail eggs are unpasteurized, so pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems should avoid runny quail eggs entirely.
Next step
Want to order farm-fresh quail eggs in Cairo? Contact us to ask about current carton sizes, availability and prices, and compare them with the break-even sum above.
Frequently asked questions
How many quail eggs equal one chicken egg?
About 5 to 6 quail eggs equal one large chicken egg by weight. USDA lists a quail egg at 9 g and a large chicken egg at 50 g, which gives 5.6. Sellers who quote 4 to 5 are usually counting bigger quail eggs of 10 to 14 g, so weigh yours if a recipe needs exact amounts.
Are quail eggs healthier than chicken eggs?
Neither is clearly healthier. Per gram, quail eggs have more iron and vitamin B12 but about twice the cholesterol, and chicken eggs have slightly more choline. Per egg, chicken eggs supply more of every nutrient listed because they are larger. Choose by taste, budget and any dietary advice you have received.
Do quail eggs have more cholesterol than chicken eggs?
Per gram, yes: USDA lists 844 mg per 100 g for quail eggs against 372 mg for chicken eggs. Per egg, a quail egg is lower at about 76 mg against 186 mg, because it weighs only 9 g. Five quail eggs, the usual swap for one chicken egg, carry roughly 380 mg.
Can you eat quail eggs raw?
It is not advised. The FDA says to cook eggs until yolk and white are firm, because even clean, uncracked fresh eggs may carry Salmonella. Healthline adds that most quail eggs are unpasteurized, so pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems should avoid runny quail eggs entirely.