That rich, orange yolk you proudly pay extra for might not mean what you think. For years, we’ve been taught to believe that a darker yolk automatically means a healthier, higher-quality egg, but the truth is more complicated than that assumption.

Yolk color is influenced mainly by what the hen eats. Foods naturally rich in carotenoids, such as grass, alfalfa, and marigold petals, can create a deeper orange color, however certain feed additives can also produce a similar effect. So while a bright orange yolk may look impressive, color alone cannot tell you how nutritious or healthy an egg really is.

A pale-yellow yolk isn’t automatically inferior, and a deep-orange yolk isn’t automatically better. Eggs can provide important nutrients such as protein, vitamin B12, vitamin D, selenium, and choline regardless of whether the yolk is pale yellow or vibrant orange. What matters more is what you can’t necessarily see on your plate.

What matters more is the hen’s overall diet, farming conditions, hygiene, storage, and the freshness of the egg. So next time you’re standing in the grocery aisle comparing cartons, don’t let yolk color make the entire decision for you. It can tell you something about the hen’s diet, but it doesn’t tell the whole story, and the most attractive yolk may simply be the one designed to catch your eye.