4 ms·

Doesn't overcooking produce the sulfur smell due to excessive denaturing of the protein?

floatrock 8y ago
How does denaturing a protein release sulfur? I never actually thought of where that sulfur comes of, and I don't know enough bio/chem if that should be obvious from "denaturing of the protein".
- nkozyra 8y ago
  I assumed it was in amino acid side chains, but it's not my area of expertise. I do know that sulfides are part of some amino acids.
DoreenMichele 8y ago
The egg yolk is high sulfur. The egg white is high protein. So I doubt that.
- quietbritishjim 8y ago
  I thought it was the white that has the sulphur. A quick Google seems to confirm that, but more to the point I find the white has a hint of it in its flavour. According to this page [1] 'Each egg yolk contains 0.016 milligram of sulfur, and the white contains 0.195 milligram, according to B. Srilakshmi, author of "Food Science." ' [1] https://www.livestrong.com/article/289250-list-of-foods-high-in-sulfur/ https://www.livestrong.com/article/289250-list-of-foods-high...
  - DoreenMichele 8y ago
    A quick google will equally confirm whichever answer you are trying to confirm. Some sites say it's the yolk. Others say it's the white. Opposite example: List of Foods That Contain Sulfur Eggs. The yolk portion of an egg is high in sulfur. https://livewell.jillianmichaels.com/list-foods-contain-sulfur-5102.html https://livewell.jillianmichaels.com/list-foods-contain-sulf... I have yet to find anything reliable, like a .gov site, addressing the question. Sulfur issues run in my family. I have to limit my consumption of sulfur. It's the yolk that's an issue for me, not the white, fwiw.
    - quietbritishjim 8y ago
      If I googled "egg white sulfur" you would have a point about confirmation bias. But I just googled "egg sulfur" and clicked on the top few results, all of which either pointed to the white or didn't mention either way.

How does denaturing a protein release sulfur? I never actually thought of where that sulfur comes of, and I don't know enough bio/chem if that should be obvious from "denaturing of the protein".

nkozyra 8y ago
I assumed it was in amino acid side chains, but it's not my area of expertise. I do know that sulfides are part of some amino acids.

DoreenMichele 8y ago

The egg yolk is high sulfur. The egg white is high protein. So I doubt that.

quietbritishjim 8y ago
I thought it was the white that has the sulphur. A quick Google seems to confirm that, but more to the point I find the white has a hint of it in its flavour. According to this page [1] 'Each egg yolk contains 0.016 milligram of sulfur, and the white contains 0.195 milligram, according to B. Srilakshmi, author of "Food Science." ' [1] https://www.livestrong.com/article/289250-list-of-foods-high-in-sulfur/ https://www.livestrong.com/article/289250-list-of-foods-high...
- DoreenMichele 8y ago
  A quick google will equally confirm whichever answer you are trying to confirm. Some sites say it's the yolk. Others say it's the white. Opposite example: List of Foods That Contain Sulfur Eggs. The yolk portion of an egg is high in sulfur. https://livewell.jillianmichaels.com/list-foods-contain-sulfur-5102.html https://livewell.jillianmichaels.com/list-foods-contain-sulf... I have yet to find anything reliable, like a .gov site, addressing the question. Sulfur issues run in my family. I have to limit my consumption of sulfur. It's the yolk that's an issue for me, not the white, fwiw.
  - quietbritishjim 8y ago
    If I googled "egg white sulfur" you would have a point about confirmation bias. But I just googled "egg sulfur" and clicked on the top few results, all of which either pointed to the white or didn't mention either way.