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How long can a fresh laid egg be unfrigerated and be safe to eat? - Page 3

post #21 of 31
8/12/11 at 6:23pm

I am so excited to see this thread, I was just thinking today that I needed to ask the same question about how long a egg is good for and if it needs to be refigerated.    I do have 1 more question, is it ok to refigerate the eggs when you bring them in?  Or is it best to leave them out on the counter?

Mom to 2 kids, 2 cats, 1 fish, and 11 girls (Haley - banty, Nutmeg - Buff Orp, Teddy - Red sex link, Bella - Tetra Tint, Pepper, Salt and Dot - Dominiques, Summer - Welsummer, Cheeky and Muffin - EE, Freckles - Speckled Sussex) And the wife of one very wonderful husband who puts up with me and my chickens!

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Mom to 2 kids, 2 cats, 1 fish, and 11 girls (Haley - banty, Nutmeg - Buff Orp, Teddy - Red sex link, Bella - Tetra Tint, Pepper, Salt and Dot - Dominiques, Summer - Welsummer, Cheeky and Muffin - EE, Freckles - Speckled Sussex) And the wife of one very wonderful husband who puts up with me and my chickens!

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post #22 of 31
8/12/11 at 7:09pm

I was curious about this too and did a bit of research, posted it on my blog awhile back: http://polloplayer.wordpress.com/2010/03/13/the-egg-and-i/

See my chicken blog at:  http://polloplayer.wordpress.com/
Caught chicken fever in 2009. Currently have a flock of four:  an EE, a Belgian Mille Fleur d'Uccle, a Silkie, and a Black Copper Marans.

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See my chicken blog at:  http://polloplayer.wordpress.com/
Caught chicken fever in 2009. Currently have a flock of four:  an EE, a Belgian Mille Fleur d'Uccle, a Silkie, and a Black Copper Marans.

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post #23 of 31
8/12/11 at 7:14pm

This is a great thread.thumbsup I have been refridgerating mine unnecessarily it seems. I also wondered why they were IMPOSSIBLE to peel if I hard bolied them he

"Be a best friend, tell the truth and overuse I love you...never let your praying knees get lazy and love like CRAAAZZZYYYY!"
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"Be a best friend, tell the truth and overuse I love you...never let your praying knees get lazy and love like CRAAAZZZYYYY!"
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post #24 of 31
8/12/11 at 9:08pm

Here is what I did last year with my first batch of chickens. Freshness is going to depend on ambient temp too, so to get a gauge on how long my eggs stayed fresh on the counter, I numbered and dated each one with a pencil (date on paper, number on egg). Do this and consume eggs FIFO or lowest number in order. It's kind of fun to track production rate and weight too if you're up to it.

Make sure you have always have a cache of eggs on the counter so that it can age, and consume less than what y get so that the eggs you are eating have a chance to age.

You will notice right away when your eggs change consistency. I like to consume them while the whites are still firm (for fried eggs), so once you hit an egg that's starting to go down, it's time to boil the lot.

Ai-chan (RIR), Ruby (BA), and Lulu (BO).
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Ai-chan (RIR), Ruby (BA), and Lulu (BO).
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post #25 of 31
8/13/11 at 6:37am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by harebrainedschemes 

I had the same problem - found 18 eggs yesterday and diligently looked up how to tell if they were fresh or rotten. 

They all sank to the bottom of the water and looked normal - just like the one that I found in the nest that I knew was just laid. 

So, I went into my walk-in closet and candled all of them.  I could see just a glimmer of yolk in the just-laid egg...  Two others looked about the same but several were either not able to be viewed or really dark.  I could see some of the yolks float this way and that way.  I put them into order of what I thought was best to worst. 

Finally, I just decided eggs are not that dear and I cracked them open.  The majority of them were bad.  The yolks were not in one lump; they were already scrambled but they didn't smell - they just looked horrid.   They had a funny color and were really thin & watery looking.  The last three looked and smelled o.k. so I fried them and fed them to the dogs. 

The moral of my story?  I think if you just don't know, don't risk it.


http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp84/LMC0916/gif_31_10-1.gif Hi harebrainedschemes! When I get into the suspicious batch of eggs I will definitely examine each of them closely for any irregularities. I won't risk it for sure.  I do like the suggestion of feeding those "bad" eggs to the chickens and/or to the dogs for a special treat. Thanks for posting!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hopper 

i have done some traveling and I think we are one of the few countries that DOES refrigerate and yes its cause our eggs come from an egg factory and their quailty people make them WASH them.

IF I EVER GET EGGS From these hens I dont think I will be washing either, they can happily sit on my counter for all to see and admire!  CANT WAIT!old


http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp84/LMC0916/gif_31_09-1.gif Hi Hopper!  I found that real interesting reading on this thread about not having to refrigerate eggs! I've seen in magazines and movies eggs on the counter but I thought that was just a decorative touch. tongue  By the way, be a little more patient and I know you'll be seeing eggs from your hens very soon.  As it turns out for us, our girls were laying eggs everywhere but in their nesting beds we had set up for them! http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp84/LMC0916/lol.gif

Quote:
Originally Posted by mom x 1 

It's true, you learn something new every day.  I have been diligently placing my eggs in the fridge, even though I have said several times how pretty they would look sitting in a basket on my counter!  Guess where my eggs will be from now on! wink

Oh and I love the egg-skelter thingie!love


http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp84/LMC0916/gif_31_09-1.gif Hi Mom x 1!  I too have learned so many new things since joining this great forum the other day! Thanks for posting.

Quote:
Originally Posted by real_redhead 

I am so excited to see this thread, I was just thinking today that I needed to ask the same question about how long a egg is good for and if it needs to be refigerated.    I do have 1 more question, is it ok to refigerate the eggs when you bring them in?  Or is it best to leave them out on the counter?


http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp84/LMC0916/gif_31_03-1.gif Hi real_redhead!  I'm a newbie at this but I don't see any harm in refrigerating eggs.   I have learned from the members here that if you for some reason "wash" your home laid eggs, you then will need to refrigerate them or eat them soon because you've removed the "protective"membrane from the egg.  Store bought eggs are all washed beforehand...and I guess that's why we've refrigerated them and thought it was necessary for all eggs.

Quote:
Originally Posted by bawkbawkbawk 

I was curious about this too and did a bit of research, posted it on my blog awhile back: http://polloplayer.wordpress.com/2010/03/13/the-egg-and-i/


http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp84/LMC0916/gif_31_10.gif Hi bawkbawkbawk!  I found your blog really fun and interesting to read!  Thank you for sharing your link with us.  I now know that the "protective" membrane/covering I was referring to in the above comment is actually called the "bloom". Wow!  I do love learning new things.  I also found it interesting to learn that the rough "sandpaper" surface on that one egg of yours was caused by your hen going overboard on eating alot of oyster shells!  Love that! http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp84/LMC0916/lol.gif

Quote:
Originally Posted by lowry075 

This is a great thread.thumbsup I have been refridgerating mine unnecessarily it seems. I also wondered why they were IMPOSSIBLE to peel if I hard bolied them he


http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp84/LMC0916/gif_31_10-1.gif Hi lowry075!  Isn't that interesting about the freshest eggs are harder to peel when hard boiling them?!  We learn something new every day! tongue

Quote:
Originally Posted by MakNugget 

Here is what I did last year with my first batch of chickens. Freshness is going to depend on ambient temp too, so to get a gauge on how long my eggs stayed fresh on the counter, I numbered and dated each one with a pencil (date on paper, number on egg). Do this and consume eggs FIFO or lowest number in order. It's kind of fun to track production rate and weight too if you're up to it.

Make sure you have always have a cache of eggs on the counter so that it can age, and consume less than what y get so that the eggs you are eating have a chance to age.

You will notice right away when your eggs change consistency. I like to consume them while the whites are still firm (for fried eggs), so once you hit an egg that's starting to go down, it's time to boil the lot.


http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp84/LMC0916/gif_31_10-1.gif Hi MakNugget...thanks for your all of your good advice!  I have started penciling in the dates on the eggs I bring in now. http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp84/LMC0916/2thumbsup-Copy.gif

Thanks to all our members for your interesting and much appreciated postings!  You guys rock! Lisa  http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp84/LMC0916/party-Copy.gif


Edited by 5LadyHens - 8/13/11 at 8:36am

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post #26 of 31
8/13/11 at 9:30am

I never refridgerate either.  If I think they are THAT old I just let the chooks or dogs have a feast.  There are more where those came from!  wink  I can taste fridge smell/taste when I eat a fridged egg..... sickbyc

If you died tonight, where would you spend eternity?  Please think about it. 

Info we all need to know:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDDGl79x4Pc&feature=my_favorites&list=FLIvzTTPS3Bg-qsbs8VPh__Q


 

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If you died tonight, where would you spend eternity?  Please think about it. 

Info we all need to know:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDDGl79x4Pc&feature=my_favorites&list=FLIvzTTPS3Bg-qsbs8VPh__Q


 

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post #27 of 31
8/13/11 at 10:14am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Beekissed 

I never refridgerate either.  If I think they are THAT old I just let the chooks or dogs have a feast.  There are more where those came from!  wink  I can taste fridge smell/taste when I eat a fridged egg..... sickbyc


Hi Beekissed!  You say you can taste "fridge smell" when you eat a refrigerated egg? WOW!  The hard protective shell of the egg doesn't keep those odors out? You have amazing tastebuds! tongue

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post #28 of 31
8/13/11 at 10:38am

Egg shells are porous and even with the bloom they can absorb odors and eventually bacteria as the bloom wears off.  Mine seem to absorb that stale fridge smell and I can taste that aftertaste in the eggs....and, yes, my tastebuds are superlative!   They are not dulled by eating a lot of processed foods, drinking highly carbonated drinks or smoking of cigs.  My olfactory senses are equally developed, so those smells seem exaggerated to me and can often come across as taste...they are hard to separate.

If you died tonight, where would you spend eternity?  Please think about it. 

Info we all need to know:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDDGl79x4Pc&feature=my_favorites&list=FLIvzTTPS3Bg-qsbs8VPh__Q


 

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If you died tonight, where would you spend eternity?  Please think about it. 

Info we all need to know:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDDGl79x4Pc&feature=my_favorites&list=FLIvzTTPS3Bg-qsbs8VPh__Q


 

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post #29 of 31
8/13/11 at 11:46am

This is the best read for egg longevity smile

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sustainable-Farming/1977-11-01/Fresh-Eggs.aspx

My bottom line is I keep them on the counter if unwashed, and when I pack them for customers once a week (I bring them to work), I will float test all of them and then refrigerate.

It's good practice with ANY egg, no matter what, to crack it into a separate bowl every time before adding it to the dish you're making. In the off chance you get a funky egg, you won't mess up your entire batch of food, just pitch the egg and get a new dish to crack eggs into before adding to the mix smile

How to process chickens at home! A step by step pictorial on processing chickens at home without lots of tools.

~No one ever said you had to be perfect to be happy. ~

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How to process chickens at home! A step by step pictorial on processing chickens at home without lots of tools.

~No one ever said you had to be perfect to be happy. ~

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post #30 of 31
8/13/11 at 12:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wsmoak 

One day I am going to get one of these to keep the eggs "in order" on the counter big_smile  http://www.egg-skelter.co.uk/

(For now I just write the date in pencil.  But that's much less fun than an egg skelter.)

-Wendy


Ahhh, I want one!! D

Dont you find it odd that people will put more work into choosing their mechanic or house contractor than they will into choosing the person who grows their food?
-Joel Salatin

My Etsy photography shop - MeadowPath

 

 

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Dont you find it odd that people will put more work into choosing their mechanic or house contractor than they will into choosing the person who grows their food?
-Joel Salatin

My Etsy photography shop - MeadowPath

 

 

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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying › How long can a fresh laid egg be unfrigerated and be safe to eat?