Am I supposed to wash the eggs?

[mcjweb]

Just one more of the same, I think, when I collect the eggs I rinse with water and rub very gently with my hands and then paper towel dry and straight to frig.

 

[babigyrl22]

I haven't washed mine and my neighbors, whom I give free "hush money" eggs to, know that I don't wash them. They just wash before using if they wish. I don't even do that. If I get one that is particularly icky....I give it to one of my dogs.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

This is one of those arguments that have been going on forever that will never end. Some do, some don't. You'll just have to decide for yourself.

Personally I wash every egg under hot running water. According to government guidelines the water should be at least twenty degrees warmer than the temperature of the egg. They are then dried before going into my refrigerator. My customers want clean, good looking eggs so that's what I strive to give them.

 

[SycamoreChickens]

A.T. is right, this argument has been going on for some time.

Personally I do wash my eggs in warm/hot running water rubbing gently with my (clean) hands and dry before putting in the fridge.

As for how long they last, we eat the eggs fairly soon (within 2 weeks) and have never had a problem with rotten eggs or getting sick in any way.

 

[gale65]

We aren't getting eggs yet but after seeing this it relieved my anxiety a lot. The eggs don't come out the same chute as the poop but they do share an opening but it doesn't appear that the egg touches the surfaces the poop does (aside from the chicken's underside, feet, nesting materials, etc.) .

http://www.afn.org/~poultry/egghen.htm (there is a pretty clear drawing toward the bottom of the page)

I will probably wash with hot water just before cooking them.

 

[bethgranberg]

I only wash them for my boyfriend's mother who is very picky

otherwise I just scrape them off if need be, and very rarely wash them with hot water.

 

[ButtersMama]

I recall many years ago about a solution for washing vegetables and fruit from a health expert/author...Gittleman? ...... and I wonder if it would be a good idea for eggs.

1 teaspoon of bleach to 1 Gallon of water (or 1/2 tsp to 1/2 gal)...just dip, rinse and wipe

Sounds like it may be a good idea...

Any thoughts?

 

[Yay Chicks!]

I, personally, wouldn't use bleach on an egg.

I collect eggs and leave them unwashed in a basket on the counter. I don't have customers, but the ones I give away to friends are the eggs with no smudges on them whatsoever. But I don't wash those either.

If they are dirty, like I have one that lays in the run occasionally, I will wash those in hot water and put in the fridge.

I have never become ill from eating my unwashed eggs.

 

[BlackBart]

I wash all of my eggs even if they look clean and I am always surprised how dirty the water is.
I have heard of people using a drop or two of bleach or a drop or two of dish soap. Everybody has their own method.

 

[nonsuch]

I just read an article that you should resist the urge to wash or scrub eggs. They have a natural "bloom" from the hens that protects them from Bacteria entering the eggs. If they are washed it should only be done while they are immersed in warm water. Commercially produced eggs are washed in choline (poison). There is an organic egg wash on the market. I purchased some but have never used it.