Do you have to refrigerate eggs?

[Tonopah Pati]

I had always followed this saying: Eggs like meat can't stand the heat keep them in the refigerator. I always wash my eggs. I have kept them for a good month and have never had a problem. I didn't know so many folks left them out. Learned something new today.

 

[digitS']

Here is some research info done by Mother Earth News back in 1977.

I wouldn't be surprised if I read it in '77 and I had chickens at the time. I probably felt that the idea of eating a 6 month old egg just to learn how "fresh" it tastes was distasteful then, as now. One of the pleasures of having laying hens is having really, truly fresh eggs.

If nearly every authority says that we can keep eggs from the supermarket of unknown age safely in the fridge for 3 weeks, shouldn't that be sufficient for us BYC types? Our eggs can go into the fridge within hours of being layed so they can last that long, at least.

And, I'm not averse to leaving unwashed eggs out on the counter for several days if there is reason for that. But, hand washing them with hot water, drying and placing in the fridge for several days isn't a difficult regimen. I try to "rotate the stock" once they are in there and probably bring out week-old eggs on a regular basis. Stacking them so deep that we can't get to them for months on end is out of the question . . . for me.

I wouldn't even want to have that many chickens in the backyard in the first place.

Steve

 

[8 is enough]

With reading the posts I am still a little confused. My husband and I are new to raising chickens and we have been debating on the refrigeration of the eggs. My mother (from Texas) grew up with seeing her grandmother leaving eggs on the counter in a bowl. We have been alternating with leaving them out and putting them in. I read someone replying that they have left their eggs out for a month (or refrigerated them) but they lasted a month. Then I read someone state not to wash them and keep them on the counter. I thought you had to wash the eggs because of the salmonella aspect and the growth of bacteria etc. What I am gathering is

1. Do not wash the eggs and leave them on the counter.
2. If you wash them make sure to refrigerate them.

This protective layer on the eggs...is it dangerous to us? I always wash my hands and the eggs after handling because of the salmonella fear.

Also, what is the longest time someone has kept their eggs?

 

[6Happiness]

Wash eggs- just do it before you crack them, not before you store them.

 

[Yay Chicks!]

The "bloom", or protective layer, is not dangerous to humans. I began refrigerating my eggs, but then started leaving them out on the counter. I understand that because eggs can easily pick up odors from other food in the fridge. I only have 4 birds, so I move through the eggs pretty quickly. I do not wash the eggs. If the egg has a little smudge on them I wipe it off with a damp paper towel before using. Granted my girls have only been laying for about a month now, but I haven't gotten sick yet and I personally eat at least one egg per day.

 

[cooped-up4fun]

Thanks digitS'Chicken Obsessed ! The Mother Earth News article on all of the different ways to store fresh eggs was very helpful! It was neat to resd the results of their experiments...how many & what proceedure worked. I think I'll just go for refrigeration & NOT wash the bloom off!