Do you keep eggs that were in freezing temps?

[Squawkers]

I always thought eggs that froze had to be discarded because they had hairline cracks. But it just dawned on me that some people don’t live in Texas Surely people who live in cold climate don’t trash all their eggs. I got two eggs today that are super cold, it has been in the teens today. Can I keep them if there are no visible cracks? Or maybe candle them to see any smaller ones? Sorry if this is a dumb question!

 

[GodLovesU]

What is the concern with hairline cracks? That bacteria seeps in?

 

[troyak]

I use an infrared thermometer on any egg that may have frozen. If I think they have frozen, they get cooked up with any eggs that may have cracked for whatever reason, and the ladies get some scrambled eggs with their sprouts.

I am in Northern Alberta, just getting over a cold spell of -30s Celsius, supposed to get above freezing here starting very soon. What a dramatic but welcome change.

 

[Squawkers]

What is the concern with hairline cracks? That bacteria seeps in?

Yes. I believe it was raising chickens for dummies (or similar book maybe) that it said to discard frozen eggs.

 

[Squawkers]

I use an infrared thermometer on any egg that may have frozen. If I think they have frozen, they get cooked up with any eggs that may have cracked for whatever reason, and the ladies get some scrambled eggs with their sprouts.

I am in Northern Alberta, just getting over a cold spell of -30s Celsius, supposed to get above freezing here starting very soon. What a dramatic but welcome change.

So you don’t keep them if they are frozen?

 

[troyak]

No, we don't keep them for ourselves. We only have 12 hens (poulets technically), who are all laying right now as they are 9 months old. If we think an egg may have frozen, we don't eat it as we are getting more than enough for our needs, and if there may be a crack, we err on the side of caution and don't eat those ones either. We don't waste them as the chickens deserve a nice treat during the cold long winters we have.

 

[Squawkers]

No, we don't keep them for ourselves. We only have 12 hens (poulets technically), who are all laying right now as they are 9 months old. If we think an egg may have frozen, we don't eat it as we are getting more than enough for our needs, and if there may be a crack, we err on the side of caution and don't eat those ones either. We don't waste them as the chickens deserve a nice treat during the cold long winters we have.

I’m definitely not planing on wasting them. I will give them to my dog if I don’t eat them. But with egg prices going up I’d like to keep them if possible.

 

[FrostRanger]

As long as they aren't frozen, then yes, I keep them

 

[Squawkers]

As long as they aren't frozen, then yes, I keep them

How do you tell if they are frozen? I don't have a infrared thermometer, is that the only way? And how do you know if they where frozen, but has warmed up?

 

[FrostRanger]

How do you tell if they are frozen? I don't have a infrared thermometer, is that the only way? And how do you know if they where frozen, but has warmed up?

I feel the egg and shake it a bit. As long as it's not damaged I am not too worried about it being potentially frozen and thawed, better partially frozen than left in the sun