Egg cleaning

[1st time]

after gathering of an egg or eggs can they sit out on your counter at room temp for a extended period of time or should they be placed in the fridge right away? Should the eggs be washed off right away or just before you use them?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

This is one of those questions that, if posed to 10 chicken keepers will likely yield 11 different answers, lol. Eggs can be kept at room temperature until they are used - never seeing the inside of a refrigerator; eggs can also be immediately cleaned and put in the fridge - or they can be left out, then cleaned and refrigerated. The key is *if* they are cleaned (washed) they must be refrigerated - if they are refrigerated they should then be kept refrigerated (vs. refrigerated, then put on the counter).
I only clean my eggs if they are extremely dirty (this is rare as I use my management approach to avoid hen's with dirty feet and/or waste in the nest boxes). Most often, if an egg requires cleaning I will do it right before I wish to use the egg or before it is packaged to go out the door. It is not uncommon for eggs to sit on my counter for a day or two prior to being cartoned up and put in the fridge, sometimes the eggs I intend for our family's use never get put in the fridge.

 

[Eggstra Special]

It is my understanding that storing 'fresh' eggs on the counter can ironically make them last longer. This is what we do with all our eggs however they do get eaten pretty quickly

 

[ChickenMammX4]

I store our eggs on the kitchen counter and wash them before using. Any dirty eggs are washed then stored in the fridge.

 

[1st time]

Thanks for the advice