Egg storage

[Acre4Me]

On the counter works fine, but keep in mind the temperature. You don’t indicate your climate or any other factors. The warmer the room/ambient temp, the less shelf life on the counter overall. Plus, there are many decorative items people use to store their eggs on the counter, which may hold appeal for you. One space saving solution is the spiral holders. New eggs go on top, the older eggs are used from the bottom, and The eggs gently roll down the spiral as they are used. But many options for storing eggs in the counter.

if you wash an egg, it should be washed in water warmer than the egg. The theory behind this is that a warmer (than the water) egg will contract if washed in colder (than the egg) water, potentially drawing into the egg microbes that could be a problem. Once washed (and allowed to dry), an egg goes into the fridge.

personally, we refrigerate our eggs, but sometimes they stay on the counter after collecting for 1-2 days.

 

[TwentyOneChickens]

@TwentyOneChickens , how do you sterilize your eggs? I just give mine a little wipe with a wet paper towel if there is any dirt or poop on them (does not happen often as the nests stay pretty clean) or a quick rinse under running water if dusty.

I use egg cleanser. You can buy it at a store or online. Fun fact - the eggs that they sell in stores aren't sterilized or washed, only rinsed.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I used to keep mine on the kitchen counter but when I added to my flock I've been getting more eggs. Now I keep them on the kitchen counter until I have a dozen then put them unwashed into an egg carton that is dated and put in the basement refrigerator. For my personal use I use the oldest eggs. For sales, they get the freshest. I have a customer that prefers the eggs not be refrigerated so I keep his on the kitchen counter until I deliver the eggs. The temperature in my kitchen averages 70F in Summer and low to mid 60Fs in Winter.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Is this the link you were trying to copy?
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/porta...ration/shell-eggs-from-farm-to-table/ct_index

I'm not sure, @ConnieA. It looks different from what I remember and does not contain the info I quoted. The link you posted contains a chart saying raw eggs in shell are good if refrigerated for 3 to 5 weeks. I'll have to do a seach to see if I can find that hundred-day info again. Thanks for posting!

Edit: edited for clarity

 

[Acre4Me]

I use egg cleanser. You can buy it at a store or online. Fun fact - the eggs that they sell in stores aren't sterilized or washed, only rinsed.

How are in-shell, fresh eggs sterilized?

regarding the rinse-only of store eggs, this does not surprise me. Eggs would be laid in very clean laying “box” which may immediately remove the egg. The bloom would quickly dry, and no real dirt would be getting on the eggs.

 

[MROO]

You can do either. I don't wash my eggs until I use them. Not washing them protects them if you're leaving them on the counter. If you do wash them then put them in the fridge.

I put all my eggs in the fridge because my cat would knock them off the counter.

Cats are way too helpful that way, aren't they? I also have an "egg-sucking'hound" who helps herself to whatever the cats haven't kindly sent to the floor for her, so if I know the eggs are for eatin', into the fridge they go, washed and ready to crack.

 

[TwentyOneChickens]

How are in-shell, fresh eggs sterilized?

regarding the rinse-only of store eggs, this does not surprise me. Eggs would be laid in very clean laying “box” which may immediately remove the egg. The bloom would quickly dry, and no real dirt would be getting on the eggs.

I'm not talking about the inside of the egg or anything. I mean we're sterilizing the outside of the shell with the egg cleanser. I feel like we're misunderstanding each other.

 

[MROO]

According to the USDA, refrigerated eggs are good for 100 days from hen to plate. That's 3 months and 10 days, approximately. Sorry, my phone will no longer let me copy and paste web addresses (this was considered an "update," I understand). In the US, commercially produced eggs are washed and refrigerated. I don't know how long they're good on your counter, but the temperature of your counter should be considered. We have this conversation on a pretty regular basis.

I was told by my ex, a US food inspector, that a commercially produced egg ages very, very quickly when left out. Once it reaches room temperature, it ages in about an hour as much as it would have in a week in a refrigerator. Now that I know more about the natural state of eggs and how long commercial product can take to get to my table, that makes a lot of sense ... and it's kinda scary!

 

[Acre4Me]

I'm not talking about the inside of the egg or anything. I mean we're sterilizing the outside of the shell with the egg cleanser. I feel like we're misunderstanding each other.

it’s what I thought - washing the outside. However, it’s not sterilizing it. But, there are cleansers sold for the purpose of washing eggs, my TSC carries one type.

 

[imnukensc]

Fun fact - the eggs that they sell in stores aren't sterilized or washed, only rinsed.

Untrue according to this: https://www.uspoultry.org/education.../Documents/PDFs/Lesson8/EggProcessingPres.pdf