Egg Storage

[Auscal]

I currently store my eggs in the fridge in polystrfoam egg cartons.

I'm considering getting some ceramic egg trays (like the bottom half of an egg carton) as I like the idea that these can be washed, also will be sturdier. My only concern is this means the eggs would be stored uncovered. Is there any reason this would be a problem?Would the shells "dry out" or absorb odors?

TIA for any comments on this.

 

[Kittyf]

I use the ceramic holders on my counter. I use one that holds a dozen and several of the 1/2 dozen size I keep for gifts.

As we have only 6 hens and just 3 are laying right now, we average about 1 to 1-1/2 dozen eggs a week. We do not eat many, most are given away a half dozen at a time. Eggs will stay fresh unrefrigerated on the counter for a long time, much longer than we keep them there. Once refrigerated, however, they must then continue to be refrigerated but will last even longer.

I see no reason why eggs would need to be covered, in or out of the refrigerator. I have never heard of them drying out - and as for absorbing odors I would keep heavy aromatics (like onions or garlic or fish sauce) sealed away from everything, eggs included.

I like the ceramic holders - they are sturdy, go through the dishwasher, look nice and let me see all the pretty eggs. I recently gave 1/2 dozen dark brown Marans eggs as a gift in one of the ceramic holders. The recipient was delighted!

 

[CSWolffe]

Refrigerating eggs is really not necessary for back yard eggs, only for store bought. Commercial eggs are washed and bleached, because customers want nice clean, sterile looking eggs. But that washing process removes the natural 'bloom' that protects the egg from bacteria. Without it, bacteria that is naturally on the surface of the egg can work its way in, and can contaminate the egg, and therefore such eggs require refrigeration.
If you don't wash and scrub your eggs, they will still have that protective coating, and can be kept on the counter for weeks.
Think about it this way, in the wild hens lay a few eggs a week, until they have about fifteen to twenty and THEN they begin to incubate the eggs. For productive layers, that's still over fifteen to twenty one days, for less productive layers, twice that. Eggs have to sit there, in a hidden location, without spoiling, without refrigeration, for up to a month. They are designed by a billion years of evolution(or god, your choice) to not spoil, all on their own.
It's only when human's come along and screw up that system do we need to interfere.
Just put your eggs in a decorative basket on your counter where you can admire them.