Egg storage

[MisUnderstood]

I bring mine in each day and keep them on the kitchen counter until I have time to wash the dirty ones (just water) then I put them in the fridge.
They are for eating only at this time. I just bought an incubator but won't attempt to hatch any yet until I can monitor the humidity properly. Probably need to read a few more articles on it before I get started.

I would rather not was the eggs until they are ready to eat but ya' never know when someone is going to pop in & want a dozen!

 

[rojororeo]

I bring mine in each day and keep them on the kitchen counter until I have time to wash the dirty ones (just water) then I put them in the fridge.
They are for eating only at this time. I just bought an incubator but won't attempt to hatch any yet until I can monitor the humidity properly. Probably need to read a few more articles on it before I get started.

I would rather not was the eggs until they are ready to eat but ya' never know when someone is going to pop in & want a dozen!

When that happens, I just give away with the warning of wash first, lol. I never remember to do it, usually. If it is a planned give, then they are usually washed.

 

[RaZ]

Fantastic article! I wash mine with water, but I sell eggs to "city folk", they wouldn't understand why the eggs are dirty...

I sell a lot of mine to "city folk" as well, but I don't wash them. I have a little print out for first time buyers explaining the bloom and a link to the MEN article. If one of my customers wants the eggs washed, I charge them an extra dollar per dozen. Funny how that extra charge will change minds more than the article.

I also weigh and date each egg that I collect. Usually none are any older than 2 weeks.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

I have stored mine on the counter for a month + and had them be perfectly fine. I would just float test them before you crack to double check.

 

[GentFarmer]

If you DO wash with water only, wash with hotter water, as cold water will draw the contents of the eggs inward. And since the shell is porous, you'll draw external contaminants in as well.

That said, I never wash nor cold store my eggs. Go to Europe where it is (often) illegal to wash and refrigerate eggs for sale to change your perspective. Here in the U.S., it's just the opposite, and we've been conditioned to fear natural states of things. I remember in France being told "Americans like dead cheese. Here in France, we know cheese is alive!" I think it's much the same thing. There is a mental block that says "eggs must be refrigerated."

And for the record, I store mine inside in a large wicker basket lined with cloth "bedding." My apartment is always between 70-80 degrees, and I've had eggs last months. The typical duration is 2 weeks - 2 months, depending on the season.

 

[eggspert109]

Eggs must keep refrigarated because salmonella potential contamination and to avoid H20 and CO2 lost

 

[GentFarmer]

Eggs must keep refrigarated because salmonella potential contamination and to avoid H20 and CO2 lost

Factory eggs that have been washed with chemicals of their bloom must be refrigerated under U.S. law.

Eggs for eating that are collected fresh don't. It's a choice up to the individual, not a "must."

I might suggest the Mother Earth News article listed earlier. I also might suggest:

http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0090987 in which a peer-reviewed study (there are several thousand more if you search) showed increased albumen infection in washed eggs over unwashed eggs. The consensus being that fresh eggs are naturally defended against the very thing washing allows. Each person makes a choice, but there is no "must" in this argument other than one MUST refrigerate eggs from commercial egg farms that are chemically washed and sold already refrigerated.

 

[Triple Willow]

Eggs must keep refrigarated because salmonella potential contamination and to avoid H20 and CO2 lost

What do people with no refrige do? What did people do before electricity?

 

[evoncarver]

Where can I get one of those egg holders. Can anyone help?

 

[Jipus5]

Quote:Originally Posted by Kathrynphillips

Washing with water only doesn't affect storage time. The washing that removes the protective coating is washing with bleach as is cone to commercially sold eggs.


I have read that if you rinse, wash, scrub, use soap, bleach, or even just water, ANY TYPE of liquid to the egg rinses away the protective film on the eggs. A friend of mine runs 10,000 hens who lay for north Louisiana grocery stores, been doing it for 18 years. She told me simple water rinse washes it away. So it is best to just leave them alone if your wanting them to last in room temp for a period of time.