Eggs for sale: How old is to old?????

[Lizzie]

Me and my younger brother are trying to set up an egg buisness. Does anyone know how long you can keep eggs in the fridge (and have them still be sanitary)???? These eggs are for sale, so we don't want anyone to get sick.

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
I was told 6 weeks or more..good luck

 

[Mahlzeit]

I normally don't put my eggs in the fridge before I sell them. Once you put them in the fridge they have to be kept cool. I keep mine at normal room temperature and then sell them like that. Have been doing it for a long time and have never had a problem. They can last a long time.

 

[jarcoo0153]

I usually dont keep them loger than a two weeks if they are for sell. We usually keep the older ones for us and sell the fresh ones. In texas, state law requires us to keep them refrigerated after they are gathered, at temps 45 degrees or below. So mine are always cold. You might conatact you state extension or agricultural department for Ohio egg laws or restrictions.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

It's not just a matter of how long you can keep eggs in the refrigerator and sell them it's also a matter of do you want your customers to come back for more and tell their friends about them so they'll buy your eggs too?

To do that you've got to give them the best eggs you can produce at maximum freshness. You'll have to decide for yourself what all that means, but I'll tell what I do. I gather them every day, wash and refrigerate them that night. I don't sell them more than a week past their gather date. And if a customer complains I give them their money back no questions asked. I did give a refund once. The customer said they 'tasted too strong.' No problem, "here's your refund ma'am."

.....Alan.

 

[Mahlzeit]

Mine don't last long enough for them to even be a week old. They've become pretty popular if people are happy with your eggs you shouldn't have a problem with them getting too old.

 

[Chip Gilleland]

I know I haven't posted here much but your eggs will be great for weeks (unrefridgerated). My family, friends and I are living proof. I just hope you are treating your chickens well and feeding them good. This morning I made a total of 10 eggs that were laid 2 or more weeks ago and they are still better than ANY store bought eggs. A woman here from Costa Rica can awaken all of us to chicken eggs and the lack of refrigeration.

 

[calicokat]

I too have been keeping them on my counter. Folks say you can do this for "weeks", but can you tell me how many? 3, 5, 6?? We date them with a pencil the day we collect, but DH always uses the ones on top *sigh* so sometimes the bottom ones are 5 weeks old when I use them.

Obviously we haven't died, but just to be safe - what's the outside limit of how long I can keep these on my counter?

 

[chicktwit]

Do the float test if not sure. Put the egg in water higher than it is if upright. If it floats pitch it. If it stays on the bottom it's still fresh. If the back end goes up but it stays on the bottom of the cup it ain't so fresh but it's still good. Gases build up in them as they age. I think. Someone pls correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Uzuri]

Opinion warning!

Even though you can keep them for weeks at a time, don't -- at least not to sell. If people are going to be paying you for eggs, they should get fresh ones. If I went to a farm to buy eggs and someone handed me a carton with 6 week old -- perfectly safe, perfectly edible -- eggs, I'd be more than a little ticked and wouldn't come back.


...


That aside, Mother Earth News did an experiment back in the 70s and kept them in the 'fridge for 9 months and they were still edible. Watery and not so tasty, but edible and safe.