How do you clean and store your eggs?

[ronikins]

I don't clean mine unless there is a very visible poop spot or dirty spot (ie: yolk from neighboring busted egg). Even then, the washing is minimum. I store mine room temp in the kitchen until there are too many, then they go to the basement. We keep the main part of the house max 84 degrees (F). The basement averages ~75 degrees. None of the eggs get refridgerated. I sell and give away. I tell everyone that gets them that I don't wash or refridgerate. Everyone is ok with it and I haven't had a single complaint. We eat them straight off the counter and (knock on wood) haven't a problem yet.

I tried refridgerating them in the beginning but we get around 10 - 12 eggs a day. We usually have about 12 dozen on hand at any given moment. I just don't have enough space in the box to do that.

 

[BarefootMom]

If they are really poopy/sticky we wash with just a wet dish rag, if not I don't wash. They go into the fridge until I don't have any more room...lol! My customers come and go...I sell 2-3 dozen every Saturday and then I have random regulars. Never know when they are going to come. Last Saturday I sold 9 dozen eggs, hadn't sold more than 4 dozen in 3 weeks...

 

[mlorne]

I had always read that if you are going to refrigerate the eggs, they need to be washed first; the cold temperatures cause the shells to contract and draw in surface bacteria.

I have been using the practice of non-washed on the counter for up to a week and a half; washing with warm/hot water prior to cooking; washing with warm/hot water and dipping in chlorine solution if I am giving them to someone else.

Thoughts?

 

[JodyJo]

ok, I just did a search on this, and this is what I found:

IF you wish to wash your eggs, the temp of the wash water should be at least 90*, if cold water is used, it can literally "suck in" the cleaning solvants you are using...ie chlorine etc...(No harm in using it, it can be digested) They recommend using vinegar, 3 parts water...the water should be at least 20* warmer than the egg. This prevents thermal cracking and encourages the egg, to push out dirt in the pores.

The eggs on the shelf you buy, are already about 3 weeks old and cleaned with chemicals and sprayed with mineral oil, (you should NOT consume this)

To refrigerate or not? This article stated, most other countries do not do so...one that is not chilled, is good for at least 10 days, I have friends who will dispute this and say they last longer...I personally if I am not going to sell or eat them myself, will chill them after a few days...

Hope this helps