How Long Do Eggs Stay Good For?

[CluckerFamily]

After a week sitting on my counter, I will either refrigerate what is left or depending on the season freeze them.
I let my ladies take the winter off from laying so I freeze the eggs in ice cube trays to use all winter.

 

[Duckbreeder2020]

After a week sitting on my counter, I will either refrigerate what is left or depending on the season freeze them.
I let my ladies take the winter off from laying so I freeze the eggs in ice cube trays to use all winter.

Ok thank you for your help!

 

[CluckerFamily]

Glad we could help.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

USDA allow eggs up to 30 days before seeing refrigeration the first time, and STILL get a "AA" rating - the highest.

All of Europe simply wipes, carefully, the dried stuff off the egg (if any), tries not to remove any bloom, and set their eggs on the counter for eventual use. They never see refrigeration. If you are a cook making a meringue, souffle, hollandaise, etc from a French recipe, its important that you start with room temp eggs - affects the final product.

So, when everyone above says "you are fine", understand that they are saying so with the tacit support of the USDA, the EU's food safety program, Great Britain's food safety program, and hundreds of years of modern practice by literally millions of people.

Relax. They are fine.

With time, the albumin will thin out, the yolk won't stand so tall, the whole thing will fry up just a bit runny, and the total volume will shrink as moisture escape the shell - but still safe to eat.

 

[50-45-1]

The EU mandates that all commercial laying hens are vacinated against salmonella. Then no washing or refrigeration is necessary

 

[Kiariana]

Can confirm, my family has been keeping our hen's eggs, unwashed, on the counter for almost a year now and all but one or two has been fine and still as delicious as ever. I've definitely eaten ones stored at room temperature for at least a month, haven't noticed a difference.

I read this source which performed practical tests on keeping eggs using different methods. Good info if you're wondering about time ranges for different methods and if it affects taste.

 

[Granny23]

USDA allow eggs up to 30 days before seeing refrigeration the first time, and STILL get a "AA" rating - the highest.

All of Europe simply wipes, carefully, the dried stuff off the egg (if any), tries not to remove any bloom, and set their eggs on the counter for eventual use. They never see refrigeration. If you are a cook making a meringue, souffle, hollandaise, etc from a French recipe, its important that you start with room temp eggs - affects the final product.

So, when everyone above says "you are fine", understand that they are saying so with the tacit support of the USDA, the EU's food safety program, Great Britain's food safety program, and hundreds of years of modern practice by literally millions of people.

Relax. They are fine.

With time, the albumin will thin out, the yolk won't stand so tall, the whole thing will fry up just a bit runny, and the total volume will shrink as moisture escape the shell - but still safe to eat.

What does " tries not to remove any bloom" mean? Is it the invisible coating that allows leaving them unrefridgerated? Wash them and into the icebox they go?? Occasionally I get poo on one but usually they are really clean. Broken? The girls get it.
My 4 hens are laying 3-4 eggs daily and I have been giving the extras to my neighbors as we don't eat the eggs fast enough. I tell each person at least twice to make sure to wash the eggs before eating them. I use a soft natural brush and organic soap to wash mine.

 

[rosemarythyme]

What does " tries not to remove any bloom" mean? Is it the invisible coating that allows leaving them unrefridgerated? Wash them and into the icebox they go??

Yes.

My 4 hens are laying 3-4 eggs daily and I have been giving the extras to my neighbors as we don't eat the eggs fast enough. I tell each person at least twice to make sure to wash the eggs before eating them. I use a soft natural brush and organic soap to wash mine.

For the record, I rarely wash my eggs before use, even if there's a bit of poop or nesting material on them, but that's just me for my own use. Not a bad idea to tell your neighbors to wash them to ensure they're minimizing any risk of contaminants, as you wouldn't want to get blamed for an egg making someone sick.

 

[gimmie birdies]

From under a hen, you can still eat an egg that is 3 days old. If I have been gone a few days I candle the eggs, before assuming they are all too old. And bloom is important. I don't wash them if they are not dirty.

 

[WILIFORD]

I read a UK report that stated as long as the bloom had not been removed, eggs can be stored at room temperature for 10 weeks, I can't recall the name of the report. Additionally if you think back to pioneer days. The farmer would sell their eggs to the merchant, who would then have them on the counter in a basket, for other customers to purchase (unrefrigerated). Also consider that most of the eggs you purchase in the grocery store are already 6 to 8 weeks old. I do as rosemarythyme stated. I never wash my eggs, and with my schedule, I sometimes don't collect my eggs for 3 days. I try to avoid leaving eggs in nest box that long, as it can lead to pecking, and attract rodents. I would not worry, the are probably going to be the best eggs your friend has ate in a long time.