How long do you keep eggs before throwing them out?

[thistlewick]

Shelf life, basically. I know the bloom keeps them stable for the shelf and if you DO NOT wash them, they do not *need* refrigeration. Go anywhere outside the US, where farming practices are much cleaner, and eggs are not sold from the fridge - they are sold shelf stable WITH the bloom intact.

So, assuming you do NOT wash the bloom off -- how long before you toss them? How long do they keep?

I'm asking because I have 4 eggs, 1 hen just started laying and... I just cannot eat any of them but it seems silly to just throw them out.

I don't know why I can't eat them, but they are small and perfect and I just don't want to BREAK any lol I know it makes no sense, leave an old lady alone lololol

Anyway -- how long before they 'go bad'? The internet doesn't know. Or should I say, I get a million different answers.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

how long before they 'go bad'? The internet doesn't know.

While refrigeration is not required.. eggs age about 7 times faster at room temperature than under refrigeration. That is to say quality is degraded.. yolks pop easier, whites get runnier, etc..

https://lohmann-breeders.com/lohmanninfo/effects-of-storage-conditions-on-egg-quality-2/

Unwashed and under refrigeration.. I've had eggs last 6 months and still be good for scrambling, cakes.. general eating.. they do after that length of time have some evaporation take place making them a bit thicker. And also any with undetected micro cracks may start to get moldy.

At room temperature I've had them last 30+ up to 60 days.. again with degraded quality.. Any with cracks or microcracks went bad much faster.

I store all my eggs in the fridge. I also put dates on them when collected and practice first in, first out. These are my personal experiences with average room temp being around 65 degrees and about 80+% humidity.

Instead of tossing any out.. I either scramble or boil and feed back to the chickens, dogs, etc.

Any eggs that do for some reason need washing.. get used or fed out right away within a few days.

This doesn't narrow down the million answers you've already seen but hopefully it will help you gauge your own conditions and expectations.

 

[WannaFarm]

Shelf life, basically. I know the bloom keeps them stable for the shelf and if you DO NOT wash them, they do not *need* refrigeration. Go anywhere outside the US, where farming practices are much cleaner, and eggs are not sold from the fridge - they are sold shelf stable WITH the bloom intact.

So, assuming you do NOT wash the bloom off -- how long before you toss them? How long do they keep?

I'm asking because I have 4 eggs, 1 hen just started laying and... I just cannot eat any of them but it seems silly to just throw them out.

I don't know why I can't eat them, but they are small and perfect and I just don't want to BREAK any lol I know it makes no sense, leave an old lady alone lololol

Anyway -- how long before they 'go bad'? The internet doesn't know. Or should I say, I get a million different answers.

Whether you store your eggs in or out of the refrigerator, you can test the freshness on an egg by laying it gently in a bowl (I use a large tea glass) and filling it with cool water. If the egg lays on the bottom it is fresh enough to eat. If it floats, you do NOT want to eat it.

 

[aart]

Whether you store your eggs in or out of the refrigerator, you can test the freshness on an egg by laying it gently in a bowl (I use a large tea glass) and filling it with cool water. If the egg lays on the bottom it is fresh enough to eat. If it floats, you do NOT want to eat it.

This^^^ is not accurate.

Floating an egg will only tell you how old it might be.
They float due to evaporation when older.
It will not tell you if an egg is 'good' or 'bad'.
Plus then you've wetted the egg so it should be thoroughly washed and refrigerated.


When in doubt....
Open eggs one at a time in a separate dish before adding to pan or recipe, use your eyes, nose, and common sense to decide if egg is OK to eat.

 

[Yardmom]

If eggs are questionable, I candle them before cracking.

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

On the counter unwashed they usally last 6-8 weeks, keep in mind I'm in FL so it's hot, it's humid, it's not ideal for eggs. In the fridge, which I always wash before I refrigerate, about 2-4 months depending if they went straight into the fridge. It's hard to say Because mine go fast and I don't usally have the same eggs around that long

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Honestly I don’t even mark or count how old my eggs are. I store all on the countertop unwashed sitting at 68F house temp. I don’t collect eggs with poop on them or any dirt that can’t be brushed off by hand. Any that are dirty immediately get fed back to the chickens. When I go to use I crack them separately in a clear glass bowl that way I don’t possibly ruin whatever I am making with a bad egg. I have yet to have a smelly or bad looking egg. Here is the thing…I CANNOT eat store bought eggs without severe stomach pains and my stomach is very very sensitive to bacteria disturbances. I have yet to have an egg from my chickens that caused me stomach issues regardless of how long it has been sitting on my counter.

 

[WannaFarm]

This^^^ is not accurate.

Floating an egg will only tell you how old it might be.
They float due to evaporation when older.
It will not tell you if an egg is 'good' or 'bad'.
Plus then you've wetted the egg so it should be thoroughly washed and refrigerated.


When in doubt....
Open eggs one at a time in a separate dish before adding to pan or recipe, use your eyes, nose, and common sense to decide if egg is OK to eat.

 

[WannaFarm]

You said: “Floating an egg will only tell one how old it might be.”

Exactly. That is why I said it is a way to test the “freshness.” The freshness relates directly to the age of an egg. So your comment that my statement is inaccurate, is itself inaccurate.

You said: They float due to evaporation when older.

That is incorrect. As the yolk and albumen ages, it deteriorates, releasing gases and enlarging the air chamber, increasing its buoyancy. The buoyancy is thus an indication of the eggs freshness - whether it is good or bad.

Of course, no matter the age of an egg, one should always check by sight and smell when the egg is being used. That goes without saying and is instinctively understood.