How soon before I need to refrigerate an egg

[StaatsFarms]

i just got my first egg today and wanted to know how long before i need to put it in the fridge

 

[cicene mete]

My advice is, don't. Unless the egg is fertilized, or if you have washed it, eggs taste fresher if they haven't been refrigerated. In France, as in many other parts of the world, they never refrigerate eggs. The "bloom" ( a natural, protective layer on the egg) will help keep the egg fresh unless you wash it. You'd be surprised how long eggs could last. If you were planning to eat the egg in the next couple of weeks, it should be fine.

Anyone else?

 

[spammy]

eggs can be kept on the counter for a week and still be fine. I usually refridgerate mine the same day. do not wash them, you will wash off the protective bloom and they will not last as long. unwashed refridgerated eggs will be good for months.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

i keep my eggs in a basket on my counter for up to three weeks. i only refrigerate them when it is very hot outside and inside. So far, i'm alive.

 

[patandchickens]

Although, if you have a roo in with the hens, you may want to refrigerate eggs fairly promptly (esp in warm/hot weather) to ensure no development. It won't *hurt* you, and I'm sure some people are unfazed by breaking open an egg and finding development going on inside, but personally (despite being a professional biologist and relatively un-gross-out-able about most things) I just prefer to avoid having that happen, as it really does not add to my enjoyment of the breakfastmaking process

(edited to clarify, they won't do anything at like 70F, but if you have a hot coop or pathologically-hot kitchen (like mine!) you may see occasional issues. I had a few eggs with blood rings or veins, in hot weather only, before I started collecting twice-daily and putting them directly in the fridge. None since)

Pat

 

[StaatsFarms]

THANKS PAT!!! I can always count on you for great answers...

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Mine are fertile eggs that stay on the counter in a wire basket for acouple weeks at a time if they haven't been used up. Never have I seen any signs of development in a cracked egg.

 

[txchickie]

I always leave mine in a pretty ceramic rooster bowl on my kitchen counter. I only refrigerate if they're dirty (like someone laid an egg in the muddy dirt in my flower pots

) and then I wash & scrub them and refrigerate them......or feed them directly to the dogs.