newbie question; refrig or no?

[ChicMagnet]

Hi,
do eggs last long unrefrigerated? Some people who take trips w/o friges or coolers want to buy our unrefrigerated eggs. Sometimes it takes time to save up enough eggs since we only have a few layers earning right now. We heard that eggs last for three weeks unrefrigerated. Is this true? Do they last longer? How long do they last refrigerated? When selling at the farmers market should they be unrefrigerated or in coolers? Thanks.

 

[Gonzo]

They last longer... Grade A is something like 30 days. Grade B is after that. The military will use grade B eggs and not even bat an eye. Eggs can also be left on the counter. They stay fresher if refridgerated, To check if an egg is bad, put it in a cup of water, if it floats to the top, its bad. As an egg rots, bacteria inside the egg create gas as it breaks the egg down, which will cause it to float.
Another tip, an egg will also keep longer if you don't wash them. The egg has a protective coating refered to as the bloom, which seals the egg shell.

 

[ChicMagnet]

What is a grade A egg and a grade B egg?

 

[ChicMagnet]

 

[My Little Sister's Farm]

usda grades of eggs is what grade a and be refer to. It depends on how firm the whites are and how little the air sac is. Interestingly enough, people only sell AA grade here in Oregon at the grocery store but when I was in Mississippi they only sold a good as A grade. Not as fresh, firm and little air sac is what that means. I thought that was odd. Google "USDA egg grades" for a good chart to looking at your eggs.

 

[ChicMagnet]

so at the Farmers Market do I leave them out or put them on ice?

 

[Ridgerunner]

The eggs will last longer in the refrigerator, but as long as they stay under 75 degrees Fahrenheit, they will last a long time on the counter as long as they are not washed. This Mother Earth article is interesting reading about that.

Storing Eggs
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sust...ggs-a-Year-or-More-Without-Refrigeration.aspx

I store my eggs for others on the counter, at least until the summer hits and the temperatures in the house rise. Any dirty eggs get washed and put in the refrigerator. Those are the ones I eat. When the egg is laid, the hen puts a layer on the outside (called bloom) that helps stop bacteria from entering the egg. When you wash the egg or lightly sandpaper it, the bloom comes off. That does not mean the egg is immediately bad, just that it will go bad sooner.

I do not refrigerate the eggs I am giving to others as I don't want condensation on the eggs while they are being transported. The egg shells are porous so the developing chick can breathe. If water is absorbed through the shell, it can take bacteria with it. That is why, if you wash an egg, you should wash it in water at least 10 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the egg. If you wash an egg in cold water, the air sac in the egg shrinks and the suction can suck water and bacteria into the egg. If the wash water is warmer than the egg, the air sac expands for a bit and keeps the water out. Of course it needs to be dry before it cools.

I think your answer for what to do at the Farmer's Market depends on the temperature. If you can keep them fairly cool and out of the sun, they should be fine without ice. If it gets as hot as it does here in July, a cooler would help, but it does not need to be real cold.

Hope this helps. Good luck!!!

 

[My Little Sister's Farm]

For Farmer's Markets in Oregon you have to keep them chilled to 45 F. You can't use ice because of the cartons, and you don't want them to freeze. You have to chill your cooler with those blue ice things from the dollar tree or similar plastic ice containers. You can use those glass front fridges but those are spendy.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

They don't have to be refrigerated if you'll be using them up within a month or so. But they'll retain their quality longer if you do.

.....Alan.