Non-Refrigerated Eggs

[SouthernBYChickens]

What is a safe amount of time that a "freshly" gathered egg go without being refrigerated? Days? Thanks for your input!!

 

[bnjrob]

Really, there are too many variables to have a concrete answer.

I knew someone years ago that went on long, ocean sailing trips all over the world and she told me that they did not refrigerate their eggs while they were on their trips (fridge on the sailboat was small), and their eggs stayed good for a couple of months.

Of course if you listen to official groups such as the FDA (or any group that does not want to be held liable for food poisoning), they will tell you that any egg should be refrigerated immediately to reduce chances of salmonella contamination growing out of control in the eggs - http://www.fda.gov/food/resourcesforyou/Consumers/ucm077342.htm ,

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Factsheets/Focus_On_Shell_Eggs/index.asp#38

And then there is the Mother Earth News egg storage trial that had some interesting results http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sustainable-Farming/1977-11-01/Fresh-Eggs.aspx?page=3

Then there is this interesting article http://www.greatdreams.com/egg-storage.htm

Pretty much leaves it to the individual to decide how they will store their eggs and what type of risk they want to take with how they store and eat their eggs.