Power Outage - Eggs Safe?

[ChickenBokBok]

Okay I need some food safety advice. I know there is a raging debate about whether or not eggs are supposed to go in the fridge or not. Regardless, I store my eggs in the fridge as I'm a new chicken keeper and didn't know they were ok on the counter until just a short while ago.

That being said, I'm in north Alabama and we've been hit hard by the tornado outbreak last Wednesday. We were out of power from Wednesday evening through Saturday some time. We weren't home when it came back on. This morning I have the lovely task of cleaning food out of fridges that were down for somewhere on the order of 60 hours.

I have over a dozen eggs from my four hens in the fridge.

What do you think? Safe or not? I'd hate to chuck them, but I don't want to make anyone sick.

Thanks in advance...

---
From five very fluffed up tornado-scared rock bantams, a mutt whose hair is still standing on end, two neurotic kitties, and two girls who never thought they'd be in the middle of a natural disaster

 

[bigmike&nan]

The eggs are probably the safest thing that was in your fridge, well that any bottled salad dressings. ketchup, jams and jellies - that have lots of preservatives and additives to extend their shelf life. I was taught in chef school that if you leave eggs out on a counter at room temperature they lose a Grade a day... Being it wasn't that hot there when the tornados hit (as in not 90 degrees out all day) your eggs probably lost two grades in that roughly 2 1/2 day period. Still good for cakes, batters, mayonnaise and eating. We regularly give our chickens scrambled eggs (cooked in a little bacon grease) and they go crazy for them. I mentioned the outside air temperature because it wasn't hot enough out to effect the inside temp of the fridge that much. Your fridge is insulated and sealed so it kept a fairly cool temperature for probably 48 hours if it wasn't opened.

When my dad passed away in 2002 I went home to deal with family business. I lived in a tiny MIL apartment and I left one light on in the place. The guy that lived upstairs was kind of a kook and it irritated him I left a light on. He had the circuit breakers for my place in his half of the unit. He took it upon himself to shut off the power to my place to turn the light out (duoh) I don't know if he realized that also cut the power to my fridge. I was gone a week - every doggone thing in my fridge and freezer was ruined. I had done a big Holiday Tamale building exercise and lost about 60 wonderful tamales, plus a bunch of puff pastry appetizers. The weather was cool, but seven days was way too long. It wasn't what I wanted to come home to after saying goodbye to my Dad.

2 1/2 days is ok. You could always break a couple of them open and smell test them - anyone with half a nose knows what a rotten eggs smells like - it's nasty.

 

[key west chick]

I dont refidgerate my eggs often. Really the only ones I put in there are the ones I give away or if I just get to many. The others sit on the counter in a wire basket. Right now I have about a weeks worth sitting in a feed bucket on the floor. Maybe today I'll get around to putting them in cartons...

 

[ChickenBokBok]

Thanks guys! That is great information. I think I'm going to make a pound cake or something that takes a lot of eggs and just expedite them right on out of the fridge so I don't have to worry about them.

Big Mike - That was just awful what your neighbor did to you. Glad you're not in that situation anymore!

 

[ferretowner96]

My dad taught me how to tell if an egg is good. Just fill up your sink with some water (about 3-4 inches of water). Put the egg in on it's side. If the egg stays their on it's side, it is a new egg, and fine to eat. If the tip of the egg has risen, it is still ok to eat, but if the egg is completely standing up, be VERY careful hauling it to the trash can. It is rotten if it stands up.
Hope it helps,
Rick

 

[bigmike&nan]

http://www.ehow.com/how_2303154_tell-egg-fresh.html