Quick question

[gek600]

This is probably somewhere on here but apparently I am blind, when you gather your eggs do you wash them? with what? Right now I just run them under some water then dry them off and stick them in the fridge. The only reason I ask is I noticed that a lot of places carry egg wash and never really gave it much thought as to doing anything other than what I am doing now.

 

[Imp]

I just wash with the warmest water I can handle. Cold water is supposed to potentially draw bacteria into the egg.

Imp

 

[nuchickontheblock]

I've read here that you don't need to wash them, and shouldn't as it washes off the bloom which seals them from bacteria. I just wipe mine off if necessary with a dry paper towel (although I'm amazed at how clean they are). when I am going to use them, I just rinse them off in plain water.

 

[wbruder17]

My eggs can get pretty dirty, as every chicken wants to lay in the same 2 boxes. As it is very wet here, the eggs get muddy (poopy). I just put sand in my coop, so perhaps the eggs will stay cleaner, however....

I wash mine with warm water (sometimes with a little natural dish soap) and scrub a bit with a sponge at the more stubborn stains.

 

[Saroco]

I just pick the shavings of it and scramble it up!!

ME?! COUNTRY-GIRL?!

 

[BlossomSilkies]

Mine have all been clean, no poo on them, so I haven't been washing them. I'd just wipe away any dirtyness rather than wash them if I needed too. If they were really dirty, I'd clean my nest boxes, put in some fresh shavings.

 

[al6517]

For the most part my eggs come out of the boxes really clean if not, I do wash them, if it continues I make sure the nest boxes are cleaner. I just don't do the nasty egg in the fridge thing, LOL it freaks the DW too. JMO

AL

 

[ThinkingChickens]

Egg in the fridge? I'm new, are we not supposed to refrigerate the eggs? Our girls aren't producing yet so I guess I just haven't thought of that part.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I don't refrigerate eggs for my family's use, if I know they are going to be used up within a week. After a week, I pop them into the frig. The US is one of just a few countries where folks routinely refrigerate their eggs. In many parts of Europe, eggs are sold on the grocery store shelves, just like canned goods.
Eggs do age faster left out on the counter. This can come in handy if you plan to hardboil the eggs, as really fresh eggs don't peel well once hard boiled.

To the OP - I don't wash the majority of the eggs I use or sell. The occasional dirty egg I scrub clean with a soft kitchen scrubbie I keep for that purpose, polish with a paper towel and in the cartons they go. More than a little dirt and I will either wash and put it in the "use first" carton or feed to the dogs.
Wash in water at least 20 degrees warmer than the egg itself, dry immediately and refrigerate. No detergent is necessary and really does nothing for the egg.
IMO, it's best to leave the bloom intact whenever possible.