refrigerate eggs or not?

[pgras123]

Thanks everyone - better to cook with if kept out - never saw that one coming - yes we learn alot on this wegsite.

 

[pgras123]

make that website not wegsite!

 

[CARS]

My kids and my egg customers are very particular about their eggs being clean. I don't scrub the eggs but they do get a rinse with cool water and any "dirt" rubbed off with my fingers. Then into the 'fridge until used. I have left an occasional dozen eggs sit out for 3 or 4 days for hard boiling. The peel so much better.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

If you plan to sell eggs, check your state's regs. In Ohio, I am obligated to keep my eggs clean and below 45 degrees at all times. There are rules from the Dept. of Agriculture and the Dept. of Health. I wash eggs with detergent and they have a bleach water dip before sale just to make as sure as possible that there is no salmonella, etc. There are also strict requirements as to what must and can't be on the carton and in my advertising and how I keep records.

I really hope that everyone who sells eggs will follow their state's rules. There are already movements in Congress to clamp down on backyard/small producers, and agri-business is supporting them. Please don't give these folks any ammunition.

Eggs will last longer at refrigerated temperatures. When people didn't have refrigerators, they preserved eggs by dipping in wax or oil, or by burying them in cinders or sand. I understand that a non-washed egg has a protective coating, but in my mind it's better to destroy that coating by washing than to send out even a potentially tainted egg to my customers. Liability insurance is VERY expensive. Also, b/c store eggs are often so old, people are conditioned to use up eggs within a month anyway.

eta: Not all cooking is best done with room-temperature eggs. A foam made with cold egg whites won't be as high, but is much more stable and better for my favorite--angelfood cake!

 

[Sissy]

I paper towel (dry) my eggs and never heard
of using a bleach rinse, Dosent the egg have pores
that the bleach could seep into?

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Yes, eggs have pores. In order to make sure that nothing gets into them, any wash water needs to be a certain number of degrees above the temperature of the eggs. Then the egg out-gasses a little and actually forces bacteria, etc. OUT of the pores to be washed away. You can see the eggs bubble a little bit if the water's hot enough. Washing with water that's colder than the eggs can force bacteria in.

I can't remember the temps right now. I don't measure--I just use the hottest water I can stand on eggs that are cold from the fridge.

eta: We don't use full-strength bleach. It's a very mild rinse of 1/4 C bleach (unscented!) to a couple gallons water.

 

[Sissy]

Wouldnt an AVC rinse be safer.

 

[Pupsnpullets]

When I worked on a poultry farm a billion years ago we used fine sand paper to lightly buff soiled eggs. The sand paper was on a hand sized wooden block with a thick pad of foam rubber between the wood and the paper. It was quick, efficient and apparently more hygienic than washing them.

Heavily soiled eggs were washed, but the usually retained the stain, and we sold them as 'seconds' at the gate. All the others went to the market.

 

[phatchicken]

I read the same thing about washing the eggs...there is a protective membrane on the outside of the eggs that easily washes away with water. What I do is put the eggs, as are, in plastic egg cartons in the refrig. wash them before use, and then wash the egg carton between fillings. (we have 5 egg cartons to rotate).

But, hey, I AM a huge amature at the whole urban chicken thing...

 

[mjdtexan]

Quote:
That actually makes since, I'm still gonna refridereate (sp?)


Quote:
Its a Texas law that the garage fridge must only contain beer.

Mike D