Salmonella poisoning?

[HeatherMo]

My chickens started laying a few weeks ago! So exciting and they are delicious. However my husband is Squeamish and worried they will make him sick. At first I was just leaving them unwashed in a bowl and washing with water before use. Now I’m washing with water right away and putting them in the fridge. How effective is washing with water against salmonella poisoning? How common is salmonella poisoning from backyard hens? Do any of you use something other than water to wash your eggs? Just want to keep everyone healthy!

 

[roosterhavoc]

My chickens started laying a few weeks ago! So exciting and they are delicious. However my husband is Squeamish and worried they will make him sick. At first I was just leaving them unwashed in a bowl and washing with water before use. Now I’m washing with water right away and putting them in the fridge. How effective is washing with water against salmonella poisoning? How common is salmonella poisoning from backyard hens? Do any of you use something other than water to wash your eggs? Just want to keep everyone healthy!

I would trust my own eggs from my own chickens a lot more than store bought eggs that are older and most likely not kept under as good of conditions as your own.

 

[NoodlesMama]

I don’t think the risk is particularly high as long as the hens are kept in a clean environment and their eggs are mostly clean. I don’t wash mine and keep them at room temperature and no one in our family has gotten sick. If you do wash them make sure you use warmer water than the egg so bacteria is less likely to get through the shell and always refrigerate after washing. Honestly I would worry more about getting sick from storebought eggs since they are far less fresh and you can’t be sure how they have been handled.

 

[aart]

However my husband is Squeamish and worried they will make him sick.

Highly unlikely.
After eating few he'll get over his paranoia, which was probably spawned by the shock and awe news stories that circulate every year.

I don't wash eggs unless they are very dirty, then will refrigerate or use immediately because thorough washing will remove all the protective bloom(cuticle).

Eggs should be washed in 'water warmer than the egg'.
Simple physics, using colder water will cause the egg contents to contract, causing any 'germs' on exterior surface of egg shell to be pulled into the interior of egg thru the shell pores. Using warmer water will do the opposite.

I don't use any soap or other cleaning/sanitizing agent, just rotate in my hands to 'scrub' all surfaces area of egg shell. Then I air and towel dry before placing in the fridge.


If you are washing eggs for sale to the general public, other requirements may apply, so check your state regulations.

 

[sorce]

Do I ever tell ya about the Chinese Restaurant in Chicago with the pet Turtles on the food counter?

Yeah.

No worries!

Sorce