I just replied to another thread regarding eggs and how long before they go bad. I decided to start a thread on it.
I don't understand why so many BYC members thing eggs that aren't collected within a few days go bad. When a chicken lays an egg, a natural coating is on it...called the bloom. The bloom prevents bacteria from penetrating the egg. Eggs are literally shelf stable...in other words, they do NOT need refrigeration! I'm sure a lot of your grandparents, like mine, kept eggs in a container (like a basket) sitting on the kitchen counter...they didn't store them in the fridge.
Sure, every once in a while you will get a bad egg. Maybe the bloom didn't cover it completely. Or maybe it had a tiny pinhole crack that you didn't notice and the egg, when cracked open, made your whole house stink. But the MAJORITY of the time, this will not be so. You can let your UNWASHED eggs sit on your counter for a week and they'll still be ok. Heck, if stored in the fridge...unwashed...they'll last a long time. The key is to LEAVE THE BLOOM INTACT. DO NOT wash the egg until you are ready to use it!!
A good friend of mine has learned how to mimic the bloom with store bought eggs. I learned how to do this from her a few years ago, which I do myself, especially if there's a good sale on eggs. The eggs are shelf stable for up to NINE months when stored in a cool, dry place!! I have eaten eggs I preserved that have been 5 months old. I'm still here LOL. Hopefully I won't have to buy store bought eggs anymore, now that I'm getting eggs from my girls.
Here is a link to an article she wrote about it. Her name is Kellene Bishop. For those of you who have watched the show "Doomsday Preppers", you may recognize her from the first season. http://www.preparednesspro.com/safely-preserving-eggs/
Trust your nose. You will know if an egg is bad. It's not gonna smell very good. So don't throw those eggs out you collected after you came back from a week long vacation. As long as they have the bloom on them, and there are no pinholes or hairline cracks, they should still be ok to eat. Just be sure to wash the egg before you cook it up or use it in a recipe.
I don't understand why so many BYC members thing eggs that aren't collected within a few days go bad. When a chicken lays an egg, a natural coating is on it...called the bloom. The bloom prevents bacteria from penetrating the egg. Eggs are literally shelf stable...in other words, they do NOT need refrigeration! I'm sure a lot of your grandparents, like mine, kept eggs in a container (like a basket) sitting on the kitchen counter...they didn't store them in the fridge.
Sure, every once in a while you will get a bad egg. Maybe the bloom didn't cover it completely. Or maybe it had a tiny pinhole crack that you didn't notice and the egg, when cracked open, made your whole house stink. But the MAJORITY of the time, this will not be so. You can let your UNWASHED eggs sit on your counter for a week and they'll still be ok. Heck, if stored in the fridge...unwashed...they'll last a long time. The key is to LEAVE THE BLOOM INTACT. DO NOT wash the egg until you are ready to use it!!
A good friend of mine has learned how to mimic the bloom with store bought eggs. I learned how to do this from her a few years ago, which I do myself, especially if there's a good sale on eggs. The eggs are shelf stable for up to NINE months when stored in a cool, dry place!! I have eaten eggs I preserved that have been 5 months old. I'm still here LOL. Hopefully I won't have to buy store bought eggs anymore, now that I'm getting eggs from my girls.
Here is a link to an article she wrote about it. Her name is Kellene Bishop. For those of you who have watched the show "Doomsday Preppers", you may recognize her from the first season. http://www.preparednesspro.com/safely-preserving-eggs/
Trust your nose. You will know if an egg is bad. It's not gonna smell very good. So don't throw those eggs out you collected after you came back from a week long vacation. As long as they have the bloom on them, and there are no pinholes or hairline cracks, they should still be ok to eat. Just be sure to wash the egg before you cook it up or use it in a recipe.
