To wash or not to wash...eggs

[Critterwoman]

Very interesting reading on this thread. I am just starting in the egg business and when I only had 3 hens they were always 'clean' when I took them out of the nest. Now that there are 23 of them, the eggs do get a little dirty and a little poo on them. I had read about the coating on the eggs that helped keep them fresher longer so didn't really see a need to wash before. I try to wipe off any poo as I don't want to 'gross out' anyone that gets them, and wondered what everyone else does.

I have never left my eggs on the counter as I have read some do. I take them directly from the nest to the carton in the fridge. Is this a bad thing? How long can eggs be left on the counter unwashed and still be good? I had never even thought about doing that but have seen photos and such of old time kitchens with a basket of eggs on the counter ..... just didn't really dawn on me until now.

Any help on this would be appreciated. I just thought eggs looked better 'clean', as I was not raised on a farm and our eggs came in a carton from the grocery store.

 

[chickenpooplady]

My uncle has a farm. He washes his eggs for his costumers. But as long as they don't have blood or poop on them, I simply rinse mine.

 

[Bleenie]

If the eggs are clean when i collect them I don't bother washing them. if they have dirt/poo or shavings stuck to them i wash them with a small bit of dish soap or just rinse if it's only shavings.

Haven't gotten sick yet and would take eggs fresh from the coop over store-bought eggs anyday!

 

[Philpag]

Great thread, just the info i was looking for. I had my first eggs today and want to put them in the incubator and didnt know how to prepare them. but all the details have put me on the right path...

Thanks Everyone!!

 

[eggoland]

I get a feather stuck to a egg once in awhile, I thank them for the extra gift. I don't wash mine unless I am selling them. I have 4 regular customers & 2 have asked me not to wash theirs as they want the bloom on them. Also one of the two has asked me to leave them on the counter for him. His are the only ones I don't put in the fridge. My son's Great Grandmother NEVER washed or put them in the refrigerator.

 

[Kidhenduckohmy]

I wash mine all the time. I read to use water a little warmer than the egg. I guess I just think of where it came from, and where it was laying. When I crack the egg open there are too many times I have dropped the shell in the bowl. I guess I feel better cleaning it.

 

[gpeppers]

yes, eggs have a natural "bloom" (coating) designed to protect and keep them fresher longer. I did this research a while ago, and am trying to find those articles again. If/when I do, I'll post them. It's good information to have. Better not to refrigerate or wash unless certain circumstances for several reasons. If you do not refrigerate them but use/give them away/sell them, then they are in a better position if they leave your house and travel for a few hours before being introduced to refrigeration. If you refrigerate them, you have no control over whether they leave your house and go for a weekend camping trip sans refrigeration, or spend 6 hours in the car or in a bag. The most important thing is constant temperature. Once refrigerated, always refrigerated until used. Taking them out and letting them warm up to room temp for baking is OK but putting them in, taking them out, putting them in again, no bueno.

As for washing, definitely you want to get the crud off them if there is any. When you crack the egg, some could flake off into your food. Ick! The wash water should be warmer than the egg so that the porous shell pushes outward with expansion of the cooler egg inside instead of pulling the outside world into the egg through porous contraction. got it?

 

[danstanick]

I have a flock of about 30 chickens, so I have a small egg route where I deliver eggs. I don't wash the eggs unless there is poop on them, which is very rare. If you are lucky enough to see an egg immediately after the chicken lays it, you will see that it is coated by a thin film that dries very quickly. My understanding is that this coating naturally protects the eggshell. The eggshell is porous, so if you wash off this coating, the egg is not protected as well. If you keep the nesting boxes clean and with fresh litter, you will rarely get an egg that is soiled. I explain this to my customers who can either have me wash them or not. All except one choose to have them unwashed. I do advise washing them before using them, though.

 

[revmichael]

I'm new to this and with a compromised immune system but otherwise healthy. I have 4 barred rocks and my coop is raised almost like an upstairs/downstairs layout. The upper part is where the nest box is and it all has a hardware cloth floor to it so there is not much poop there before the girls step up into the nesting box.

From what I've read as long as the eggs are clean of poop or anything else I take them and put it straight in the fridge. I wash them with warm water before using them but if I plan to boil them for hardboiled eggs I just put them in the water that way, the boiling water kills all germs. I put them in an egg carton and go from left to right when using them. Newer eggs go to the right of the older ones in the carton so I know which ones came first. After I use a few of them the eggs get shifted to the left.

I always use hand sanitizer when handling the eggs or after touching the chickens.

Should I get a small fridge specifically for the eggs? I don't plan on having more than 2 cartons in the fridge at any time.

 

[PimentoPlymouth]

The only time I wash my personal consumption eggs is if they are visibly dirty. It does help keep them fresh for a longer period of time. I've read farm fresh eggs usually stay good for around 45 days. I always float mine if im unsure of their freshness. The ones I sell or give out are always washed for more than one reason. First of apperance wise people who dont raise chickens have mostly been exposed to store bought eggs which are clean. Sometimes they see a little poop or dirt and they automatically throw the egg out. Secondly just to be sure no one gets sick for any unforseen reason. The people I sell eggs to I printed up and index size card with floating instructions so that they can test them if unsure. Plus it has my contact number because word of mouth is the best advertising