To wash or not to wash (eggs)

[epeloquin]

As I understand it, when a hen lays an egg her body secretes a coating onto the shell that seals it and as long as it isn't washed off it keeps the egg fresh for several weeks even at room temp.

Obviously, if someone is going to sell eggs they will wash them.

But, just in general, do you wash your eggs or not?

 

[bobbyc1970]

for hatching never wash eggs.

 

[mommyofthreewithchicks]

That is a Big question! I do, but I also keep selling the eggs. In the spring I did chose several doz to incubate and did not wash those.

 

[bairo]

We absolutely do not wash ours (the ones we eat). If I give any away I will lightly wash only the really bad ones and tell that person that they only get two weeks max in the fridge,

 

[MommyMagpie]

We don't wash ours, even the ones we sell - we only sell to a few people and they know to wash them.

 

[chi-rn]

If we wash at all, it is generally just before cracking. Anybody gifted with our eggs who want washed gets to go to the store & buy!

 

[JodyJo]

In everything I have read, you can rinse them if they have poop stuck to them, otherwise you remove the bloom...and they spoil faster. You can instruct your buyers if they wish to wash before using that is fine, otherwise no...

 

[Beekissed]

Never wash, selling or using for own consumption, and rarely refrigerate, if at all. I will use a damp cloth to wipe smudged eggs and really bad ones are recycled to the flock or the dogs, whomever gets to them first.

 

[CandiceN]

We have been washing them and putting them right in the fridge, but we just started getting eggs last week so I'm a total newbie at this stuff. I think I'm going to keep putting them in the fridge right away, but leave the bloom on. I'm pretty sure my hubby won't eat eggs he's seen sitting on the counter, even if I show him all the proof that they are fine for weeks that way, lol

 

[Fred's Hens]

To me it doesn't matter. 100% of the hatcheries wash their eggs and their hatch rates are stupendous, hatching millions and millions of chicks.

We have picky customers who want spotless eggs for the dollars we charge. Fine, they get eggs hand rubbed-rinsed under very hot water. Since we seldom have eggs more than a day or two, it doesn't matter.

For our own use, we don't bother, if they are clean enough from the nest.