To wash or not to wash eggs?

[jackhorn01]

That is all good info. However, wouldn't proper cooking of the egg kill the salmanella anyway? Its relatively common in raw poultry meat, thats way we say cook it properly and its not a problem?

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

That is all good info. However, wouldn't proper cooking of the egg kill the salmanella anyway? Its relatively common in raw poultry meat, thats way we say cook it properly and its not a problem?

 

Salmonella is present inside some eggs because some hens are infected, which is why eggs need to be cooked properly.

The reason to wash eggs is to get the germs off the outside of the egg. Poo is obvious -- don't want crumbles of that in our pancakes if we can avoid it. But not so obvious are "invisible" germs which transfer to hands or otherwise migrate into the egg under the right circumstances. That's why some eggs are sanitized.

There is also the possibility that germs from unwashed/unsanitized eggs will be blown around the refrigerator by the fan, and that's why some health experts strongly advise that dirty eggs are never put into the refrigerator -- they don't want those germs blowing into your milk or other foods you consume without cooking.

On the flip side of the conversation are the twin facts that washed eggs are less protected because the bloom has been compromised, and that improper washing can force germs to travel into the egg.

Also, some nutrition is lost if the yolk is over cooked ...

It's a conundrum!

 

[jackhorn01]

Well I dont wash the ones that loom clean and i dry clean the poop and obvious solids off the eggs before putting them in the fridge. Not having obvious poo flakes on em will help with the fridge part of the concern I guess.

 

[Chambertin]

I dont want to speak out of turn, but....
It seems that egg washing comes out of a deep sense of fear and control.

Either people fear the random chance of a bad infection or believe they can control exactly what happens to their food

http://mythbustersresults.com/hidden-nasties

When you look at the results of most testing scenarios the toilet seat of a public restroom is less "dirty" that a cleaning sponge in the kitchen.
Honestly a dry egg with a speck of poop on it is likely less dirty to handle and open (unless you put that poo in the food) than the average bathroom washcloth unless you use boiling water to clean it.
Seriously, our lives are so much dirtier and wrought with germs than commercials would ever want us to know (even if your roommate is the Mr. Clean),

Sorry life, but we really cant control what germs are in our lives, all we can ever hope to do is eat natural and let mother nature do its best.
If we do happen to get sick then we can thank modern technology for all of its advances and wonders.
The past 3 decades have proven that our constant attempts to control our environment have done nothing but make diseases stronger.

Everyone has the right to do what they think is best, but our regulations are based on some pretty weak facts and a lot of attempts at control based on fear.
Sure back in the 1890's and even up to the 1950s we needed the system as it exists today, but food regulations need to be updated.
Education is much more important than opinion or assumption.

If you wash your eggs DONT do it with water that is colder than the egg, EVER. Please?
That's important to me.
Pick a detergent that is active against bacteria, broad gram spectrum, and remember that you will remove the natural protection (to me better than chemicals, just me), it now becomes a lab sample and needs to be protected.
(personally I think its a lot easier to just let your nose tell you if the egg is ok or not by smell and not messing with it before you open it)

Flame on~

 

[jackhorn01]

Yeah, I'm in the healthcare profession so I know alot about germs too. All methods have pros and cons and all the Earth has germs lol. You just have to pick a method and do it to the best of your ability and hope its good enough. Alot of it is just a head game to me. I could put human feces on a plate and cover it and store it in the fridge without dying from eating my other food prolly but it would bother me that there is a pile of #@$# sitting in my fridge lol. Thats the reason I at least dry clean the poop off the eggs on the ones that have it lol. Its just a nasty concept.

 

[cluckcluck3499]

I have heard that eggs that are left room temperature are often lighter and fluffier than refrigerated, like when ever I make meringues I leave eggs out to be room temperature

 

[appps]

I have heard that eggs that are left room temperature are often lighter and fluffier than refrigerated, like when ever I make meringues I leave eggs out to be room temperature

Often recipes for cakes will tell you to use room temperature eggs to prevent curdling when you add to the mix as well. I never seem to be that organised though lol

 

[pamschick]

I have a small cake business. I use many eggs. The best cakes are made with fresh eggs at room temperature.

 

[foreverlearning]

I have a small cake business. I use many eggs. The best cakes are made with fresh eggs at room temperature.

That looks good, I want that...Too far away

 

[annagarret]

That's me! I've always washed them right out of the coop. Cleanliness is key in my fridge. We are a family of 6 and eat them within 4 days. We have gone On vacation for over 5 days and collect the eggs and they are fine, even in the summer heat!