To wash. Or not to wash. That, is the question.

[AgentJeffy]

Hey everyone!

So this is going to be more of a collection of ideas all in one place for chicken eggs. I'm aware of the pros and the cons of egg washing for the most part. But I still think this would be a useful thread for anyone looking for the arguments from both sides, as well as a poll to see which thought camp is larger. So in this thread just post if you wash your eggs or not and what your thought is about it, as well as vote in the poll.

Thanks everyone, and happy laying!

 

[AgentJeffy]

I for one do not wash my eggs.

Salmonella is only a concern if your coop/chickens are dirty. My chickens free range all day and aren't confined in a space of filth. Nature has provided a wonderful way of preventing the permeation of bacteria into the eggs (the bloom on the eggs produced by the mother) and if it's sufficient enough to protect the existence of the chicken offspring, then it's sufficient enough for my consumption, lol.

Not to mention salmonella has always been a thing, but eggs were ate without much issue for centuries. Salmonella outbreaks only became a concern when eggs were mass harvested in filthy conditions. I'd be surprised if any of the chicken breeders/keepers on here have had an issue with salmonella.

 

[HuskerHens18]

I for one don't like chicken poop and dirt in my fridge where other food goes, so I'm on the washing side I'm not concerned about getting salmonella from the eggs, I just think it's disgusting putting feces and other things it collects from being on the ground in my fridge exposed to other foods.

Good thread

 

[wyoDreamer]

I can't vote because my answer is both. If they are dirty, they get washed and put in the fridge, if they are clean they go in the carton on the counter. I have an 18-egg carton in refrigerator and we cycle through the eggs fairly fast for fried eggs for breakfast. (cold eggs fry up better than room temp eggs. The yolks stand tall and the whites don't run nearly as far and wide) If too many build up in the refrigerator, I boil them for lunches.
The clean eggs on the counter are for baking, cooking, scrambled, and giving away to friends. If I get too many on the counter - um - wait, that hasn't happened. Our friends like to get fresh eggs. One friend gifts us with homegrown maple syrup and another gives us venison sausage.

 

[RodNTN]

I don't wash any eggs that aren't going to be eaten soon, even the dirty ones. Dirty eggs that I am going to be eating soon are washed... usually

 

[HuskerHens18]

One reason I wash is because I don't own any egg cartons, so there's no way to separate all these eggs from touching my cheese, cream cheese, and fruit that's hidden under all that. I wash all my fruit too.

I blame that I'm half city girl, half farm girl. My mom was very clean while my dad came home everyday covered head to toe in pig feces. So although I'm not afraid to get dirty, my house is not the place to store unclean butt nuggets, or anything unclean for that matter.

That's kinda why I do things like that. I have nothing against unwashed eggs, or the people for that matter, just not in my house!! I'll wash YOU at the door if you show up dirty!

 

[Perris]

those of you stateside may be interested to know that EU regulations prohibit the washing or refrigeration of eggs prior to sale (while requiring a label on the carton recommending refrigeration after purchase) because condensation may form on eggs moved out of a fridge into room temperature, and that condensation compromises the bloom, potentially allowing harmful microorganisms in.

 

[HuskerHens18]

Oh I wash "clean" eggs too, not just dirty ones. Their egg came out the same hole as everything else does lol. If I left eggs out of the fridge... hmm I'm not sure what'd I would do. Might still wash them all.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

I always wash mine and refrigerate as I give so many away to friends, family and neighbors. I wouldn’t want to give them dirty eggs!

 

[AgentJeffy]

I just feel like, it's an egg. That's where it has ALWAYS come from. The bloom is more than sufficient to keep the insides clean, and you run a greater risk of salmonella being introduced inside the egg when you wash. Considering every store bought egg is washed, I feel like those are at a greater health risk than the eggs I produce.

My contribution to providing people with clean eggs is by making sure the chickens habitat and yard is clean. I think that goes just as far as washing, but doesn't run the risk of forcing salmonella into the egg itself.