To wash or not to wash??

[digitS']

Here's that Mother's article on taste testing months-old eggs that I referred to above. It was in a 1977 issue and I probably read it then since I had chickens.

Later, I was selling eggs and used the sandpaper technique. But, I must have wondered what happens to this mysterious "bloom" under sandpaper.

Then I went on to the wet paper towel. Could it have been that I wasn't buying paper towels until the early '80's? Anyway, if temperature differences between the inside and outside of the egg is important while washing, using anything other than hot water wasn't quite right.

So, it was an evolution and so I wash.

Regarding unrefrigerated eggs: Mother talks about that but you can think that the hens takes a couple weeks to lay a clutch to set on. They are the temperature of the outdoors without spoiling during that time and chickens themselves have evolved using this technique

.

Steve

 

[Beekissed]

I don't wash but I will wipe off smudges with a warm, damp washclothe. My customers never ask about washing, as the eggs have no visible dirt.

Unless its been raining a lot, I rarely have to wipe off any eggs.

My customers have been ecstatic about the taste and freshness of my unwashed, fertilized eggs!

I certainly would never wash eggs in hot water and bleach, as they are porous and the solution may be inadvertantly introduced into the egg. I wouldn't want to think I was feeding my customers bleach.

 

[Chicken Girl]

I wash my eggs! when i come in from the coop i wash with dish soap up to my elbos! LOL I think its crazy, but i still do it. I wash my eggs with HOT HOT water and soap. I hate chicken poop. You alls should see me after i clean out the coop! LOL Wash them eggs!


Chicken Girl

P.S i have never had a egg go bad. Even after about a month.

 

[msgenie516]

Hi,

I know it's not generally recommended, but I wash my eggs with very warm/hot water, dry them, and then refrigerate them. I have had eggs that are over a month old with nothing wrong with them.

I just can't stand them being dirty! But that's just me. I think there are several acceptable ways to handle this.

Hope this helps!

Genie

 

[grinz]

We rinse and wipe our eggs mainly because of our kid's cooking with them and gathering them. I believe you can get cross contamination if the unwashed shell comes in contact with food. You always wash your hands after being around chickens and take off your barn boots. By transferring unwashed eggs from the coop to the fridge, I feel that you are also transferring a certain amount of bacteria with them.

 

[cmom]

digitS' :

Here's that Mother's article on taste testing months-old eggs that I referred to above. It was in a 1977 issue and I probably read it then since I had chickens.

Later, I was selling eggs and used the sandpaper technique. But, I must have wondered what happens to this mysterious "bloom" under sandpaper.

Then I went on to the wet paper towel. Could it have been that I wasn't buying paper towels until the early '80's? Anyway, if temperature differences between the inside and outside of the egg is important while washing, using anything other than hot water wasn't quite right.

So, it was an evolution and so I wash.

Regarding unrefrigerated eggs: Mother talks about that but you can think that the hens takes a couple weeks to lay a clutch to set on. They are the temperature of the outdoors without spoiling during that time and chickens themselves have evolved using this technique

.

Steve

I have read that article too also noting fertile and unfertile eggs. It's very interesting......
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sust...ggs-a-Year-or-More-Without-Refrigeration.aspx​

 

[Mahlzeit]

I wash the eggs when they are dirty and I leave them be when they are clean. I have yet to have a problem with any of my eggs. No one I have sold them to has had any problems either.

 

[chicky gal1]

Wow great article!!!!!

 

[swedishfish]

Egg shells are like the membranes of any other cell in our body. I use sandpaper to scratch off any dirties on my eggs rather than washing them because the egg shell will let water "flow" through it. I really don't think a little extra water can hurt an egg so it doesn't matter that much, but if you're worried about cleaning or not cleaning, maybe use some fine sandpaper like I do!