Washed or Unwashed Eggs

[3bird]

Hi, All.

I've found a lot of information on washing versus not washing duck eggs. I wanted to share what we have decided to do.

We do not wash the eggs we eat. Instead we just flick off any straw or shavings and then store them at room temperature in egg cartons until we're ready to eat them. In terms of the ones we offer to other people, we offer both "Bloom" and "Washed," and we then provide additional information through our website. We've found that most people are down with the "Bloom" eggs, but a few prefer them washed.

How do you handle this situation if you share your eggs with others?

 

[3bird]

You can do both, wash and refrigerate the ones you share with people that preferred wash and do the the opposite with the ones who preferred unwashed.

That's what we do, but we decided to give people the choice on the carton and then provide additional information on the website. We've found that it sparks a conversation, which is cool.

 

[3bird]

You might run into trouble with your state. My state says the eggs have to be washed and refrigerated.

That is correct, and I should have mentioned that. We only sell washed eggs stored at 45 degrees F or less. In terms of washing, we are required only to: "Clean the eggs of any fecal matter as needed."

 

[Spartan22]

You can do both, wash and refrigerate the ones you share with people that preferred wash and do the the opposite with the ones who preferred unwashed.

Few years ago my ignorance as a city dweller before our backyard chickens life made me missed out on good stuff. Some friends that has farms keep on giving us eggs from chicken and ducks unwashed, I normally decline and said we’re good but sometimes will accept them and put it in the frig for months until we throw them away since we couldn’t stand eating eggs that are unwashed or that are not from supermarket.

 

[Redhead Rae]

I'm seeing washed = refrigerated and unwashed = room temperature storage.

Curious - is it ok to refrigerate unwashed eggs for storage purposes?

Unless they are pristine, I wouldn't refrigeration opens the egg pores and if there is dirt or poop on the eggs, bacteria can get inside.

 

[Redhead Rae]

from my understanding, yes. But it is best to wash any dirt or poo off your eggs before refrigeration.

 

[Redhead Rae]

You could run a test yourself. Set a dozen eggs aside (probably in a plastic container that isn't quite airtight, like one of those plastic shoe boxes, so that if an egg does go bad and splatter everywhere, it doesn't end up all over the place) and then do the float test on them every month or so. Just dunking them in water shouldn't hurt the bloom if they are unwashed. Scrubbing them removes the bloom.

 

[Redhead Rae]

with the float test, if it lays flat, it is still fresh, if the aircell end starts floating up, it is getting less fresh. If it floats off the bottom, it is bad.

 

[morganalefae]

I personally wash my eggs my washing is wiping them off with a warm damp cloth and drying them right after tho. My eggs don't go in the fridge mostly do to lack of space and they seem to take on a fridge taste and they seem to last at lest 4 weeks out of it so that's ok. I give my mother in law eggs she ain't bothered if they are washed or unwashed tho she goes through 30 in only a couple of days so ya can't say how long her's last LOL

 

[3bird]

With unwashed eggs, do you wash them before you eat them? Or is it okay to just crack them open as they are. Provide any poop, dirt or straw has been wiped off lol.

I can only say what we do, as I don't have any substantive data. We wash in warm water before we crack 7-8/10. If the egg is exceptionally "clean," then I'll just crack it.