Washing eggs?

[enola]

If you use cold water any bacteria on the egg shell will be pulled into the egg because the eggs contents will shrink.

 

[Chickeneedy]

It is warm/hot water that should be used when washing eggs. Cold water creates a sort of vacuum and can draw bacteria into the egg. The water shouldn't be scalding though. I use hot water, but not so hot my hands aren't comfortable in it. I usually let 2 or 3 days of eggs accumulate in a bowl on my counter before I wash them. As long as the bloom is still on the egg a few days on the counter won't hurt. I've never had any problems.

 

[Fred's Hens]

A guy in mo. that test chickens told me not to use warm water, that the bacteria could transfer inside the egg.

The guy in mo was wrong.

The University of Nebraska: http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/pages/publicationD.jsp?publicationId=798

 

[dirtychick]

The other stuff I just read sounds like He was wrong . so ?

 

[Chickeneedy]

The guy in mo was wrong.  

Yep, he had it wrong way around. Cold water causes egg contents to shrink and draw material through the shell. Hot water causes egg material to expand, expelling material through the shell.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Google is your friend:

http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/pages/publicationD.jsp?publicationId=798

 

[dirtychick]

After he told me that about a year ago I been doing it the wrong way ! better to learn late than to late-never .

 

[GatorRPh]

In order to get a permit, Jacksonville's new city ordinance requires attendance at a chicken seminar by the University of Florida's Agricultural Extension service. The speaker said:

1. Don't wash the eggs until just before eating and even then it really isn't needed unless you plan to eat them raw. The germs are on the exterior of the shell and if you somehow manage to transfer them to the part you eat, the heat of cooking will kill them and deactivate any bacterial toxins . If you just can't live with a little poop on the egg, he said to let it dry then remove from that spot by lightly rubbing with fine sand paper. That will also remove the bloom but just from that one area.

2. If you feel you must wash the egg despite his best advice, wash with water at least 20 degrees warmer than the egg, then rinse with water 20 degrees warmer than the wash water. Cooler water will cause bacteria to penetrate the shell as stated previously in this thread.

3. Eggs fresh from the hen will be at 100 degrees or more so you will need water at 125 to wash and 145 to rinse.

4. DON'T WASH THE EGGS!

5. Unwashed eggs will be good for at least a month at room temp.

 

[Mammahen71]

Check out the regulations in your state. If you are selling your eggs as a business, they need to be washed according to US Guidlines. This is WHY eggs in the US are kept in the refrigerated section... the bloom has been washed away by chemical sanitizers. Eggs in Europe are kept on a shelf, unrefrigerated. They are not required to wash their eggs before sale.

I wash only the ones thay get fecal matter on them, but I only sell to friends and co-workers. They have been educated on fresh egg care by me personally.

I plan on switching to sand in the coop, to eliminate poopie feet on eggs. That seems to be the biggest culprit of dirty eggs.

 

[netty74]

Check out the regulations in your state.  If you are selling your eggs as a business, they need to be washed according to US Guidlines.  This is WHY eggs in the US are kept in the refrigerated section... the bloom has been washed away by chemical sanitizers.  Eggs in Europe are kept on a shelf, unrefrigerated.  They are not required to wash their eggs before sale.

I wash only the ones thay get fecal matter on them, but I only sell to friends and co-workers.  They have been educated on fresh egg care by me personally. 

I plan on switching to sand in the coop, to eliminate poopie feet on eggs.  That seems to be the biggest culprit of dirty eggs.