When you start getting fresh eggs from your chickens you may wonder what the best way is to store them. Here is everything you need to know about storing fresh chicken eggs.
You normally go to the store, get a dozen eggs, and just put them in the fridge. When you have your own chickens you start to wonder how you should store your fresh eggs.
Should you wash them, refrigerate them, or leave them on the counter and how long will they last? In this post, I am going to answer all these questions to put your mind at ease when storing fresh eggs.
Lets get into it.
Should you wash your eggs
When a chicken lays an egg one of the last processes the egg goes through adds a bloom. This bloom coats the porous egg in a protective layer.
The bloom is added to the egg to protect a potential chick from outside bacteria and pathogens. So does this mean we shouldn't wash our eggs?
Here are the rules I follow for washing eggs.
- Never wash an egg that isn't dirty
- If an egg is a little dirty don't wash it
- If an egg is extremely dirty wash it with room temperature water
- Always refrigerate washed eggs
These rules are actually more like guidelines to me.
You should NEVER wash eggs in cold water because this creates a vacuum that can pull the bacteria from the outside of the shell into the egg.
When it is very wet outside my chickens will get there eggs all messy so I make sure to wash them, but I always refrigerate them afterwards.
If you are worried about dirt getting into your eggs once cracked you can also just wash them before cracking. If you are getting dirty eggs because your hens won't lay in the nest box read this post.
Bottom line, only wash eggs when absolutely necessary. There is no reason to wash the bloom off of clean eggs.
Is Refrigerating Eggs Necessary
As you may already know most European countries don't require eggs to be refrigerated. In the US, every egg in a store is required to be refrigerated.
This, again, involves the issue of an egg bloom. In Europe they believe this bloom is protective enough that eggs do not need to be refrigerated.
In the US all eggs are washed so there is no bloom to protect the eggs (unless you buy from a small farm). The US refrigerates eggs to keep bacteria growth at a minimum so the eggs don't get contaminated.
All this to say, you do not have to refrigerate eggs if you have not washed them (they will not last as long though). If you wash your eggs it is best to refrigerate them.
Never leave a refrigerated egg on the counter as this can allow bacteria to grow inside the egg. Once refrigerated keep refrigerated.
How Long Will Fresh Eggs Last
Supermarket eggs can be up to 60 days old when you buy them! It takes a lot of time to wash, grade, package, and transport the eggs plus they sit on the shelves for awhile.
When you have your own chickens your eggs will usually make it into the kitchen before they are even a day old! Usually you don't have to worry about your eggs expiring, but it is good to know how long they last.
It is a general rule that unwashed fresh eggs will last 3 or more months when refrigerated. It is also believed that unwashed fresh eggs only last 2 weeks when left on the counter.
I have never had an egg go bad, but I think that is because we use them so fast after they are laid.
Can Eggs Be Frozen
If you have too many eggs, which can often happen around spring, you can freeze them. Frozen eggs are not great for making scrambled eggs, but they work well in baked goods.
Frozen eggs can last up to a year! Freezing is a great way to preserve eggs for future use. Here is a great post on how to prepare and freeze raw eggs.
Keep Track Of Your Eggs
When you are constantly using and replacing eggs, sometimes eggs will get left in a carton too long. The best way to prevent this is by coming up with an egg rotating system.
Egg spirals make this very simple with fresh eggs being put in one end and old eggs coming out the other. You can find one for your counter top right here.
You can also just use egg cartons, but make sure to label them and rotate them.
We use these egg trays that stack onto each other. We then use the eggs out of the bottom right slot and refill it from the adjacent row.
Other Egg Storage Tips
Here are a few other tips to keep your chicken eggs fresh.
Store Them Pointy End Down
The air sac in an egg is often found in the less pointy end of an egg. If you store them with the pointy end down they will stay fresh longer.
Storing them this way keeps the yolk centered and prevents moisture from evaporating through the shell.
Keep Eggs Away From Smelly Food
Foods like onions and garlic should not be stored right next to eggs. These pungent foods can spread their flavor into eggs.
Cooked Eggs Go Bad Sooner
Once you crack an egg it will no longer store as long. Boiled, scrambled, and other cooked eggs do not last as long in the fridge as a whole egg would.
Collect Eggs Often
It is best to collect eggs from your chicken coop daily. You do not want to have eggs piling up and spoiling in your chicken coop.
Conclusion
- Never wash an egg that isn't dirty
- If an egg is extremely dirty wash it with room temperature water
- Always refrigerate washed eggs
- Once refrigerated keep refrigerated
- Unwashed refrigerated eggs last 3 or more months
- Unwashed unrefrigerated eggs last around 2 weeks
- Raw eggs can be frozen to preserve them
- Keep track of your eggs
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