What’s the health rules when eating fresh yard eggs, like cleaning and refrigerating ?
Image by Em Hull Photography
My younger sister feeding the chickens at the yard.
Question by deanna: What’s the health rules when eating fresh yard eggs, like cleaning and refrigerating ?
I have 5 hens and 1 rooster, but I also feed them chicken layer feed. And they are cage free during the day. Should I wash before refrigeration ? And how long are they good for?
What do you think? Answer below!
5 Responses to What’s the health rules when eating fresh yard eggs, like cleaning and refrigerating ?
Leave a Reply
fresh farm eggs are good for MONTHS.
Yes wash them with clear water and refrigerate.
ckngbbbls
April 25, 2013 at 11:05 am
Actually, eating eggs from your own hens is much safer than eating the ones that come from huge buildings of caged hens and various storage times/etc on the way to the grocery store.
Fresh eggs have a natural coating on them which large companies wash away and replace with their own after cleaning (because those eggs *are* dirty), but theirs doesn’t work as well.
From what I understand, eggs created in reasonably clean conditions in a back yard, etc, can be kept on a countertop just as they are for weeks (because of the natural coating), and even refrigerated for longer at some point too.
You might want to read more about egg safety in general in some of my previous answers as well:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100821104823AAnCqT0
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100627183139AAvTZEj
.
Diane B.
April 25, 2013 at 11:11 am
Eggs are not normally washed. It removes the outer mucoprotein layer and makes them porous. If you really must wash an egg, use it soonest. Keep them in a box in the fridge.
They will last about 4 weeks in the fridge for sure, and then much longer. You will know if they are not so fresh as they will flatten in a pan when fried. As they get older they get less pert when cracked open. You will know a stale egg should you ever keep one that long! Older eggs are easier to shell when hard boiled.,
funadament
April 25, 2013 at 11:16 am
When you collect the eggs, you should aim to just “dry” clean the egg if possible, i.e. brush it off, as eggs are provided with a coating that helps to prevent bacteria from entering so you don’t want to wash it off if possible. If you need to wash them, use room temp water only and let them air dry. Place them pointy-side down in an egg container and refrigerate at 36-40 degrees. Do not keep in the front or on the door as eggs are susceptible to temperature changes when the door is open. Handled this way, you can easily keep your eggs for about 8 weeks. FYI, most supermarket eggs have been in storage for 3-4 weeks before they hit the shelves and then you still have 30 days on the outdate. Check for freshness by seeing if they float (floaters=bad). Usually indicates that excess gas has formed in the shell.
SJ
April 25, 2013 at 11:43 am
Commercial egg producers always wash their eggs. At least in the US. This washes away the protective layer on the shell. If you cook with eggs you will see that American cookbooks always tell you to let the eggs come to room temperature before making omelettes or whatever. European cookbooks dont because european eggs are not washed and not stored in the fridge.
When Dodge Martin sailed solo around the world he had to put in a special request at a local egg farm for unwashed eggs so he could store them unrefrigerated for his trip.
BUT. with all the hoo-rah about salmonella in US eggs I wouldnt worry about eggs from my own chickens ( If I had any) but definitely store my store bought eggs in the fridge and follow all the necessary precautions.
stumble123stick
April 25, 2013 at 12:32 pm