Eggs given away at the senior center were no bargain

[debodun]

I am posting this as a humorous anecdote, not a whiny complaint.

Last evening, I wanted to make a mushroom and spinach omelet. I had picked up carton of eggs at the senior center give-away. I went to take a couple out of the carton and found them stuck to the carton. When I went to use force, the egg shells shattered. There was yolk and albumen all over the stovetop. Tried to clean it up with a damp paper towel and succeeded in spreading it around. Then as I was attempting to clean, some was running down the cabinet and dripping on the floor. Now I've got a slimy mess seemingly all over the kitchen. I must have used a half a roll of paper towels trying to clean up.

I tried to get a few more eggs out and found them stuck, also. So instead of trying to grab them from the top, I tried to pry them out of the carton with a spoon. Same thing - shattered shells, but at least the mess stayed in the carton. I tried all the eggs and found all the ones in the front row were stuck. The back row was okay, so I cut the carton in half, put the good eggs in the top section and tossed the rest.

All I can surmise is that at one time the carton was subjected to trauma and slightly cracked the eggs in the front row. Some of the albumen leaked out and glued the eggs to the carton when it dried. I didn't get egg on my face, but at least the kitchen got cleaned.

 

[Kaila]

I am posting this as a humorous anecdote, not a whiny complaint.

Really fun short story, the way you wrote it!

I will add that I have had a very similar experience, with eggs bought for high price at the grocery store, so it isn't only when they are given away or offered as a bargain.

I would check them all, at a grocery store, but I have to have someone else shop for me, so I can't complain.

 

[Aunt Bea]

The good news is that the eggs were worth what you paid.

I find that happens more and more with supermarket eggs.

Sometimes the cracks don't reveal themselves until you boil the eggs.

Even at today's high prices eggs are still a good value.

 

[Jules]

Even at today's high prices eggs are still a good value.

Agreed.

 

[sassysatin]

I 'roll' each egg with every carton of eggs I buy. That way I make sure they aren't cracked on the bottom as they would stick.

 

[debodun]

Dried egg albumen must be one of natures best adhesives!

 

[Mizmo]

I 'roll' each egg with every carton of eggs I buy. That way I make sure they aren't cracked on the bottom as they would stick.

yes I do that too...
I bought a carton years ago that had eight out of the twelve stuck hard so I know I did not break them.
.......done the roll job with all twelve ever since.

 

[Don M.]

ANY food being given away is probably Not worth having. Cracked eggs, partially open packaging, well beyond the "Best By" date, etc., etc. "Rolling" the eggs in the carton, before you buy, is a good idea....since if the carton is mishandled in shipping, stocking, etc., the shells can easily crack.

 

[Lee]

I have volunteered at a food bank and can tell you that a lot of the food stuff comes direct from the supermarket. For instance if one glass jar of pickles is broken they will donate the whole case rather than have someone clean up each jar. That was our job as volunteers.

And some of the persnickity ladies I worked with might hesitate before tackling Deb's eggs

Perishables got donated a day or so before the best before date. It's all food and most recipients were glad to get it....notice I said MOST

 

[debodun]

I've seen moldy bread on the give-away tables. I mentioned it to the site supervisor. All she said was, "Don't take it, then."

 

[win231]

I've seen moldy bread on the give-away tables. I mentioned it to the site supervisor. All she said was, "Don't take it, then."

Free Penicillin?

 

[Tish]

@debodun that's hilarious

 

[StarSong]

The good news is that the eggs were worth what you paid.

 

[bingo]

i fill carton with cold water...they loosen...come out easily

 

[Nathan]

i fill carton with cold water...they loosen...come out easily

Same here, with slightly warm water.

 

[StarSong]

I researched "best by" dates a long time ago. They're conservative, highly imprecise, non-scientifically determined dates and therefore don't keep me from using a product. I've eaten sealed yogurt that was perfectly fine despite being months out of date, and thrown out products that were still within the best by window but looked, smelled or felt a little iffy.

Earlier generations neither had nor needed "best by" dates to know if foods were fresh and safe. They eyeballed, sniffed, and applied well-known, common sense rules like avoiding severely dented cans and tossing bulging or leaking cans when deciding whether foods were fresh and safe.

I mean, "best by" dating on pasta? Gimme a break. It'll last practically forever when stored in a cool, dry place and sealed against bugs. Ditto sugar, honey, white rice and so many other things that people undoubtedly throw out for being past arbitrary "best by" dates.

 

[Jules]

I mean, "best by" dating on pasta? Gimme a break. It'll last practically forever when stored in a cool, dry place and sealed against bugs. Ditto sugar, honey, white rice and so many other things that people undoubtedly throw out for being past arbitrary "best by" dates.

Very true. My MIL‘s huge flour tin is a great spot to store bags of these items. We buy bottled water for emergencies or travel and these even have a BB date; water doesn’t go bad. The only thing I use dates for is sorting items like these.

 

[Pappy]

Whenever we get eggs from the Senior center, I do this with 2 or 3 eggs. I don’t trust the use by date code on the carton.

 

[debodun]

I keep every foodstuff that isn't canned in the fridge. I used to have a problem with brown sugar solidifying, but I put an open bag in a zip-lock food storage bag, squeeze all the air possib;e out, then zip it. It's almost like a vacuum seal. It isn't foolproof, bu it lasts longer than an open bag.