Storing Farm Fresh Eggs

[fmdog44]

I recall that. Here's what the internet says:



Funny, I just read a website that said farm-fresh eggs are good for 60 days unrefrigerated as long as you don't "wash the bloom" off of them, and that if you want to clean them, do so with a dry brush. It also said that fresh eggs are good for 6 months when refrigerated. I know I've kept some for a pretty long time...at least a few months.

That website also said that the eggs we buy in stores are likely older than 60 days.

The guy I've been buying my eggs from used to charge $2/dozen, but people recently started hoarding so he raised his price to $2.25 to stop it! Gotta love country life.

What is bloom"

 

[Warrigal]

Coat with Vaseline and there good for months...
never seen eggs refrigerated till i was a teen... even in our local store

Before refrigeration, eggs were dipped in a solution of waterglass. The shells were then non porous and without oxygen, the contents of the egg did not go bad. A good coating with vaseline works the same way.

 

[In The Sticks]

What is bloom"

In the spirit of being intellectually honest, I had to look this up:

Just before laying an egg, the hen adds a protective layer called “egg bloom” or cuticle to the outside of the egg. This coating seals the shell pores, prevents bacteria from getting inside the shell, and reduces moisture loss from the egg – all designed to make the egg last longer.

Unfortunately, because of conditions at some large egg operations, commercial eggs are washed right after collection to make them appear clean and presentable. Of course, this destroys the protective egg bloom. To try replacing natural bloom, some commercial packers spray shells with a thin film of mineral oil – that’s why grocery store eggs sometimes appear shiny.

The article went on to say that backyard chicken growers can ensure sanitary conditions better than the factory farms, so don't need to wash the eggs. It jives with something I read earlier when this topic was first posted about commercial eggs getting washed to reduce risk of spreading salmonella.

 

[Pappy]

This was I was talking about in my thread before: