Where do you store eggs?

ComfortKid

Well, where is the correct place to keep your eggs?

A friend I had over recently was disgusted that I had my eggs stored in the press. He said that they'll go off if I didn't keep them in the fridge.

In any shop I have been to I have never seen eggs in a fridge so I presumed that room temperature was suitable?

evolving_doors

ComfortKid wrote: »

Well, where is the correct place to keep your eggs?

A friend I had over recently was disgusted that I had my eggs stored in the press. He said that they'll go off if I didn't keep them in the fridge.

In any shop I have been to I have never seen eggs in a fridge so I presumed that room temperature was suitable?

This is an old one... you store em where you buy em. On the shelf. Your friends being a nonce.
There was some mention of storing in the fridge in other countries but I think theyre eggs are differently produced in terms of environment and hygene standards.

ComfortKid

Gebgbegb wrote:

This is an old one... you store em where you buy em. On the shelf. Your friends being a nonce. There was some mention of storing in the fridge in other countries but I think theyre eggs are differently produced in terms of environment and hygene standards.

Heard this argument with Ketchup but never eggs. So I am right then. My friend didn't seem to understand the logic that if they're not refrigerated in the shop, they didn't need to be at home. Thanks

HeidiHeidi

[QUOTE=ComfortKid;96539921 Heard this argument with Ketchup but never eggs. So I am right then. My friend didn't seem to understand the logic that if they're not refrigerated in the shop, they didn't need to be at home. Thanks[/QUOTE]

Ketchup and mayonnaise are sold off a shelf, but after opening need to be regfrigerated.

I store eggs on a shelf, and if they're near or even after their sell-by date I do the bowl of water test, to make sure they're ok.

(ETA - dunno what happened with my attempts to bold the bit about ketchup!)

I store eggs in the fridge. The packet specifically says to store them in the fridge.

Admittedly this is France, there might be a climate issue to consider.

Nevertheless, I've always been under the impression that shops don't store eggs in the fridge purely for practical reasons (space and cost).

There's also the fact that a shop will have a lower ambient temperature than your kitchen has during cooking. Kitchens usually get really warm during long cooking spells, such as preparing Sunday lunch.

Maldesu

I keep mine out but not for any particular reason. I had read somewhere that eggs that were washed had to be kept in the fridge but otherwise it was ok to keep them out. Doing a quick google, the food safety authority say is has to do with the transfer of bacteria like Salmonella and only certain grades of egg can be washed. The stuff in the supermarkets are all grade A and cannot be washed.

BabysCoffee

My irish bought (off shelf) eggs say refrigerate after purchase on container???

HeidiHeidi

Maldesu wrote: »

I keep mine out but not for any particular reason. I had read somewhere that eggs that were washed had to be kept in the fridge but otherwise it was ok to keep them out. Doing a quick google, the food safety authority say is has to do with the transfer of bacteria like Salmonella and only certain grades of egg can be washed. The stuff in the supermarkets are all grade A and cannot be washed.

Why would you want to wash an egg?

Maldesu

BabysCoffee wrote: »

My irish bought (off shelf) eggs say refrigerate after purchase on container???

Stores covering their a$$es I think.

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

Why would you want to wash an egg?

Chicken poo. Not all coops are clean etc.

BabysCoffee

Maldesu wrote: »

Stores covering their a$$es I think.



.

Nothing to do with the shop.

It's the producer that has marked the container.

Maldesu

BabysCoffee wrote: »

Nothing to do with the shop.

It's the producer that has marked the container.

Maybe the're covering themselves.


Just read my own packet of eggs, which says keep them in the fridge for freshness. Its not so much a requirement, but more a suggestion I think.

Bayberry

An unbroken egg shell is natures equivalent of a tin can or a foil pouch. An egg isn't quite as impervious to air as a tin can, obviously, but people were storing and eating eggs for a very long time before refrigeration became widely available. A Shelf life of a month at room temperature isn't unreasonable, though they will last longer if refrigerated.

Realistically, though, if it takes you a month to eat a dozen eggs, keep them in the fridge. If you buy your eggs every week, there's nothing wrong with keeping them in the press.

Bayberry

Maldesu wrote: »

The stuff in the supermarkets are all grade A and cannot be washed.

I'm pretty sure that any egg that you buy in the supermarket has been well washed - chickens don't lay perfectly clean eggs!

freshpopcorn

The hens lay them and we store them in an egg box haven't bought eggs in ages.

ComfortKid

freshpopcorn wrote:

The hens lay them and we store them in an egg box haven't bought eggs in ages.

Any chance you'd send me on a few? :-P

Used to get a few eggs of a farmer in work, much nicer than the ones I buy in the shop.

This thread seems pretty much 50/50 as to where they should bw stored. If it's not unhygienic to keep them out then I will continue to do that, I usually have them ate in 4 or 5 days anyway.

Dial Hard

Eggs that are washed after laying (as in the US) should be refrigerated. Eggs that aren't (as in the EU) shouldn't. It's to do with the protective membrane that's placed around them as they're laid.

Touch site won't let me post a link for some reason, will add it next time I'm on my laptop.

newacc2015

AFAIK eggs should be stored in a fridge after purchase. In America, they are store and sold from the fridge in Supermarkets. But EU rules, are they are too be stored on a shelf at room temperature, then kept in a fridge after purchase. It has something to be with bacteria and condensation. I seen it in the Wall Street Journal or one of the US business papers, how the varying rules around food are different in the US and the EU. Which makes the importation of either's food store difficult eg Keogh crisps, were created so they could export their potatoes to the US. You arent allowed to import uncooked potatoes from the EU into the US

I cant link it. But you can google why are eggs refrigerated in the US

Spanish Eyes

I always store eggs in the press.

Refrigerated eggs do not taste the same when cooked. But maybe that's just me.

I love eggs.

evolving_doors

Anyhow here's what the Food Safety Authority have to say.. basically keep it at a constant temp below 20degrees... fridge would be the most consistent... but then again if you have a press that is a constant enough temp then away ya go.

HERE

ComfortKid

After the spud, they egg has to be the most useful bit of food in my house. So many different things you can make with them.

I love eggs too!

Bayberry

ComfortKid wrote: »

After the spud, they egg has to be the most useful bit of food in my house. So many different things you can make with them.

I love eggs too!

I'd have to put bread at the top of that list!

ComfortKid

Im not really a big bread eater,i don't think I've ever finished a loaf, but you can't really do anything with bread other than eat it? Eggs and spuds can be used to make many different meals.

freshpopcorn

ComfortKid wrote: »

After the spud, they egg has to be the most useful bit of food in my house. So many different things you can make with them.

I love eggs too!

We also grow our own potatoes so we've loads of new potatoes along with our own eggs.

ComfortKid

freshpopcorn wrote:

We also grow our own potatoes so we've loads of new potatoes along with our own eggs.

How many chickens would you need to produce around 10 eggs per week?

And how much room would you need for that amount of chickens?
I'd love to get some, and have a big enough garden but I have 2 terriers so id need to fence of an area for em.

Annasopra

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

Why would you want to wash an egg?

In America all eggs are mass washed

ComfortKid

Joeytheparrot wrote:

In America all eggs are mass washed

Aren't our eggs washed too? I've never seen any dirt on them, whereas the eggs I used to get off my colleague were filthy with poo and feathers

freshpopcorn

ComfortKid wrote: »

How many chickens would you need to produce around 10 eggs per week?

And how much room would you need for that amount of chickens?
I'd love to get some, and have a big enough garden but I have 2 terriers so id need to fence of an area for em.

We only got back into hens this year and we only have two now but we generally they generally lay on egg a day. So we have about 14 eggs in a week.
We've a good few half an acre areas fenced off areas so we try and move them around.
I know there are plenty of hutches for sale on done deal and there popular with people with smaller gardens.

Annasopra

ComfortKid wrote: »

Aren't our eggs washed too? I've never seen any dirt on them, whereas the eggs I used to get off my colleague were filthy with poo and feathers

No

The EU bans washing them. Whereas America bans them unwashed

http://www.forbes.com/sites/nadiaarumugam/2012/10/25/why-american-eggs-would-be-illegal-in-a-british-supermarket-and-vice-versa/


http://blog.fooducate.com/2013/11/26/why-must-we-regrigerate-eggs-while-europe-doesnt/

Mattie500

We have a few hens out the back. Eggs are kept on a shelf in the utility. Taste much better and are always fresh. Coop isn't very big but if there is an area for laying and an area for roosting then the eggs are spotless.... Except if their outside area is mucky... Then the eggs get covered in muck as the hens stand on those already in the nesting box.

Kovu

ComfortKid wrote: »

Aren't our eggs washed too? I've never seen any dirt on them, whereas the eggs I used to get off my colleague were filthy with poo and feathers

It depends on how the hens are kept, majority of the dirt on home produced eggs is dirt that comes off the hens feet and feathers in the nest box. One of the priorities in Irish egg production is to produce clean eggs and nest boxes and areas around them would be frequently cleaned. Feathers would be picked off although I have found some in boxes before.

Only speculating here but any dirty eggs may be separated out for bulk sale to restaurants, the eggs wouldn't be seen by customers then.

We never refrigerate ours here either, but max three weeks for hen eggs, four weeks for duck eggs before throwing them out.

ComfortKid

Joeytheparrot wrote:

The EU bans washing them. Whereas America bans them unwashed

Very strange isn't it.

ComfortKid

freshpopcorn wrote:

We only got back into hens this year and we only have two now but we generally they generally lay on egg a day. So we have about 14 eggs in a week. We've a good few half an acre areas fenced off areas so we try and move them around. I know there are plenty of hutches for sale on done deal and there popular with people with smaller gardens.

Thanks for the info. Is it just two hens you have, you don't need a cock do you? What do you feed yours? I know there is oats for them or can they just eat insects and stuff?

Kovu

ComfortKid wrote: »

Very strange isn't it.

It's because of conditions they're kept in, plus afaik we vaccinate our egg production hens against salmonella whereas it's not the done thing in America.

ComfortKid

This thread is going a bit off topic I suppose. I'm going to do a bit of research tomorrow and see if it is plausible for me. Shall I need any more info I will be back to ye.

We now have a majority vote for keeping them at room temperature.

freshpopcorn

ComfortKid wrote: »

Thanks for the info. Is it just two hens you have, you don't need a cock do you? What do you feed yours? I know there is oats for them or can they just eat insects and stuff?

No we don't have a cock. To be honest they eat cold spuds/bits of chopped veg. But we have special food for them that came in back 10kg bag and cost €8.00. They also pick at the ground a lot.

Spanish Eyes

ComfortKid wrote: »

This thread is going a bit off topic I suppose. I'm going to do a bit of research tomorrow and see if it is plausible for me. Shall I need any more info I will be back to ye.

We now have a majority vote for keeping them at room temperature.

Yes, it will always be in the press (room temp) for the eggs in this house.

Then if gone over BBF date (as someone else said too) I do the bowl of water test. If they sink down they're fine if they float they are discarded.

Works for me. And I am still here.

I LOVE eggs

ComfortKid

Spanish Eyes wrote:

I LOVE eggs

Spanish Eyes wrote:

Then if gone over BBF date (as someone else said too) I do the bowl of water test. If they sink down they're fine if they float they are discarded.

Never heard of this before. Will make an interesting experiment.
Any idea why they float when passed there BB date?

Dial Hard

ComfortKid wrote:

Never heard of this before. Will make an interesting experiment. Any idea why they float when passed there BB date?

As eggs age the air pocket in them grows. Once it gets big enough, they'll float rather than sink.

Thought that was common knowledge, tbh.

ComfortKid

Dial Hard wrote:

As eggs age the air pocket in them grows. Once it gets big enough, they'll float rather than sink.

I get that, but why are they bad to eat once the air pocket grows or is that just a rough guide as to when they are bad?

Dial Hard

ComfortKid wrote:

I get that, but why are they bad to eat once the air pocket grows or is that just a rough guide as to when they are bad?

It's a rough guide. And it depends how you want to cook them. Poaching older eggs is an exercise in futility. But for omelettes and frittatas, you can get away with it. The crack test is really the litmus. If it smells bad, bin it.

Bayberry

Bayberry wrote: »

chickens don't lay perfectly clean eggs!

Freshly laid eggs are surprisingly clean.

My mum's eggs look exactly like shop-bought eggs, and she doesn't wash them.

They have the odd piece of of feather perhaps, but so does your average shop-bought egg. The only difference is in the taste. Shop-bought eggs taste nothing like home-produced eggs; and once open, they look nothing alike, either.

rubadub

ComfortKid wrote: »

My friend didn't seem to understand the logic that if they're not refrigerated in the shop, they didn't need to be at home. Thanks

I can't see how he could possibly argue with this logic. The eggs will typically have a date on them, so could be sitting on the shelf up until that point.

It will however extend the life, maybe that is what he is getting at.

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

Ketchup and mayonnaise are sold off a shelf, but after opening need to be regfrigerated.

And both can be stored on the shelf at home for ages before opening. They are actually fairly similar products to eggs care wise. Ketchups, tinned/canned foods are often sterilized or at least heat treated or packaged in a controlled environment. The moment you open the lid you are exposing it to airbourne contaminants which are landing in it, so the clock starts ticking the moment you open it.

This is similar to eggs, if you had eggs with a date 1 month away, and decided to crack the eggs into a bowl then the "container" is opened, just like your mayo etc. So now you should no longer leave this open bowl in the press expecting it to last a month. Even if you cracked the eggs into a jam jar and sealed it you have exposed them to contaminants.

Spanish Eyes

Dial Hard wrote: »

It's a rough guide. And it depends how you want to cook them. Poaching older eggs is an exercise in futility. But for omelettes and frittatas, you can get away with it. The crack test is really the litmus. If it smells bad, bin it.

True, older eggs do not poach well as the white can go all over the place.

HOWEVER.... I have successfully poached eggs over BBF that "sunk" by placing them in a mug half filled with water. Into the micro for twenty seconds. Then another ten. Depends on the power of the micro. Mine's 800w.

Lovely kept together poached eggs.

But I still prefer to do the whirlpool in the pan though with ahem, fresh eggs!

I love eggs....

vicwatson

I'm a fridge store person, have always done that, regularly use them after their BB date and still alive to tell the tale !

ComfortKid

Being alive is not a great gauge.

I want the best tasting eggs, if they kill me, so be it!

#iloveeggs

rubadub

vicwatson wrote: »

use them after their BB date and still alive to tell the tale !

So do I. The BB date will be based on the assumption of it sitting on a shelf in a supermarket. If they were going into a fridge the people determining the BB date would have put a far longer date on it.

adox

we just keep them in the box they come in on a shelf.

I thought it was always advised to not keep eggs in the fridge as they are poris and will absorb any scents from other foods in the fridge.

Dial Hard

Dial Hard wrote: »

Eggs that are washed after laying (as in the US) should be refrigerated. Eggs that aren't (as in the EU) shouldn't. It's to do with the protective membrane that's placed around them as they're laid.

Touch site won't let me post a link for some reason, will add it next time I'm on my laptop.

Finally got around to posting the link, which is actually really interesting, for anyone still wondering why eggs are washed & refrigerated in the US and not in most of the rest of the world.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/09/11/336330502/why-the-u-s-chills-its-eggs-and-most-of-the-world-doesnt

Bayberry

Dial Hard wrote: »

Finally got around to posting the link, which is actually really interesting, for anyone still wondering why eggs are washed & refrigerated in the US and not in most of the rest of the world.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/09/11/336330502/why-the-u-s-chills-its-eggs-and-most-of-the-world-doesnt

A 38-country survey by the International Egg Commission found that people feel strongly about how their eggs should look. The Irish, French, Czechs, Hungarians, Portuguese, Nigerians and Brits hanker for brown eggs. Canadians, Finns, Americans and Indians prefer white shells. Dutchmen and Argentines don't seem to care.

Family visiting from the US at Easter brought egg-dying kits for the kids - apparently it's a big thing over there. They were disappointed when they went to buy the eggs in Ireland because all the eggs were brown!

Jawgap

On the shelf.

Eggs in the fridge causes condensation within the shell which causes issues which cannot be discussed.

ComfortKid

Jawgap wrote:

Eggs in the fridge causes condensation within the shell which causes issues which cannot be discussed.

What the hell? Discuss please!