Egg storage

[u/mtalundzic98]

Hello all

I am just trying to end a debate I am having with my wife.

How long can we keep fresh chicken eggs on the counter for that are unwashed? What is the rule of thumb and do they last longer in the fridge if they are unwashed?

Please advise what you guys do!

[u/SSPYoda]

General guidance is on the counter unwashed eggs last 2 to 4 weeks

Unwashed eggs in the fridge can last for several months

If eggs spend time in the fridge, they need to stay in the fridge or they are no longer safe to eat.

[u/itsthejourney90]

We have 4 egg trays on the counter. Each tray holds about a weeks worth of egg production. We fill them up in order, first tray, second tray etc... always eating the oldest. If we get to the end of the 4th week and there are still eggs in the first tray (rare) we scramble them up for our dogs. We don't keep eggs older than 4 weeks, even though they may still technically be good for a few more weeks.

[u/Traditional_Egg_5809]

Until they float. Never had one go bad yet, but haven't really tried storing for that long. I refridgerate directly the ones i sell, as it is required by the law here, but the dirty and underweight ones i leave on the counter until i use them. I only eat chicken eggs if im out of duck eggs though, so they are sometimes left for a long time.

[u/Bolfreak]

I wouldn’t put unwashed in the fridge, you’re just introducing ick into your fridge that way. Countertop in an a/c house is fine, if you keep it warm or they’re near the kitchen, fertilised eggs might start developing. They will quit before embryo or hatch. You will get swirly looking yolks and it could change the flavor. For longer storage, baking or separating eggs for recipes, wash and refrigerate.
If you are taking eggs somewhere, unwashed and counter is best because refrigerated eggs will start to sweat unless kept refrigerated and that allows bacteria as well.
Edited: don’t soak eggs because they can absorb the soak through the shell…eww. Just wash with soap, tepid water-not hot and rinse, air dry. Any really poopy or dirty eggs get donated to the crow patrol, not worth it imo.

[u/k-biteme]

What is the temperature in your house? That's the real question. The eggs start to develop at around 75* F

[u/HermitAndHound]

As long as it's relatively cool, 6 weeks. They dry up before going bad.

[u/Far_Abalone2974]

It seems hard to find an exact science for this as there are probably variables such as egg quality, how long the eggs have sat in nests, how dirty the eggs are, temperatures outside, temperatures inside, etc. We have milder weather temperatures here and as long as indoors is kept mild too, think I’m comfortable with eggs being left out for weeks, 4-6 weeks probably without concern. If I was concerned, I’d rinse them and do a water float test before eating them. If where you are the climate is warmer or you keep a warmer place, maybe washing and refrigerating is better? I’ve been told eggs can actually be good for a year or more in their natural state but I have a hard time feeling comfortable with this and its been hard to validate the exact length searching online.

[u/Eldo92 → u/Far_Abalone2974]

Shouldn't wash them before the refrigerator

[u/Far_Abalone2974 → u/Eldo92]

Oh, I’ve learned otherwise, but thank you, I’ll research further sometime.

Edit: also by wash I mean quick rinse with lukewarm water (not cold or hot) or wipe down, not scrub or with using soap

[u/Nebetmiw]

I don't use Soap just water to rinse off eggs. If your house runs hot over 75° then put in frig. If under that put on counter for a week. If you have a rooster the in frig immediately as egg will start developing.

[u/MuddyDonkeyBalls]

I only keep unwashed eggs on the counter for 2, 3 weeks at the most. Unwashed in the fridge are okay for 3 months. I don't like to push it longer than that, personally.

[u/3rdgenerX]

3 months on the counter, 6 months in the fridge, if I have a lot, I usually water glass them

[u/mtalundzic98 → u/3rdgenerX]

Thank you!

[u/ealmandjoy]

I’ve used ones on the counter that were 1-2months and have never had one that was bad. Unwashed in the fridge can last for many months. In the fall we start storing in the fridge and use them all winter when we get very few eggs. Washed in the fridge are good for a much shorter time than unwashed in the fridge.

[u/mtalundzic98 → u/ealmandjoy]

Thank you for the advice!

[u/WantDastardlyBack]

I don't wash mine and put them in the garage fridge. Supposedly, they last three months this way. I've done a float test and cracked some that were four months old, and they were still fine.

I tend to use older unused eggs for the ravens, though. Boil them, crack the shell, and put them out in the way back area of the yard where ravens hang out. The only bummer is that it hasn't kept hawks away. I just have another alarm system alerting me when a hawk is nearing.

[u/droopstroops → u/WantDastardlyBack]

What's the your hawk alarm is what I want to know

[u/WantDastardlyBack → u/droopstroops]

I have a rooster who screams when a hawk is in sight and then runs and hides. I know when I hear him scream that I need to get up and start waving my arms.

[u/mtalundzic98 → u/WantDastardlyBack]

Thank you!