Do you buy fresh eggs from a nearby farm or have chickens in your backyard? Come learn how to keep fresh eggs safe so they last longer and stay at their best!
This guide will cover important frequently asked questions like: if fresh eggs need to be refrigerated or not, when and how to wash them, how long they’re good for, and how to test freshness with the “float test” – along with a little of the science behind it all. I used to work as a food safety health inspector after all, and have been raising backyard chickens for over 10 years!.
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RELATED: Don’t miss our beginner’s guide on raising backyard chickens, including the top 18 chicken breeds for friendly birds and colorful eggs!.
Farm fresh eggs are remarkably different from those you buy in the store. They’re more flavorful, colorful, nutrient-dense, and the chickens typically receive much better care! Also, they’re not processed in the same manner as commercial eggs, which means you should store and wash fresh eggs differently than store-bought eggs.
How To Store Freshly Laid Chicken Eggs – A Practical Guide
Collecting those precious freshly laid eggs from your backyard chickens is one of the greatest joys of raising chickens. However, knowing how to properly store these farm-fresh eggs is important so you can enjoy their freshness and flavor as long as possible. In this practical guide, I’ll explain the best practices for storing freshly laid chicken eggs.
Learn About The Egg Bloom: Brand-new eggs have a covering that protects them. This covering is called the bloom or cuticle. This covering covers the egg shell’s holes and stops germs from getting inside the egg. It makes it safe to store fresh eggs at room temperature without having to cool them down.
The bloom remains intact unless it is removed by washing the egg in water. Once the bloom is removed, the egg is more susceptible to contamination and must be refrigerated.
Pick Up Eggs Often: Pick up eggs from the nesting boxes as often as you can, at least twice a day. This keeps the eggs from getting too dirty or broken from bumping into each other. It also makes it less likely that predators will take the eggs.
Gentle Way to Clean Dirty Eggs: Wipe off any dirt or debris on the egg shell with a dry cloth or sanding sponge. Do not put dirty eggs in water to clean them because this can remove the bloom that protects them.
Eggs that have been washed should be put in the fridge right away if they get wet or have the bloom taken off in any other way. Eggs that have been washed will last over a month in the fridge but not as long at room temperature.
Store Eggs Pointy Side Down
Store eggs with the pointed side facing down. This keeps the air pocket at the top of the egg away from the yolk and helps center the yolk. It’s especially helpful for boiled eggs!
Room Temperature Storage
Unwashed eggs with intact blooms can be left out at room temperature for 2-4 weeks before refrigeration is needed. Ideal room temperature is around 70°F. Avoid extreme temperatures over 90°F.
Refrigerated Storage
Refrigeration extends the shelf life of eggs. Washed eggs will last over a month refrigerated. Unwashed eggs can last 2-3 months in the fridge before quality declines.
Long Term Storage
For storage beyond 2-3 months, methods like freezing, water glassing, or pickling can preserve eggs 6 months or longer. However, the texture and flavor will change compared to fresh eggs.
Signs Of A Bad Egg
To test if an older egg is still good, place it in water. If it sinks to the bottom it’s still fresh. If it floats, it’s gone bad and should be discarded. Cracked eggs should also be discarded.
The Bloom, Washing, and Pasteurization
Freshly-laid eggs have a natural protective coating on the outside of the shell called the cuticle. More commonly known as the “bloom”, the cuticle effectively seals the otherwise porous eggshell.
As the University of Edinburgh explains, “the cuticle prevents bacteria from entering the egg and forms its first line of defense against infection.” This is nature’s way of protecting developing chicks in fertilized eggs! The bloom also helps keep eggs fresh longer, preventing both the loss of moisture and the introduction of contamination.
As required by the USDA, commercial store-bought eggs are pasteurized (rapidly heated to a high temperature). The process kills pathogens present at the time of pasteurization but provides no long-term protection. Rather, both pasteurization and washing eggs removes the bloom, thus leaving eggs more susceptible to spoilage. This is why pasteurized and washed eggs must be refrigerated.
How Long Do Fresh Eggs Last on the Counter?
Fresh unwashed eggs stay good for about 2 to 3 weeks when stored on the counter at room temperature. However, the recommendation doesn’t stem from food safety alone – but more so to maintain optimal eating quality.
As eggs age, their protein structure degrades. This causes older egg whites to become more runny, and the yolks to stand less round and tall or break more easily.
Eggs kept at room temperature will go bad much faster than eggs kept in the fridge, even though they are safe. The warmer your home is, the more this is true! Therefore, I personally recommend storing eggs at room temperature for no longer than a week – and only a few days if it is very hot and humid.
Gorgeous golden yolks from our girls – including a double-yolker! Freshly laid eggs have more perky, tall yolks. Older eggs have more flattened yolks and thinner whites that will run and spread in a pan more.
How To Store Your Chickens’ Freshly Laid Eggs
FAQ
How do you store fresh eggs from chickens?
Here are some ways to keep fresh eggs from your chickens fresh for longer: Put them in boxes or buckets with straw. Use some in an egg skelter within days and store the rest in the fridge.
How long can you store fresh eggs safely?
Over time, eggs lose quality and pick up more bacteria. So, the longer you store them, the less fresh they will be. Any longer than 4-5 weeks, and you risk a case of food poisoning.
How do you store eggs after laying them?
Please note: you should store your eggs in the refrigerator straight away if you clean your eggs with water because you’ve removed the bloom from the eggs. Eggs that have just been laid can be left for at least a month out at room temperature before they need to go into the refrigerator. Eggs can be kept in any dish or basket.
How do you preserve fresh eggs?
Pickling: One of the most popular methods of preserving fresh eggs is pickling. This easy method of preservation includes hard-boiling and then pickling using whatever recipe sounds best to you. It preserves eggs for up to 4 months but the pickled flavor may not be popular with everyone.
Should fresh eggs be stored in the fridge or room temperature?
The great divide between storing fresh eggs in the fridge or room temperature appears to span across the Atlantic Ocean! It’s common for people in the UK to store their eggs at room temperature, whereas most people keep their eggs in the US fridge.
Do chicken eggs need to be refrigerated?
While you do not need to refrigerate freshly laid eggs, they will last longer. Just keep in mind that you should not wash them until you are ready to use them if you don’t refrigerate your eggs. How Long After a Chicken Lays an Egg Does It Need to Be Refrigerated?.
What is the best way to store fresh laid eggs?
A general rule, unwashed eggs will last around two weeks unrefrigerated and about three months or more in your refrigerator. If you have a lot of fresh eggs, it’s best to put any that you aren’t going to eat right away in the fridge. This will help them last longer.
What to do with egg after chicken lays it?
- local shelters
- food pantry
- church/school meals
- Nursing Homes
- Easter Egg Hunts (Hard Boil)
- Soup Kitchens
- Family/neighbor in need
- fire/police department
How to tell if water glassing eggs are bad?
To check if water-glassed eggs are bad, crack them open individually into a bowl. Look for a cloudy or discolored yolk or white, and a foul odor. Freshly water-glassed eggs will have a mild, fresh scent, similar to a normal raw egg. If you notice any cloudiness, discoloration, or a strong, unpleasant smell, discard the egg.
How soon do freshly laid eggs need to be refrigerated?