Wash Eggs Or Don't Wash Eggs?

   Morgan is looking at that molting Australorp as if to say, "What are you doing, you goofy hen?" I'm a bit worried too; the hen could get sick because of the damp cold weather. Or not? I hope the feathers she still has will keep her warm enough. Molting should mean she is not laying, but some hens continue to lay eggs during molt. 

   I have been in a quandary over when, if, or how to wash eggs ever since we started raising chickens. In the beginning it seemed natural to wash the eggs in an organic detergent using hot water, scrub with a veggie brush, rinse them well and dry them before refrigerating. I did a lot of searching around on the internet to try to find out the best method of egg handling.

   People have many ways of handling eggs from their chickens. Some methods are new, some here  and here have been handed down through generations. I was soon confused. Some people bring the eggs in from the coop and keep them in a basket on the counter. In Europe and other countries, eggs are not refrigerated and are sold off the shelf. Some eggs even came with little feathers still stuck to them according to one site I read.

   So... what to do. In this country we are very aware of germs and the importance of keeping things clean. I found many sites that stated they and their families never refrigerated eggs or washed eggs until they used them. I decided I like the idea of leaving the bloom on the eggs to protect them. These people here (don't wash their eggs either.

   So, at first I found it a bit strange to just collect the eggs and put them in the refrigerator without washing them. Usually, the eggs are very clean and look as though they have been already washed. My plastic egg container in the fridge has a lid. I toss eggs if they are too dirty or were laid on the ground. I wash and use any eggs that day that need washing.

   I wash eggs with water just before I am going to cook them. The latest change I have made is to now use hot water instead of cold. I read somewhere a while back that cold water was the best, but it turns out that was not true, at least according to the latest information I have found here (North Carolina Cooperative Extension) and here (The Poultry Site - Egg Handling.)

   It seems that the hot water causes the egg inside to expand pushing against any bad stuff trying to get in through the shell. I think that's how it works. 

   Disclaimer: I am not advocating my way or any way of handling eggs. Maybe I should use a sanitizer? I wonder how people handle eggs? Refrigerate or wash them? How? When? Freeze?

[5 eggs today]

Peek at the Past

February 3, 2009

~:>

Smiles

Happy Anniversary to Me.

42 years!