Methods for storing chicken eggs may vary. The record period is 2 years, thanks to the efforts of scientists from Cornell University in the USA. To do this, the air was pumped out of the package. Researchers at British universities have been studying methods to maintain quality for 80 years. An interesting fact was discovered - when coated with Vaseline with the addition of salicylic acid, the aging process slows down.
During the research, it was revealed: the first place in terms of shelf life is occupied by eggs stored in bran; second - coated with a mixture of vegetable oil and beeswax, covered with salt; third - greased with mutton fat and placed in lime powder.
Selection of eggs for storage
For long-term storage, fresh eggs with clean shells without cracks are selected. Those that are demolished in October are better preserved.
Eggs should not be washed before storage, so as not to damage the bactericidal layer that covers the shell and protects against the penetration of bacteria. Those that are demolished in October are better preserved.
The product obtained from a healthy chicken is sterile, but after 2 hours it becomes covered with bacteria, viruses and fungi. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor cleanliness in the nests of the poultry house.
The recommended period of use is 5 days after laying.
After the chicken has laid an egg, it needs to be given time to mature, during which the yolk acquires a pleasant taste. With further storage, qualitative changes occur in it.
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Enterprises are trying to monitor the health of birds and staff, however, in order to protect yourself from salmonella infection, it is worth rinsing eggs with water immediately before cooking them, doctors say. That is, fried eggs, omelettes, cocktails made with egg yolk or egg white are quite dangerous in this regard,” explained nutritionist-endocrinologist Natalya Sorokina.
This method will help keep them fresh longer. But it is worth considering that after removing the natural film, the shelf life is reduced to 4-5 days.
If eggs are washed before storing, their shelf life is reduced to up to a week. The bactericidal layer on the surface of the shell, which protects the egg, is washed off.
So one way to reduce risks is to simply heat-treat the egg (boil, bake or fry). However, even during storage, salmonella living on the shell can move to other products that you plan to eat fresh - for example, vegetables or fruits that accidentally end up next to the eggs. The risk is, of course, minimal, but it is still present.
Therefore, experts strongly recommend boiling eggs for 10-15 minutes before eating them.
We wash chicken eggs sometimes when traces of dirt are really visible. In general, we try to keep nests clean and dry. After washing, store in the refrigerator - up to 3 weeks. Never gone missing yet.
Only whole specimens without damage to the shell have a long shelf life. It is preferable to store them in a refrigerator, pantry, living room, at any time except summer.
Testicles should not be stored next to the following products:
- Fish, meat, smoked meats. Eggshells are fragile, and their micropores quickly absorb foreign odors.
- Medicines.
- Fruits, vegetables, semi-finished products.
- Dairy products. This is especially true for domestic eggs.
A week after laying, it is strongly recommended to throw away the washed egg - pathogenic microorganisms could already have entered it and multiplied.
Doctors noted that following these rules is important for health, since salmonellosis poses a threat to human life. They noticed that at the initial stage, this disease resembles a common intestinal infection.
Many scrupulous housewives, having bought eggs in the store, cannot put them in the refrigerator without thoroughly washing them. And if they were brought from the market, purchased from grandmothers, then there is no doubt about whether they need to be “bathed.” But few people think about whether they need to wash eggs before storing or properly leave them in the form in which they were taken from the seller. To extend the shelf life of the product for a long time, various methods of storing eggs without refrigeration are used.
It turned out that sometimes you need to fight the desire to keep everything clean. But at the same time, you should follow basic rules when buying and storing eggs, because not only your health, but also the health of your entire family depends on it.
Temperature conditions
After demolition, the product is cooled to prevent the development of bacteria: it is placed in closed plastic packaging and placed in the refrigerator. The storage temperature must be constant. With a sharp increase, spoilage begins, and with a drop to -2 ° C, the eggs freeze.
Under conditions of low temperature and high humidity, biochemical processes in eggs slow down.
Short-term storage is carried out at temperatures from +8 to +12 ° C and air humidity of 75-80%. After a month, the product loses 1/3 of its micronutrients.
If eggs have been stored at temperatures from +15 to +25°C for 1 month, they cannot be eaten.
The most important thing about expiration date
The shelf life of chicken eggs depends on three circumstances:
- storage temperatures;
- method of use;
- cleaning.
For example, an egg received 10 days ago cannot be eaten raw, but it can be eaten boiled, fried, or used to make dough.
Doctors and technologists divide eggs into three categories:
- Dietary - those that were stored at room temperature for no more than a week. They are suitable for baby food and for consumption raw (provided they are thoroughly cleaned right before eating).
- Tableware - stored at room temperature for no more than a month. They can be fried, soft-boiled and hard-boiled, and used for baking.
- Refrigerated tableware - stored for more than 30 days at a temperature of about 0°C. Can only be used for preparing dough before long-term baking.
In general, the rule is this: if you are not a fan of raw eggs, then you can keep the purchased dozen in the refrigerator for up to 5 weeks (we count the time not from the date of purchase, but from the date of production).
But if you wash the eggs, the shelf life is significantly reduced:
- they can be kept at room temperature for no more than a day;
- in the refrigerator - no more than 5 days.
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Dry method
Experienced poultry farmers use several methods to prolong the freshness of the product: stored in fine peat, sprinkled with oats, coated with Vaseline, lard, vegetable oil, paraffin-rosin mixture.
In the refrigerator, eggs are exposed to mold, and decomposition processes begin in them.
Recipe for storing in a barrel:
- Rub with grease.
- Place the product in a dry barrel.
- Sprinkle with millet, barley or oats.
Wood ash, chalk, bran, salt, oak sawdust help maintain freshness.
Recipe for storing in a wooden box:
- Lubricate with sunflower oil.
- Wrap each one in paper.
- Packed in wooden containers.
- Cover with dry sand.
Can washed eggs be stored in the refrigerator?
You should not wash eggs immediately after purchasing, as you will erase the invisible thin protective layer on the shell, and the shelf life of freshness will be significantly reduced because of this. How long can washed eggs be stored in the refrigerator? The answer is simple: Unwashed - 4-5 weeks; Washed - no more than 4 days. Important! Eggs must be washed thoroughly immediately before use. This will protect you from salmonella bacteria that may be on the surface of the shell.
Wet method
Immersing them in liquids helps preserve eggs: 15% borax solution, chlorine and sea water, bleach solution. This way they are stored for 3-4 months.
A simple recipe for preserving the product at home:
- 400 g of lime are poured into a bucket of water.
- Wait until the water becomes clear.
- Lay in a layer of 25 cm.
- Cover and place in a cool place with an air temperature of +8 to +10 °C.
During storage, a film forms on the surface; if it disappears, the solution is replaced with a new one. To prevent eggs from acquiring a taste, you can put them in clean water and change it periodically.
Doctors explained why you need to wash chicken eggs
This leads to the fact that the shelf life of such eggs is sharply reduced. Compare - an unwashed table egg can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 120 days, and a washed one - only 7. The difference is noticeable, isn’t it? In addition, washed eggs can only be stored in the refrigerator to prevent the rapid proliferation of harmful bacteria.
Why don’t harmful microorganisms infect the yolk and white until the shell cracks? After all, it is covered with micropores... It's all about the protective film that envelops the egg from the outside - the cuticle. It is a powerful barrier between any bacteria and the inside of the egg. If you wash the egg thoroughly, it will damage the cuticle - any infection can easily penetrate through the pores into the product.
The packaging date for eggs sold in supermarkets is indicated on the container in which the eggs are placed, and the date of laying is stamped on the shell.
The same two-pronged approach applies to incubation. Proponents of disinfection believe that it is necessary to take care of the chicks and disinfect the eggs before placing them in the incubator. Otherwise, after barely hatching, the chicks run the risk of becoming infected, and their body is still too weak to resist infections.
They are stored in the store refrigerator for 30 days after they are laid by the bird. It is impossible to determine the date by purchasing a product in the market. Therefore, homemade eggs are stored for no longer than 20 days.
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It is a well-known truth: the lower the temperature in the refrigerator, the longer almost any product will be stored. However, it only applies to unwashed eggs.
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Salmonella bacteria die at a temperature of +71 degrees. In this case, to reduce the risk of infection, it is necessary to boil, fry or bake the product.
In this article we will find out whether it is possible to wash a chicken egg before storing. Or is it better to leave it as is. A similar dilemma arises when you find dried dirt, droppings, or feathers on eggshells. For fear of catching an infection, many begin to wash eggs before putting them in the refrigerator. Thereby making changes to their structure.
Methods for storing chicken eggs
There are usually no difficulties with storing chicken products. You can store it both in the refrigerator and at room temperature, making some manipulations.
Cold storage
If you store the product in the refrigerator door, then this is wrong. The air temperature on the side shelves is 4-5 degrees higher than in the entire refrigerator. And constantly closing and opening the door does not have the best effect on the eggs. Therefore, it is best to store eggs on the lower shelves closer to the back wall. This place is considered the coolest.
It's better if you place them pointy end down inside the tray. This is necessary for longer freshness of the product, since at the blunt end there is a small accumulation of air between the shell and the protein. The second reason is the possibility of accumulation of pathogenic bacteria inside the airspace. While at the bottom, they will gradually rise to the top, thereby hitting the squirrels.
The optimal storage temperature is 4 degrees above zero. This way the product will stay fresh for up to 5 weeks.
If you are interested in how long boiled eggs can be stored, then their maximum period is up to a week. Provided that the shell is intact. In purified form – no more than 2 days. The location in the refrigerator does not matter.
