EGG CARE

Have you ever had the opportunity to cook with fresh eggs? They are my very favorite for eating, they just taste so good. Is that all in my head? I don’t know, but there is something to be said for knowing that the chickens that produce our eggs are loved, well fed, and well taken care of. It shows up in those little nuggets they leave in the nesting boxes every day.

As with all things fresh, homestead eggs come with a few extra steps or procedures that you need to put into action to keep them safe for consumption. So lets get right to it!

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Fresh is best, did you know that in most cases, by the time eggs reach the store they are already a month or 2 old. They’ve also been prepped for sale which includes a good cleaning and refrigeration. Store bought eggs should NEVER be kept at room temperature.

Our fresh eggs spend the first 30 days at room temperature. When I collect the eggs each morning, I bring them in and they go into a large crock where they wait for us to either consume them or refrigerate them. When we refrigerate them, I simply put the eggs from the crock into the carton and into the fridge. Thats it! No washing until we are ready to use. Why do this, you ask? When the egg is laid, there is a natural coating called the BLOOM that keeps the pores of the egg sealed and free of bacteria which will cause spoiling. Once the egg is washed, the bloom is then removed and the egg must spend the remainder of its days refrigerated. I’ve read that in France, they don’t refrigerate their eggs at all, that’s an interesting idea. When I sell my eggs I give a little card that tells the purchaser how to care for their fresh eggs, lets discuss those steps now.

For the first 30 days, eggs are safe to keep at room temp. The date on each carton is the date I packaged them, and they should be refrigerated within 15 days of that date, and they can remain in your refrigerator for 3.5 to 4 months from that date. Remember, if you wash your eggs, they must remain refrigerated until used. I personally don’t wash my eggs until I’m ready to use them.

When you are ready to use your eggs, simply run them under warm water to remove the bloom and dry. It is now safe to crack and use that egg (or store in fridge until you’re ready to use). Fresh eggs are difficult to peel, so they don’t make the best deviled or boiled eggs. Dig deep for your older eggs when boiling.

If you’re afraid that an may be too old to eat, theres a little test you can do to check for freshness. The Float test: fill a bowl with large glass or bowl with water and place egg into water, if it goes to bottom and lays flat on its side, it is very fresh.  If it is a bit older but still good to eat, it will sink and stand on one end.  If it floats to the surface, it is not good to eat and should be discarded.

I hope these egg care tips help you along in your egg journey!

xoxo