Eggs are a basic element in our diet! We find them in the mayonnaise at lunch and the ham-spinach omelette at night with great appetite. However, the question of how to preserve them is never very clear. For example, we don’t always know whether to keep them in the fridge or not so that they last a long time! And if we love extra fresh eggs from free-range laying hens, we want to preserve this freshness and quality. In short, it’s the eternal headache after returning from shopping to know how to preserve your food… Here are all our tips for preserving eggs.
1) Basic actions after purchasing eggs
When you arrive home, check that no eggs are broken. Above all, look at them from every angle. In addition, note that eggs can be eaten up to 28 days after laying. In fact, do not hesitate to consult this date as well as the expiration date (DLC).
2) Washing the shell, something to avoid!
You should never wash eggs before storing them, even if it is tempting when you notice dirt on them. Washing removes the layer that protects the shell against microbes. This actually harms its porosity and the egg quickly loses all its freshness. If necessary, you can always gently rub the shell with a dry cloth to “brush” small impurities! Some also take the opportunity to brush the shell with oil. This would make it more airtight.
3) Storage in the fridge or room temperature for eggs: a big debate?
A refrigerator is always sold with a honeycomb support for eggs. However, does this necessarily mean that you have to put your eggs there? Against all odds, the answer is non ! In fact, according to a British study, it didn’t no impact on conservation or the proliferation of bacteria (E.coli, salmonellosis, etc.). Note in passing that the words “Keep in the refrigerator after purchase” on egg cartons is a mandatory wording, but that does not mean that it is the best method of storage.
At the store, they are kept at room temperature to avoid thermal shock. If the producers refrigerated them, we could not be sure that they were kept fresh until they arrived at home (especially during transport). The eggs would therefore undergo temperature variations harmful to the natural protection of the shell until they arrived with us.
Once at home, keeping them out of the fridge is therefore safe and you do not risk any food poisoning. Moreover, it is even rather recommended since this food tends to absorb humidity and odors. The fridge can therefore quickly deteriorate the taste and a fresh egg can be more difficult to use in cooking. Its incorporation will be less good in culinary preparations.
4) What if we opted for storing the eggs in the fridge?
Certain conditions must be respected. Keep them in the box, point side down. If you put them in the compartments provided for this purpose in the fridge, they risk being subjected to small thermal shocks. In fact, we open and close the door several times. In fact, the food stored there undergo constant temperature variationssomething that eggs cannot tolerate. In any case, avoid storing your eggs near odorous foods such as onions or cheese.
5) If in doubt about the freshness of an egg, give it a test to be sure.
The easiest test is to put it in a glass of water to see if it floats. If this is the case, it is because the shell is porous and therefore the egg inside is no longer sufficiently protected. It therefore risks not being no longer very fresh, or even expired ! If you wanted to make scrambled, hard-boiled or soft-boiled eggs with free-range eggs that have been lying around in the fridge for a while, then you should avoid it!