How to store raw eggs correctly and for how long?
Like other animal foods, eggs have a limited shelf life.
Consuming a spoiled product can lead to serious poisoning.
How long raw eggs are stored, under what conditions, how best to store them, in what container, is described in this article.
Content
How long to store - in shell or without?
The overall shelf life of raw eggs depends on the cleanliness and integrity of their shells. Since the shell is porous, any contamination quickly penetrates inside and spoils the contents, causing rot. That's why for long-term storage it is better to choose specimens with a clean, undamaged surface.
You can find out how long broken eggs last in the refrigerator here.
In a refrigerator
Placed in a compartment where the temperature is maintained no higher than +4 degrees, the eggs are stored for 15-18 days. The shelled product is suitable for use within 2 days. The semi-liquid mass is kept in a glass, tightly closed jar or plastic container.
In room conditions
At a temperature of +20 +24 degrees, a raw egg in an intact shell will not spoil within 5-7 days. Broken should be consumed within a few hours.
In the cellar
If there is no refrigerator, for example in a country house, raw eggs can be placed in a cellar or vegetable pit.
Even in the summer heat, the temperature there rarely exceeds +10 degrees, which almost corresponds to the parameters of the refrigerator compartment.
The cellar usually has high humidity, which is detrimental to long-term storage. The product must be placed in a plastic bag before being stored in the cellar..
In the well
An original and very effective solution, since well water has a constant temperature of +4 +7 degrees. The eggs are placed in a tightly closed container that does not allow water to pass through, and lowered down on a rope so that the container with the product is in the water.
Can it be frozen?
Eggs without shells tolerate freezing well without changing their properties. At -18 degrees and below, they can be stored for up to a year. After thawing, the raw materials are used to prepare omelettes, scrambled eggs, and baked goods.
The contents of the shell are frozen:
- in plastic bottles;
- dense plastic bags with a zip fastener;
- in portioned plastic containers.
He will tell you about freezing eggs for long-term storage. this article.
What to keep, what container to use?
The best storage container is cardboard or plastic cassettes with individual cells, where eggs are placed vertically, with the sharp end down.
You can use the containers in which they are sold in the store, provided that the packaging is clean and not deformed. It is not advisable to close the container; air should circulate freely.
You can hold the product:
- in a basket in sawdust or shavings;
- pan lined with paper towels.
It is advisable that the lying eggs do not touch each other.
Features of home storage
Having your own bird at home, you can get a high-quality product for storage, since the egg laid by a chicken is sterile.
All other things being equal, a domestic egg will keep fresh longer than store bought. Freshly laid eggs with clean, undamaged shells are suitable for selection for storage.
If there is a choice between fertilized and dietary (there is no rooster in the poultry flock) eggs, then for storage you need to choose the second option. The absence of an embryo inhibits the development of putrefactive processes.
How to increase the shelf life?
The shelf life can be extended by completely isolating the contents of the shell from the external environment. After all, product spoilage occurs due to air entering through the pores of the shell and its subsequent interaction with the protein and yolk.
Create a protective film using melted lard or candle wax, medical paraffin.
The action algorithm is as follows:
- Dissolve fat or wax in a saucepan over a water bath.
- Place clean eggs in a colander or frying mesh. Dip into the melted mixture to completely cover the product.
- Leave in the solution for 20 seconds.
- Dry without wiping.
Extends shelf life and vacuum. Fresh eggs are placed in a bag and the air is pumped out with a special device. In this form, the product will successfully last for several months in the refrigerator and up to 7 weeks at room temperature.
If dry fresh eggs, when placed in a container, are sprinkled with dry oven-calcined salt, fresh wood ash or sand, they can be kept at room temperature for more than 3 weeks.The contents of the shell will remain fresh.
The nutritional value of long-stored food, despite its suitability for use, is significantly inferior to the fresh product.
How can you tell if a product has started to disappear?
Before cooking, an egg that is in doubt about its freshness is placed in clean, cool water. If it sinks to the bottom or partially lifts the blunt end upward, the product is suitable for use. If the contents are rotten, the egg floats to the surface and does not sink.
Adviсe
Before storing for long-term storage, you need to make sure that the shell has no cracks, holes, sagging or other signs of deformation. If there are dry stains on the surface, remove them with a dry cloth.
Our ancestors, without refrigerators, often stored eggs in a lime solution. The method is simple and cheap. You will need slaked lime, a bucket with a lid or a jar and water.
Lime is diluted in cold water in a ratio of 1 to 5 and unwashed fresh eggs are immersed in it. Store for up to six months in room conditions, away from heating devices. Before use, rinse thoroughly.
Conclusion
Fresh raw eggs with high-quality shells are stored in the room for no more than a week and about 15 days in the refrigerator. If there is no cooling chamber, they are put into a cellar, well, and subjected to special treatment.
