Note to the housewife: how long do raw and cooked quail eggs last in the refrigerator?

The benefits of quail eggs are undeniable. The uniqueness of the product lies in the presence of an antibacterial agent - lysozyme.

This component ensures a longer shelf life of products, especially in the refrigerator, obtained from quails than from conventional laying hens.

However, their freshness and suitability for food for a long time are possible only if certain recommendations are followed.

We will tell you in the article how long raw, boiled, fried and frozen quail eggs can be stored in the refrigerator.

Shelf life

Despite the fact that quail eggs can be stored at room temperature, the refrigerator significantly increases the shelf life of the product. However, its shelf life in the refrigerator depends on many factors. Of significant importance is the fact in what form quail eggs are stored - raw, boiled or in various dishes. Read about storing quail eggs Here.

Raw

According to GOST recommendations, raw quail eggs suitable for consumption for 30 days while ensuring a constant temperature regime corresponding to the range from 0 to 8°C. These conditions exist in the refrigerator compartment.

However, by observing such important indicators as the absence of cracks and chips in the shell, cleanliness and putting fresh and high-quality products in the refrigerator, you can increase its shelf life to 2 months.

Boiled

Oddly enough, unlike other heat-treated products, cooked specimens spoil faster than raw ones. It matters how they are prepared. Read about storing boiled quail eggs Here.

Hard-boiled

After cooking, such products can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. In this case, the following recommendations must be taken into account:

• the shell must be intact;
• heat treatment was carried out for 10 – 12 minutes;
• if the shell cracks during cooking, such a specimen cannot be stored in the refrigerator for more than 2 days;
• A peeled boiled egg can be stored in the refrigerator for only 24 hours.

Soft-boiled

This processing method greatly reduces shelf life quail eggs even if they are kept in the refrigerator. Reproduction of bacteria in specimens that were boiled for only 3–5 minutes. increases many times. Therefore, it is recommended to eat soft-boiled eggs immediately after cooking. If necessary, such products can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 2 hours.

Fried

When prepared without shells, quail eggs are recommended to be eaten immediately. This also applies to fried eggs.

This dish is a great breakfast option. But if it is not eaten immediately and left in the refrigerator for more than 2 hours, it becomes hazardous to health.

Especially It is dangerous to eat scrambled eggs that have lain for more than two hours in the refrigerator, if there was sauce or vegetables of any kind next to it.

Scrambled eggs are a tasty and healthy dish, eaten immediately after cooking.After even a short time, it can lead to serious food poisoning.

Frozen

Freezing significantly increases the shelf life of quail eggs. This method of storing products has some difficulties. However, the duration of suitability for human consumption increases significantly. It ranges from 6 months to a year.

There are some important tips to follow when freezing:

• use special containers with cells or a plastic tray for ice cubes to put in the freezer;
• containers for freezing must have a lid;
• You can’t freeze eggs in their shells;
• you can freeze the yolks and whites separately, fill the cells with whole eggs, or mix the yolks with whites and drop the mixture into separate compartments with a teaspoon;
• after complete freezing, the cubes with quail eggs can be transferred to a plastic bag or larger container, and the molds can be used for another batch of eggs;
• It is recommended to prepare the products after complete natural defrosting;
• Be sure to wash the products before freezing.

The large amount of liquid in eggs gives the effect of expansion during freezing. Therefore, the container cells should not be filled completely, leaving a reserve of volume so that the form does not deform or burst.

Differences for home and purchased copies

The shelf life of homemade and store-bought quail eggs in the refrigerator differs significantly. This is of decisive importance when storing products in the refrigerator, since The expiration date starts from the date of production and is 30 days..

Information about the shelf life of purchased eggs is provided to supermarkets by suppliers. The production date is the next day, the manufacturer indicates it on the shell. The freshest dietary products are those marked “D”. It means that the egg is no more than 7 days old.

Therefore, when buying eggs in a store, you can easily determine the date when they were demolished by the following indicators:

1. Each copy from the store contains information about its freshness.
2. If the eggs are sold in packaging, the date is indicated on the container.
3. As a last resort, you can ask the seller for a quality certificate, which contains information about the date of production of the product.

By storing store-bought products in the refrigerator, you can accurately calculate how long it can be stored. This will avoid food poisoning.

The situation is more complicated with the storage of domestic eggs purchased at the market or from farmers. Here you can only rely on the integrity of the sellers. It is not safe to store such products for long-term storage, since the risk of purchasing an expired product is quite high.

Is it possible to increase the shelf life?

The shelf life of quail eggs can be increased by following the recommendations and rules for their selection and storage. Many factors influence suitability, so when refrigerated important:

• avoid temperature changes in the refrigerator compartment;
• at temperatures below zero degrees, eggs freeze, the shell cracks, which helps reduce shelf life;
• high temperatures lead to rapid drying of the contents and loss of its beneficial properties;
• maintain a humidity level of at least 70%; with sealed packaging, a humidity level of 50% is allowed;
• store products of the first freshness, specifying the production date when purchasing;
• To avoid shortening the shelf life, eggs should not be washed before putting them in the refrigerator;
• The eggs should always be placed with the thin end down and preferably in special containers with separate cells;
• Only eggs with intact shells are stored for long-term storage;
• It is better not to store them in the refrigerator door, since here they are exposed to temperature changes;
• The storage period increases when eggs are placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.

Signs of corruption

Insufficient freshness of quail eggs is determined in several ways. To do this you can:

1. Weigh the egg. Fresh weighs 12 g. Over time, the contents dry out and the weight may be less than 9 g.
2. Place the testicles in a container of water. Fresh ones will sink to the bottom of the dish, old ones will float to the surface.
3. Shake the egg. In a fresh one, it will be quiet when shaken; in an old one, you can hear something gurgling.
4. Fresh eggs do not have a yolk that spreads.

The freshest eggs are dietary, marked “D”. Unmarked eggs are considered fresh up to 10 days from the date of production.

Tips and tricks

Some simple tips can help keep quail eggs fresh for a long time. Here are some of them:

1. Buy products only with the production date indicated on them or with a quality certificate.
2. When purchasing, carefully check the condition of the product.
3. If you find eggs with cracks or chips in the shell before storing them, set them aside for consumption in the near future.
4. A cracked shell is a reason to immediately remove the egg from the refrigerator. If they leak, they will not only spoil nearby products, but will become a source of foul odor.
5. Buy a product that is not too dirty, as very dirty eggs will spoil faster.

Conclusion

The unique benefits of eating quail eggs are beyond doubt. However, it can be obtained by using only fresh produce for food.

That's why the product for storage should be selected with special care in the refrigerator and comply with the necessary conditions, guided by the tips and recommendations outlined in the article.