Fresh Eggs – What You Need to Know

Having fresh eggs is great! Not only do they taste better but they are generally more nutritious. Store-bought eggs can be a month old when sold, but don’t worry, they are safe to eat. The eggs and the facility go through a thorough and extensive inspection, consisting of washing and candling.

There are quite a few differences between fresh and store-bought eggs. Here are a few things you should know:  

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Storing

You can store fresh eggs on the counter if you don’t wash them. This was such a struggle for me at first. Eggs go in the refrigerator, right!? And they come from the grocery store…LOL.

So, why is it safe to store fresh eggs on the counter? Fresh eggs have a “protective bloom” on the outside. Its purpose is to protect an embryo from any bacteria or germs by sealing the pores. By not washing it off, you can store eggs on the counter for a month at room temperature. 

Occasionally, you may see poop, mud, or other stuff on the outside of your eggs. I use to wash it off but now, I just pick a clean part of the shell and break there. I’ve been doing this for two years and so far, no one has gotten sick.

Some people will rub lightly with a paper towel or sandpaper to remove. Occasionally we will get a really dirty egg and I’ll just wash and refrigerate until ready to use.

If you are getting a lot of dirty eggs, check the nesting box. I check ours each time I collect eggs and usually clean once a week. Don’t allow your chickens to sleep in the nest boxes. Chickens poop a lot at night and letting them sleep in the nest box will lead to dirty eggs. Therefore, if they are sleeping in the boxes, you may need to block them off.

If you decide to wash your eggs, wash them with warm water. The shells are porous and cool water can cause the egg to shrink and allow bacteria to seep in. There’s no need to scrub or use a cleaner on them. Once washed, store in the refrigerator immediately.

It’s not advised to store eggs in the frig then move to the counter. This can cause condensation on the egg which can break down the bloom.

How you store your eggs is a personal decision. If you decide to store them on the counter, I recommend using an egg skelter. With this, the oldest eggs get used first. Similarly, some people will store them in a basket on the counter and write the date on the egg in pencil.

Eggs purchased at the store must be kept in the frig since the bloom has been removed through the washing process.

Collecting eggs

When you are collecting eggs, if you notice any broken ones, discard them to be on the safe side. I scramble and feedback to the chickens or dogs. There is a membrane that should protect the egg but why risk it. If for some reason, the shell is wet, store it in the refrigerator and use it ASAP.  

Sometimes your girls may lay what is referred to as a fairy egg. This is an egg with just the white and no yolk.  Generally, you will see this with young layers. The reproductive cycle is immature, and this will happen on occasion.

However, if an older bird lays a fairy egg very often, check for any signs of injury or illness. 

Trudy, our Leghorn, is our most consistent layer and had two fairy eggs within about a ten-day period. With the construction going on behind our house, she was stressed. Then, the following week, she had Fowl Pox. I’m sure one or both of these contributed to the fairy eggs.

Double yolk eggs also happen in young layers. Their bodies are still trying to figure out the process and occasionally will release an additional yolk before the first one has made it through the entire course.

Another thing you may see is a shell-less egg or a rubber egg. The shell is the last step in the egg-laying process. Occasionally, it gets left off and it’s just the membrane on the outside.

Our girls had been laying about six weeks and we got a double rubber egg. Definitely an anomaly. My only thought is two yolks were released and since the shell was left off, it ended up like this.

You may also see a soft-shell egg. Unlike the rubber egg, the shell is thin and can break easily. If this occurs, supplement with oyster shell or calcium and check for other illnesses.  This is more common in the summer months when temps are extreme. High temps can be hard on your chicken and additionally causes issues with calcium absorption.

You may see something shaped like an egg but isn’t an egg at all, commonly referred to as a lash egg. This is a result of an infection in the oviduct. It may contain parts of the egg but is mainly puss and tissue. Monitor your chickens and see if you can figure out which one laid it. There’s not much information on treatment for lash eggs and most in the egg-laying industry will cull the hen. Since it’s an infection, antibiotics could be effective. Luckily, none of our girls have had this!

Occasionally, when you crack open a fresh egg, you will see what is referred to as a meat spot. This is blood in the yolk caused by a broken blood vessel when the yolk forms. 

You can remove it with a spoon, knife, or with the broken eggshell.  I used to pick out but now, after giving myself a pep talk, I just scramble and eat. I had to convince myself that I eat beef (which has lots of blood) and usually medium-rare. If it really bothers you, crack the egg in a separate bowl before adding it to your recipe.

You won’t see meat spots in store-bought eggs. As mentioned earlier, they are well inspected. During the inspection, eggs are candled (held up to the light), looking for any internal imperfections or cracks. If any meat spots are seen, the egg is discarded.

Handling – Raw eggs should be cooked immediately or refrigerated within two hours. Cook eggs until the whites and yolks are firm. Uneaten cooked eggs should be refrigerated and eaten within 3-4 days.

Float test – If you are unsure if your egg is good, you can put it in cool water and test it. We found a clutch of eggs in the garage (for some reason, Marble was laying in the garage). If the egg floats, it is bad. Eggs that drop to the bottom are fresh. If part of the egg rests on the bottom and is tilting upwards, usually, it’s a few weeks old and is fine.

Freezing fresh eggs

If you find you have an abundance of eggs, you can freeze them. Most people lightly beat the egg or separate the yolk and white before putting it in the freezer. Its’ not recommended to freeze in the shell. When frozen, the yolk will expand, causing the shell to break.

A great resource is to use a silicone tin to freeze in. Once frozen, you can pop it out and put it in a freezer bag to save space. If you lightly beat, be sure and write on the baggie how many eggs are in there. If you separate the yolk before freezing, check out the incredible egg website for best practices.

To thaw, place in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, they should be good to use. These are great for baking or breakfast recipes. You can keep frozen for up to twelve months.

I usually give away our extra eggs but next year I plan on freezing some. Normally, hens will stop laying or have a decrease in egg production in the winter. There are several reasons for this which include molting, less sunlight, plus their bodies are in survival mode. It requires a lot of energy to keep warm and because of this, egg production suffers.

Fresh eggs will come in all shapes and sizes, especially the first year your girl is laying. Each chicken’s egg will be slightly different. Usually, there is no reason to be concerned, but if you are worried about illness, be sure and read my previous blog.

When baking, the size of the egg doesn’t make much difference. However, I purchased an egg scale so I would know. I’m not much of a cook and tend to follow recipes exactly so for peace of mind, this was important.  If your girls are laying small and medium eggs, and you need 2 large eggs you can substitute 3 small eggs; if you need 3 large eggs, you can use 4 small or medium eggs.

Eggs from free-range chickens have been found to be healthier with less cholesterol, less saturated fat plus more omega-3. The birds are healthier because they are able to free-range and exercise. The results – healthier eggs. In addition to their layer feed, they are eating a variety of things such as grass, bugs, frogs, and lizards. Additionally, as the egg ages, the nutritional value decreases. We never have eggs longer than two weeks.

As I said earlier, having fresh eggs is great! I never have to worry about buying eggs! If you are interested in raising your own backyard chickens, be sure and check out my beginning blog.