Coming home with eggs from a farm stand or neighbor’s backyard feels like a treat, but before you crack them open, it’s important to wash and sanitize the eggs so they’re safe to eat. Here’s how to wash fresh eggs so you can use them in our best egg recipes!
Do You Have to Wash Fresh Eggs?
Yes, you have to wash fresh eggs. Unlike eggs at the grocery store, fresh eggs are not usually washed before they’re sold, leaving behind contaminants on the shells like dirt, feathers, poop and salmonella. If the shell of the egg isn’t washed properly, these contaminants can end up in your food and spread on cooking surfaces and equipment.
You technically don’t need to wash fresh eggs until right before you use them or put them in the fridge. In fact, fresh, unwashed eggs can be left out on the counter for several weeks, but washed eggs need to be refrigerated promptly. The reason is that fresh eggs are laid with a thin outer coating known as the cuticle (also referred to as the “bloom”). The cuticle dries on the shell and fills the shell’s pores, protecting the inside of the egg from moisture loss and bacteria. But once the egg is washed, the cuticle is stripped away and the egg will need to be used or refrigerated immediately. Just make sure you’re not storing eggs in the refrigerator door.
You don’t have to wash grocery-store eggs. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires all eggs sold in grocery stores to be washed, sanitized and refrigerated before they’re shipped and sold. Because the eggs undergo such rigorous cleaning, the cuticle is stripped and the eggs need to be refrigerated. Then, once an egg is refrigerated, it needs to stay cool. (You can rest eggs on the counter for 30 minutes to bring them to room temperature for baking.)
Europeans have a different approach: eggs sold in grocery stores are unwashed. The cuticle is left intact on the shell, allowing the egg to naturally seal itself off from bacteria. So, Europeans can leave eggs on the counter until they’re ready to wash and use them.
How to Wash Fresh Eggs
An egg’s journey from coop to carton can be dirty, but it’s an easy fix with a proper wash! Here’s how to wash fresh eggs so they’re safe to eat.
Step 1: Rinse off the eggs
Rinse each egg individually under running water to remove any visible contaminants. Don’t soak them! The Center for Food Security and Public Health recommends washing eggs between 90-120°F. This is because washing eggs in warm water expands the contents of the egg, preventing bacteria from being pulled in through the shell’s pores. Never wash fresh eggs in cold water as the pores will suck in any bacteria that may be on the eggshell.
You can wash each egg with unscented soap to more thoroughly clean the shell, if desired.
Step 2: Sanitize eggs
Dip each egg into a sanitizing solution. This solution should be 1 tablespoon of bleach mixed with 1 gallon of water. Once sanitized, dry each egg with a paper towel.
Step 3: Store eggs
Promptly store fresh eggs in the refrigerator. Yes, there is a right way that eggs should sit in a carton! Store eggs pointy-side down and round-side up to center the yolks, keeping eggs fresher for longer.
Step 4: Wash hands and sink thoroughly
Now that your fresh eggs are washed, clean your hands with soap and water so as not to accidentally spread salmonella or other bacteria. Then, clean your kitchen sink with disinfectant to also ensure there is nothing left behind!
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