How to Store Fresh Eggs

When you buy eggs from the grocery store, you probably just stick the carton in the fridge and call it good, but what about when you’re dealing with eggs from your own chickens? Is there anything special that you need to do to store them properly?

A few things. But it’s all easy. Here’s the deal.

Wait to Clean Your Eggs

Some people choose to clean their eggs, others don’t. Do whichever you’re comfortable with, but if you’re an egg cleaner (that’s me), don’t wash your eggs until you’re ready to use them. Storing them in their farm-fresh state will help them to stay fresh longer. That’s because they have a protective coating, called bloom, that keeps bacteria and air out. Once you wash them, that protective coating is gone.

Store Your Eggs Big End Up

This will keep the yolks centered in the egg. It’s not critical, but it does make for prettier hard-boiled eggs.

Stick Your Eggs in a Carton

Those built-in egg holders in your fridge are nice, but they won’t keep your eggs as fresh as an enclosed carton.

Refrigerate Them or Don’t

Refrigerated eggs will keep for three to five weeks. Unrefrigerated eggs will keep for about a week (under the right conditions). If you want to keep your eggs fresh for as long as possible, stick them in the main compartment of your fridge. It’s much colder than the door.

Use the Oldest Eggs First

Having chickens means having lots of eggs (at least during the warm months). Come up with a way to keep track of which eggs are the oldest, so you’re sure to use them first. In my house we number the cartons.