Desk of Contents[Hide][Show]
The very best strategies for preserving and storing fresh eggs within the fridge or freezer to be used a couple of weeks, months, or perhaps a yr later.
Spring and summer season are the instances of yr when backyard hens are sometimes at their peak egg manufacturing.
Issues begin to decelerate within the autumn months to the purpose the place the ladies often cease laying, molting and resting for a mean of three months.
You may hold them laying yr spherical by placing a 24/7 gentle of their coop. Nonetheless, I don’t do that as a result of it’s extremely unnatural and merciless. It additionally shortens their lifespan tremendously.
Thus, when chickens are at their peak productiveness, you could discover an overabundance of eggs which you can’t deplete instantly.
Now we have a follow of giving eggs away to neighbors and buddies who would take pleasure in them. Nonetheless, we’re lucky to nonetheless have loads to retailer to be used when egg manufacturing is low.
I assumed I’d share with you my three most important strategies for preserving eggs whether or not you’ve got the luxurious of your individual little flock or purchase on the farmer’s market and well being meals retailer.
Refrigerate
Preservation timeframe: as much as 3 months
Recent eggs have a protecting layer referred to as a bloom or cuticle on the skin of the shell.
This translucent coating very successfully seals off the pores of the shell.
This pure safety prevents micro organism from getting inside. It additionally reduces moisture loss, which preserves freshness.
These traits permit for protected storage on the counter with out refrigeration.
This pure safety additionally implies that if in case you have contemporary eggs that should be preserved longer than per week or two, you may merely put them in a bowl and refrigerate.
No washing is critical if they’re clear with none particles proper out of the coop.
Observe that business eggs should not have this protecting cuticle.
Sadly, manufacturing unit processing washes it away with poisonous options earlier than packaging. Even organic eggs are uncovered to a chemicalized bathtub as chlorine is permitted to be used by USDA requirements.
This is the reason business eggs don’t final months within the fridge like contemporary eggs do.
Wash, Seal and Refrigerate
Preservation Timeframe: as much as 3 months
Sometimes, eggs can have dust or particles on them popping out of the coop.
That is generally as a result of hens getting mud on their ft throughout moist climate. One other trigger is a delay in freshening up the coop bedding which may enhance manure publicity.
On this scenario, the eggs needs to be washed in delicate cleaning soap and heat water.
Sadly, the need of cleansing them additionally removes the protecting bloom.
The excellent news is that there’s a technique to compensate.
After washing and drying, merely coat every egg with a small quantity of additional virgin olive oil. Then, wipe away the surplus with a clear cotton towel.
The oil will seal the shell’s pores in a way much like the protecting cuticle. These sealed eggs will final within the fridge for across the identical size of time as refrigerated contemporary eggs that also have the bloom on them.
You too can use this methodology for eggs you buy which have already been washed.
I recommend re-washing your self with delicate cleaning soap and filtered water earlier than making use of the protecting oil coating. This prevents sealing within the chemical substances the eggs had been uncovered to in the course of the mandated cleansing on the manufacturing unit.
Tips on how to Freeze Recent Eggs
Preservation Timeframe: 3 months – 1 yr
Most individuals don’t notice which you can freeze contemporary eggs with the shell!
Some web sites recommend cracking the eggs, mixing the yolk and white collectively, after which freezing particular person eggs in ice dice trays.
That’s a variety of pointless work!
Why would you ever take away the shell, the perfect safety for the edible portion there’s?
When you’ve got contemporary eggs with the bloom intact, all it’s a must to do is put them in a heavy-duty bag and place them within the freezer.
That. Is. It.
When you’ve got farmer’s market eggs or eggs out of your yard flock which might be washed, then seal with a movie of EVOO as described above after which freeze.
The shell could or could not crack within the freezer. It doesn’t matter both method.
Surprisingly, the within of the egg freezes earlier than the shell cracks!
Thawing a Frozen Egg
When it’s worthwhile to use a frozen egg from the freezer, merely take away the shell first after letting the egg sit on the counter for a couple of minutes.
If the frozen egg already has an enormous crack, peeling the shell is a bit simpler.
You’ll have an intact egg white and yolk that’s nonetheless frozen after eradicating the shell as you may see from the above image.
Place peeled frozen eggs with out the shell in a bowl and go away within the fridge for a couple of hours.
As soon as thawed, they are going to be in the very same state as earlier than freezing and able to use in your common recipes similar to you cracked them contemporary!
