Your dream of getting farm-fresh eggs from your own chickens has come true. But what do you do with all those pretty, tasty eggs now? How long do fresh eggs last? Find out everything you need to know to collect, store, and eat farm-fresh eggs safely.
One of the most anticipated things of the year is getting the first eggs from your backyard flock. Most people who raise chickens can’t wait to eat their first eggs, so they don’t worry about where to store them. But as your chickens lay more eggs, you’re likely to have a lot of questions.
You may also want to read about the best incubator.
How long do fresh eggs last?
As a general rule, unwashed eggs will last about two weeks when they are not in the fridge and about three months or more when they are. If you have a lot of fresh eggs, you should put any that you don’t plan to eat right away in the refrigerator. So, they will last longer. Or, you could give them to friends or family.
Eggs that have been washed must be kept in the fridge, where they will last for about two months.
Washing eggs?
If you answer one of these questions, you must answer the other. Both washing and not washing farm-fresh eggs have good points, so it comes down to what you like. But no matter what you choose, you’ll have to store the eggs in a different way.
Eggs that haven’t been washed have a protective layer called the cuticle, which is also called the bloom. These eggs can be kept on the counter. This protective coating keeps bacteria out by sealing the shell’s pores and stopping air from getting in.
When you wash eggs, the cuticle comes off. So, to keep them from getting dirty, washed eggs must be kept in the fridge.
How should fresh eggs be kept?
How long do fresh eggs last, how should you keep them? Whether you keep fresh eggs that haven’t been washed on your counter or washed eggs in your fridge, you’ll need good containers to keep them safe.
Many people who raise chickens at home buy strong plastic or glass egg holders for their refrigerators to help cut down on waste from disposable cartons. Eggs that haven’t been washed can be kept safe and close by in a decorative bowl or basket on your counter.
When storing fresh eggs, the most important rule is to always use the oldest eggs first. Some people who raise chickens write the date they got the eggs on them with a pencil or put them in order by writing on the egg cartons. Find a way that works for you and stick to it so that you always use the oldest eggs first.
How do you know if the eggs are good? How does the egg float test work?
How long do fresh eggs last and test if they are good? First of all, if you’re not sure if an egg is safe to eat, you should just throw it away. Don’t chance it. More eggs will come from your chickens.
You may have read about the “egg float test” in the news. This is not a “freshness” test to see if your eggs are still safe to eat. Instead, the egg-floating test gives you a rough idea of how old an egg is. It doesn’t say if the eggs are safe to eat or not.
There is water and moisture inside an egg. When you put an egg in the fridge or leave it out on the counter, it starts to dry out. As it loses water, the shell membrane pulls away from the shell, making room for air. If you let an egg sit out for a long time, all of the water will evaporate, leaving a dry ball of yolk inside the shell.
By dropping an egg into a glass of water, the egg float test “measures” the amount of air inside the egg. Eggs that are very fresh and haven’t lost much water will have less air, sink to the bottom, and lay on their sides. On the other hand, old eggs that have lost moisture tend to have bigger air pockets and float on top of the water. Again, though, don’t use this test to decide if you should eat an egg!
How should I store the eggs before I put them in the incubator?
How long do fresh eggs last to keep them for the incubator? If you want to store chicken eggs so you can hatch them later, wash any dirt off the shells and store them in the fridge at 55 degrees Fahrenheit with 70–75% humidity. Wine fridges set to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the white wine setting, work great for this. Before hatching, store eggs so that the narrow end faces down. The eggs are less likely to hatch the longer they are stored. If the eggs are kept at the right temperature and humidity, they can still hatch after a couple of weeks.
Change the angle of how you store eggs once a day. This will keep the yolk from sticking to the side of the egg and keep the developing embryo safe until it hatches. Make sure to get a good incubator.
Always write the date you got the hatching eggs on them so you know how old they are. If you know what kind of bird laid the egg, you might also want to write the breed on it. Keeping good records can help you improve the way you breed animals.
When you’re ready to hatch the eggs, let them warm up to room temperature. Then, put the eggs in an incubator or give them to a hen that is nesting. After the eggs have been stored and incubated, there is a 70 percent chance that they will hatch.
