Can You Eat Eggs Straight From A Chicken?
Nothing beats having fresh home-grown eggs straight from your backyard. Anyone who has chickens (or knows someone who does) might have noticed that backyard eggs do not always look like the beautifully cleaned eggs you find in a carton at the grocery store. This may lead some people to wonder if you can eat fresh eggs directly from your backyard chickens.
Can you eat eggs straight from a chicken? It is entirely safe to eat eggs from a chicken. Whether you choose to wash them or not, they are still edible. When eggs are first laid, they have an outer protective layer called bloom that helps protect them from bacteria and contaminants. Of course, you should always wash your hands after handling fresh eggs to avoid cross-contamination and avoid eating them raw.
In this article, we will take a closer look at whether fresh farm eggs are safe to eat, how to tell when they are spoiled, ways to store fresh eggs, and how long they last.
Disclaimer: This article includes affiliate links. If you click one of them, we may receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Table Of Contents
- Is It Safe To Eat Fresh Eggs
- How To Tell If An Egg Is Still Good
- Should You Wash Freshly Laid Eggs
- How To Wash Eggs
- Do Fresh Eggs Need To Be Refrigerated
- How Long Do Fresh Eggs Last
Related Homestead Fox Articles:
• Can Chickens Lay Eggs Without A Rooster?
• Do Chickens Need Nesting Boxes? Why Or Why Not
Is It Safe To Eat Fresh Eggs
It is completely safe to eat fresh eggs. In fact, eggs from backyard hens arguably taste much better than eggs that are raised in cages.
Like many raw foods, it is important to wash your hands after handling eggs to avoid any cross-contamination. Free-range eggs are bound to get a bit dirty compared to what you are used to at the grocery, so there is always a risk of bacteria entering the egg. Although, just because an egg is dirty does not mean bacteria have passed onto it.
With any eggs, there is always the potential for Salmonella with undercooked yolks and egg whites. To reduce the risk of getting sick from fresh eggs, be sure to cook them prior to eating. If you follow proper sanitation methods and cook the eggs, there is no reason to think you will get sick from backyard eggs.
How To Tell If An Egg Is Still Good
There are a few methods you can use to tell if your eggs are old or no longer good. The first is to examine the eggs to see if there are any cracks or if the exterior is powdery or slimy.
The second is to do the float test. This is a simple trick that goes back years to test if eggs are still fresh.
To do the egg test, simply put an egg in a bowl or bucket of water. If the egg sinks to the bottom, then it is still good. If it floats or tilts and stands on one end, then the egg is no longer fresh.
The best way to keep track of how old your eggs are is to use a carton where the new ones are put at the back and the old eggs are at the front. Or use the number method and mark the date on each egg so you can keep track of when they were laid.
Should You Wash Freshly Laid Eggs
You do not need to wash backyard or farm eggs, though some people prefer to if they are soiled or if they plan to store them.
The reason fresh eggs do not need to be washed is before a hen lays an egg, they add a natural protective coating called bloom, also referred to as cuticle. This helps to seal off the shell’s pores to prevent air and bacteria from entering.
If you choose to wash the eggs, it will remove this protective coating. Therefore, it is better not to wash the eggs until it’s time to use them to help prevent the likeliness of Salmonella. However, there is no right or wrong way to go about it. Some people are not a fan of seeing dirt or other gunk on the outside of their eggs and prefer washing them right away. Whether you decide to wash your eggs or not is an entirely personal preference! Just be sure to store them accordingly.
How To Wash Eggs
If you choose to wash your eggs, it is important to do so properly. Here is how to clean fresh eggs.
- Gently rinse eggs in warm water only. The water should be between 32.2°C and 48.9°C (90°F to 120°F).
- Remove any dirt or debris from the eggshell.
- Once rinsed, thoroughly dry eggs before storing.
Here are a few things to avoid doing when washing fresh eggs.
- Never use cleaners, bleach, dish soap, etc. Once the bloom is removed from the eggshell, these products can easily pass through the shell’s pores.
- Do not use cold water.
- Do not soak eggs. This can increase the likeliness of contamination.
Do Fresh Eggs Need To Be Refrigerated
Fresh eggs do not need to be stored in the refrigerator as long as they remain unwashed. In fact, they can actually remain for several weeks on the countertops before they lose their freshness.
You can refrigerate your eggs washed or unwashed. However, it is important to always refrigerate washed eggs. Since cleaning eggs will remove the bloom, they will need to be stored in a fridge to prevent contamination. A big bonus to this is that they will stay fresher longer and maintain a higher quality. When storing in the refrigerator, use a closed egg carton such as the Utopia Egg Cartons.
How Long Do Fresh Eggs Last
How long fresh eggs will last depends on the storage method and whether they are washed or unwashed. As mentioned above, storing eggs in the fridge will prolong their freshness and quality longer whether you choose to wash them or not. Eggs stored in the refrigerator generally last three months, though sometimes they can stay fresh longer.
Eggs that are unwashed don’t necessarily need to be stored in the fridge. They can be left on the countertop for two weeks to a month before they go bad. If you want to display your beautiful hen’s eggs, the countertop is a great place to do so. Some people prefer their eggs to be at room temperature. You can store your eggs in a basket or a stylish display like this spiral egg holder.
If you feel you cannot eat all your eggs within that time, consider moving them to the fridge for longevity.
