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Why Do Americans Refrigerate Their Eggs?

nytimes.com

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Re: Why Do Americans Refrigerate Their Eggs?

#131

Post by kalleboo »

INTPenis wrote: post #11

I'm a swede and I had no idea, I've refrigerated eggs as long as I can remember. My parents are from Croatia though so it's kind of weird that I picked up this habit. My relatives in Croatia do not refrigerate eggs. Most swedes that I can think of refrigerate their eggs straight from the store. The recommendation is printed on the box to refrigerate. Now that I've read this article it suddenly makes sense why I've so…

Eggs are washed in Sweden and must be refrigerated. The article is generalizing about "Europe".

As a side note, Sweden has eradicated salmonella in the egg-laying chicken population so Swedish eggs are 100% salmonella-free.

Re: Why Do Americans Refrigerate Their Eggs?

#132

Post by travmatt »

RandomOpinion wrote: post #15

I think part of the article that's getting glossed over is: " A refrigerated egg, no matter the source, will be good for four or five weeks. Unrefrigerated eggs are best used within a week, though they may be fine for two. " So, one would want to refrigerate eggs (washed or unwashed) anyway if they're not all going to be used immediately.

I regularly eat eggs over two weeks old as well. If they've been out ~month I'll float test them before cooking.

Re: Why Do Americans Refrigerate Their Eggs?

#134

Post by lloydde »

RandomOpinion wrote: post #15

I think part of the article that's getting glossed over is: " A refrigerated egg, no matter the source, will be good for four or five weeks. Unrefrigerated eggs are best used within a week, though they may be fine for two. " So, one would want to refrigerate eggs (washed or unwashed) anyway if they're not all going to be used immediately.

When my youngest child was a baby and I was binge watching tv while comforting her, I found myself watching a doomsday preppers show. There I learned by oiling eggs they could be stored months. http://www.offthegridnews.com/off-grid-foods/preserving-eggs... looks to have confirmed the reality tv show: "[eggs] will, however, eventually develop an off-flavor, and this off-flavor is especially pronounced in eggs stored at 34°F for more than four months".

Tonight I also came across "best way to preserve raw eggs is to store them in a solution of slaked lime (you can find it at a building supply store) and water, which, in his test, had a 100 percent success rate after eight months" http://modernfarmer.com/2016/08/bizarre-ways-keep-eggs-fresh...

Re: Why Do Americans Refrigerate Their Eggs?

#136

Post by kgermino »

paulddraper wrote: post #21
ricardobeat wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or just not buy them if they are not going to be used immediately. Eggs quickly lose their quality (try poaching a week-old or refrigerated egg). I understand this may be unrealistic for car-dependant US households that have no option but to shop in large batches...

I think it's the non-car dependent folks that (good or bad) have "no option". I far prefer shopping for two or three weeks at a time, refrigerating fruits, vegetables, and milk.

That seems backwards to me. When I lived in suburbia grocery shopping was always a "trip" 5+ min drive, find a place to park, walk through the parking lot into a large store, etc. Grabbing even one thing meant at least 15 min of overhead so you'd usually try to stock up.

Whereas now I can be inside of three convenience stores and a full service grocer within 3 minutes of walking. If I drive I pass several other full grocers on the 8min/2.5 mile trip home.

This is in Milwaukee, not a NY or Sf type of place. Most people in my neighborhood still drive everywhere, you just don't have to.

Re: Why Do Americans Refrigerate Their Eggs?

#137

Post by ktRolster »

lostlogin wrote: post #126
mikekchar wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Personally, I can't tell the difference in flavour between a fresh egg and an old egg. Texture is the only thing I've noticed. Though, for instance, that can be quite important in some egg dishes like tamagoyaki. For flavour, a much bigger difference can be seen from the diet of the hen. Grain fed battery hens have pretty bland eggs. I obsess about my tamagoyaki, so I'm willing to go to some extremes to get good, fre…

If you know anyone with chickens, get an egg off them. The difference between the eggs and store bought, free range, is night and day. I don't know why, but the yolk is orange for starters. It may have been due to the species of chicken I suppose?

If you're lucky, your friend with chickens might have blue-green egg shells.

Re: Why Do Americans Refrigerate Their Eggs?

#138

Post by anonfunction »

to3m wrote: post #106
zhte415 wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Boiling or steaming eggs for 12 minutes results in a tough white and dry yolk. Just put them in a pot, not large, with enough water to cover the eggs and no more. Cold water. Add heat, high, and heat to boil for no more than a minute. Remove and put in cool/running water. Results in non-plastic whites and soft yolks. Though, I prefer poached or scrambled. For boiled, quail eggs are great (and, where I live, also chea…

That's for soft boiling, surely? Hard-boiled eggs are usually left in for longer. What I do for mine: put in cold water, place on medium heat until water begins to boil (~9 mins), deactivate hob and leave for 12 mins, rinse with cold water, dry and place in fridge, leave for 12-18 hours at least. When ready to eat: peel off shell, remove skin that's left near the air pocket, stuff in piehole. (They're fine to eat imm…

Try peeling it under water or with flowing water on the egg. It makes the shell / skin peel off super good for me and doesn't cool the inside of the egg down either.

Re: Why Do Americans Refrigerate Their Eggs?

#139

Post by 13of40 »

lloydde wrote: post #134
RandomOpinion wrote: post #15

I think part of the article that's getting glossed over is: " A refrigerated egg, no matter the source, will be good for four or five weeks. Unrefrigerated eggs are best used within a week, though they may be fine for two. " So, one would want to refrigerate eggs (washed or unwashed) anyway if they're not all going to be used immediately.

When my youngest child was a baby and I was binge watching tv while comforting her, I found myself watching a doomsday preppers show. There I learned by oiling eggs they could be stored months. http://www.offthegridnews.com/off-grid-foods/preserving-eggs... looks to have confirmed the reality tv show: "[eggs] will, however, eventually develop an off-flavor, and this off-flavor is especially pronounced in eggs stored…

I wonder if you could just hard boil them, then coat them with something like paraffin.
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