Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Why Do Americans Refrigerate Their Eggs?

nytimes.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

181–190 of 275 posts

Re: Why Do Americans Refrigerate Their Eggs?

#181

Post by DanBC »

Reason077 wrote: post #170
LordWinstanley wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I live in UK and never keep eggs the fridge. They easily keep for a couple of weeks or more. So I think the "use within a week" advice is over-cautious. Handy tip, if you want to know if an egg's good* or not, without breaking it: pop it in a tall glass of cold water. If it sinks, it's fine. If it floats it's gone off. [*'good' as in 'still fresh'. Unfortunately it won't tell you if it's full of salmonella, or not!]

'good' as in 'still fresh'. Unfortunately it won't tell you if it's full of salmonella, or not! All UK chickens are vaccinated against Salmonella so there should be no chance of getting it from eggs. That's one reason why washing is considered unnecessary here.

> All UK chickens are vaccinated against Salmonella

I think it's most, but not all, chickens. Vaccination is part of the red lion quality brand mark, and approx 80% of birds are part of that; and many farmers not part of it vaccinate too.

Vaccination isn't mandatory. There are some vigorous testing requirements as part of the National Control Programme for salmonella.

Maybe I'm wrong though, has this changed recently?

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachm...

> 1.1.3 The Advisory Committee on Microbiological Safety of Food (an expert independent group which advises the Food Standards Agency) considered Salmonella in eggs and reported on its findings in May 20011 and considered that the widespread vaccination of egg laying flocks against S. Enteritidis combined with improved flock hygiene measures had had a significant effect on the prevalence of Salmonella contamination of eggs and on salmonellosis in humans. In the UK a voluntary industry operated scheme (British Egg Industry Council) Lion Quality requires its members to vaccinate their layer flocks and to operate to specified hygiene standards. About 85% of egg production belongs to the Lion Quality scheme. In addition many producers who are not members of the scheme also vaccinate their flocks on a voluntary basis.

Re: Why Do Americans Refrigerate Their Eggs?

#182

Post by empressplay »

kalleboo wrote: post #133
ycmbntrthrwaway wrote: post #116

The article should be titled "Why Do Americans Wash Their Eggs?"

Other countries that wash their eggs include Australia, Sweden and Japan

... but up until recently, Australia did _not_ refrigerate the eggs in grocery stores! (yuk!)

Re: Why Do Americans Refrigerate Their Eggs?

#183

Post by Reason077 »

mikekchar wrote: post #40
tptacek wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Refrigerated eggs poach fine; if they didn't, nobody in the US would have decent poached eggs. :)

They are harder to make, though. The albumins break down over time, leading to a more liquid egg white. This, in turn causes the egg to spread out more when you are poaching them. Making a perfectly round poached egg by dropping it into a pot of salted, simmering water is very difficult if the egg is less than a few days old. That's why Starfrit sells egg poachers. BTW, I don't know about the US, but in Canada, the s…

Yeah, it's a lot easier to find really fresh eggs in the UK.

The supermarket supply chain seems to turn them over much faster. Poached eggs are much more popular, perhaps for that very reason!

Re: Why Do Americans Refrigerate Their Eggs?

#184

Post by pbhjpbhj »

misev wrote: post #167
fspm wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Egg color is actually a genetic characteristic. The most common layer of white eggs is the Leghorn Chicken, which is pretty common in American factory farming. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leghorn_chicken I think a big aspect is just that there is a cultural expectation of eggs being white in the US. 'Free range' and Organic brands often choose chickens that lay brown eggs though, as a way to distinguish their pro…

It's opposite in Europe, eggs are typically brown, while the white ones are considered more 'natural'.

If I, being from the UK, see white eggs I assume they're duck eggs. I certainly wouldn't consider white eggs, of any kind, to be more natural though.

Re: Why Do Americans Refrigerate Their Eggs?

#185

Post by justincormack »

webignition wrote: post #159
roryisok wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I live in Ireland, in the EU, and I'm fairly sure all the eggs in supermarkets here are washed. There's never a spot of dirt on them. And we always refrigerate, as does everyone I know

My brother in law is a small-scale farmer in Wales and produces chicken and duck eggs. I've previously discussed egg washing with him. My understanding from such conversations is that eggs in the EU are definitely not washed. Supermarket caged-hen eggs are generally clean in appearance due to the lack of items that might otherwise stick to the them. I have found free range supermarket eggs, on the other hand, to some…

I think they are automatically removed from the birds immediately, so they dont get dirty. I have had eggs from farmers that are very mucky...

Re: Why Do Americans Refrigerate Their Eggs?

#186

Post by justincormack »

ktRolster wrote: post #137
lostlogin wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

You can buy eggs with blue shells and bright orange yolks in UK supermarkets, I ate some yesterday.

Re: Why Do Americans Refrigerate Their Eggs?

#187

Post by perch56 »

paganel wrote: post #165
roryisok wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I live in Ireland, in the EU, and I'm fairly sure all the eggs in supermarkets here are washed. There's never a spot of dirt on them. And we always refrigerate, as does everyone I know

I live in Romania, another EU country, and the eggs from the super-market are definitely not washed. They're also always refrigerated.

I'm also Romanian, however living in Hungary. Can confirm this for both countries. Eggs in supermarkets as Aldi or Lidl are not washed, possibly slightly cleaned before they receive a print stamp for the date of production.

Edit: The egg boxes are stacked outside of refrigerators at room temperature.

Re: Why Do Americans Refrigerate Their Eggs?

#188

Post by justincormack »

pvg wrote: post #48
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…

I think the article overgeneralizes about 'Europeans'. EU regulations may not allow egg washing and I'm sure not all stores refrigerate eggs but I imagine zillions of people all over Europe bring the eggs home from the grocery and stick them in the fridge. just like most Americans.

Generally homes dont have larders or anywhere remotely cool. Or even storage space outside fridges, so yes...

Re: Why Do Americans Refrigerate Their Eggs?

#189

Post by justincormack »

pbhjpbhj wrote: post #184
misev wrote: post #167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's opposite in Europe, eggs are typically brown, while the white ones are considered more 'natural'.

If I, being from the UK, see white eggs I assume they're duck eggs. I certainly wouldn't consider white eggs, of any kind, to be more natural though.

When I was a kid in the UK eggs were generally white, but brown became more fashionable at some point (more wholesome like brown bread?).

Re: Why Do Americans Refrigerate Their Eggs?

#190

Post by ksec »

Reason077 wrote: post #170
LordWinstanley wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I live in UK and never keep eggs the fridge. They easily keep for a couple of weeks or more. So I think the "use within a week" advice is over-cautious. Handy tip, if you want to know if an egg's good* or not, without breaking it: pop it in a tall glass of cold water. If it sinks, it's fine. If it floats it's gone off. [*'good' as in 'still fresh'. Unfortunately it won't tell you if it's full of salmonella, or not!]

'good' as in 'still fresh'. Unfortunately it won't tell you if it's full of salmonella, or not! All UK chickens are vaccinated against Salmonella so there should be no chance of getting it from eggs. That's one reason why washing is considered unnecessary here.

But then why does US chicken have the same Vaccine? I am curious.
Post reply on HN