How Long Do Fresh Eggs Last? (Storage tips)

Today, we’ll be talking about how long fresh eggs last. Also, we will be throwing in a couple of fresh egg storing tips along the way.

I love eggs. I’m not a big fan of hard-boiled ones, but I enjoy the rest. Because of that, I never had to take care of any rotten eggs. However, it can happen. Eggs do spoil.

It’s easy to follow the expiration date on the egg cartons. The problem is, fresh eggs from our chickens don’t come with an expiration date.

Do you have this problem? You’re not the only one. I believe this is a question that every chicken handler asks at one point. Well, you don’t have to worry! We’re here to help you with that concern of yours. We will try to give you nothing but the most eggcellent answer and solution.

So, without further ado, let’s talk eggs.

This article will cover

• How Long Do Fresh Eggs Last?
• Making Eggs Last a Year
• How to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad?
• What Do I Do with Eggs that are About to Go Bad?

How Long Do Fresh Eggs Last?

The usual answer is between three to six weeks. It’s not wrong, but I’d say it’s incomplete.

Eggs can last from a few weeks to several months, and under certain preservation methods, even up to a year. How long it lasts depends on a couple of things. Let’s talk about some of the main factors.

Washing

The chicken community is not united when it comes to washing the eggs or not. If you’re uncertain about whether to clean your eggs and how to do it safely, you might find this article helpful.

Some would say you have to wash it. On the other hand, some would tell you not to wash it. I don’t think it’s something to get you worried. I believe washing or not washing is not a problem.

One of the main reasons for this argument is Salmonella. To be more specific, what is the best way to be safe from it. Salmonella is dangerous, but it’s not that big of a concern with backyard chickens.

Salmonella is not that easy to catch. Proper hygiene and food preparation should be enough to be safe from it. Also, if you have your own chickens, then it means you can watch and monitor their conditions. The risk would even be lower.

If you want to know more about Salmonella, you can go here to see what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has to say.

The egg has a protective layering called the cuticle or bloom. Others argue against washing the eggs to keep the cuticle intact. The belief is that this layer will keep the bad stuff out.

Unfortunately, you can’t wash the egg and keep the cuticle. It’s one thing or the other.

Here are the things you might want to note when it comes to washing and making your eggs last:

• If you prefer not to refrigerate the eggs immediately, it is best not to wash them, as washing removes the natural protective layer known as the bloom. Eggs from the store need to be refrigerated because it doesn’t have the bloom anymore. The cold protects the egg from bacteria that could be harmful.
• Do you want to eat the egg when it’s at its freshest state? You might want to leave the bloom and eat it within two weeks of coming out.

Refrigerating

Washing or not washing your eggs is not a big concern with making your eggs last. However, this next factor is.

Whether you choose to wash your eggs or not, there would come a time you would have to refrigerate them if you want to make them last.

Eggs could last for up until a month outside of the refrigerator. If you consume your eggs within a month, then the need for refrigeration isn’t as critical. Just keep the bloom, and it will be fine and dandy.

On the other hand, you might have more eggs than you can handle. In this case, you would have to refrigerate it.

You might be surprised (I know I was), but eggs could last up to six months if kept refrigerated.

Things to Remember When Refrigerating Your Eggs

If you plan to make your eggs last that long, then here are some things you might want to keep in mind when refrigerating them:

• The eggs should be in a carton or a sealable container. This extra protection will not only make sure your eggs don’t crack. It will also protect them from smelling or tasting like the other food in the fridge.
• If you don’t plan on using a sealable container, keep it as far away as possible from smelly food.
• Keep it at 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius).
• Once the eggs go inside the fridge, they should stay in there until you’re ready to use them. Once the egg gets exposed again to room temperature, moisture might build on the egg. This event could lead to more bacteria.
• Don’t put the eggs on the refrigerator door. As we have said, the eggs should be at 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature on the door constantly changes when you open it and close it. As much as possible, you’d want to keep your eggs where the temperature is consistent.  

Making Eggs Last a Year

Have you accidentally bought a cracked egg? Maybe, you accidentally broke some eggs from the coop to your house. Ideally, you need to eat the cracked eggs within two days.

However, there is a way to salvage those eggs and make them last a year. 

To make eggs last for a year, they can’t be in their shell. You have to take them out of it and separate the white and the yolk. You then have to mix them and then freeze them.

Transfer the container from the freezer to the refrigerator overnight when you want to use it.

Of course, this method won’t retain the freshness of the egg. We don’t recommend it as much as possible.

6 Ways To Make Your Eggs Last Longer

How to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad?

Maybe you haven’t been keeping up with the dates, so you don’t know if your eggs are still okay. Don’t sweat it. There are ways to check.

1. Float Test

Do you remember that cool Science experiment when you were in school? The good-old floating egg? Here’s the mechanism behind that. A good egg will sink horizontally. A rotten egg will float. Anything in between means it’s about to rot. Learn more about egg float test.

2. Ring Test

On the other hand, you can open the egg and examine it. If it has a double ring, then it’s still good. If you can’t see any circles anymore, then it’s already rotten.

3. Smell Test

You can also use the odor of the egg to check if it’s still good. If it smells normal, then it’s probably still good. If it smells bad, then it probably is already rotten.

What Do I Do with Eggs that are About to Go Bad?

Okay, maybe you have done the tests and determined that you have several eggs about to rot. Don’t worry! Here are different treats and dishes you can try using your eggs.

Sausage Potato Pie

Sunny-side-ups are nice and all, but the sausage potato pie is a breakfast that will most likely get anyone out of bed. If you’re a fan of savory breakfasts, then you should try this one. You can use about eight eggs for this dish.

Mini Cheese and Bacon Frittatas

On the other hand, you might want to try the mini cheese and bacon frittatas. It’s frittatas, but smaller! The perfect dish for sharing with friends and family. You could use as many as four eggs for six servings.

Very Berry Vanilla Cake Trifle

Maybe you have a sweet tooth? I do, so we cannot add something sweet to this list. The very berry vanilla cake trifle is for you if you’re just like me. You can use as many as four eggs for this.

If you still have some eggs and you want to see more recipes, you can go here.  

Of course, don’t forget to give the eggs shells to your chickens! If you haven’t done it, then you don’t need to worry. It’s perfectly normal. Also, it’s good for them.

Summary

Today, we have answered the question: “How long do fresh eggs last?”

It is easier to keep track of eggs from the market. After all, you only have to follow the expiration date on the carton. But as you have seen, keeping track of fresh eggs isn’t that hard. Furthermore, who doesn’t like fresh eggs?

Fresh eggs and eggs from the store don’t have much of a difference in taste. But there’s no denying that fresh eggs have many benefits, such as richer taste and higher nutritional content, compared to store-bought eggs.

Fresh eggs can last anywhere from hours to a year. On average, they are good anywhere from three to four weeks. However, if you want to eat them fresh, it would be best to eat them within two weeks.

There are several ways to make your eggs last. They could last for up to a year without much difficulty. With proper handling, you won’t have to deal with rotten eggs again!

We hope that we were able to answer your concern and our fresh egg storing tips helped you.