Egg storage temperature: features, conditions and recommendations

People began to use eggs for food a very long time ago. This product was first appreciated by the people of India. Eating eggs in this country began back in 2.5 thousand years BC. Somewhat later, the Romans, and then residents of other European countries, began to eat them.

In Russian cuisine, eggs have long been used exclusively as a separate dish. Moreover, they prepared only on certain days. In our country, eggs began to be added to complex dishes no earlier than in the 19th century. Today this product is, of course, extremely popular in Russia. After all, eggs actually have many beneficial properties. However, they can show their best qualities only if they are stored correctly. Stale eggs, of course, should not be eaten under any circumstances. This product can cause very serious poisoning.

What affects the safety of eggs?

The period during which the egg will be stored directly depends on the factors affecting the product. These include:

• cracks, any damage to the shell;
• date of demolition;
• storage temperature (refrigerator or freezer, room temperature);
• the presence of heat treatment (cooked, raw or colored).

In accordance with the listed conditions, they are stored from 24 hours to 12 months.

We take into account the date of purchase and demolition

Many people know that producers indicate the date of sorting, not the date of laying of eggs. Because of this, you will not be able to understand how long the egg actually lies. This information is only available if you raise your own laying hens or buy homemade products from trusted vendors. Always study the markings on the packaging and ask the seller about the date of demolition. The freshness of eggs is checked independently at home using several methods:

• Place the egg in water with dissolved salt. The fresh one will fall down (alternatively, it will rise with the blunt end up), the low-quality one will float or float to the top.
• Break into a bowl. In a stale product, the yolk will mix with the white.
• Shake near your ear. No noise is a guarantee of freshness.

It is worth noting that fresh boiled eggs are very difficult to peel.

How to find out the degree of freshness

The store product contains information about the date of manufacture of the product, but there is no guarantee that the eggs were packaged on the first day after they were laid. In addition, during transportation or being in a warehouse, the storage conditions of the product may not be met at the point of sale, which will significantly reduce the shelf life.

Some tips on how to check an egg:

1. Shake it and listen: the absence of any sounds, especially squelching, indicates the freshness of the product.
2. Prepare a salty solution in a jar or saucepan and place the egg in it. The fresh stuff will go to the bottom, where it will lie on its side. If it floats to the top or hangs in the water, then it is better to refuse to use it.
3. Hold the egg up to the light and look through the shell. A fresh product will not have any dark spots visible.
4. Break an egg into a bowl - a spoiled one will have an unpleasant odor and cloudy whites.

Which eggs last longer?

If the eggs are laid by your own chickens or purchased from familiar farmers, they are stored for about 3 months. It is advisable to consume those purchased in the store within 30 days. Also consider storage conditions: eggs placed in the refrigerator will remain fresh longer. Raw ones last for at least 30 days, hard-boiled - about a week, soft-boiled - no more than 48 hours. If you see a crack in the shell, eat the egg within 24 hours. Shelf life may depend on the category and color of the shell. According to the law, dietary ones must be put up for sale no later than 7 days from the date of demolition, canteens - 25 days. Also note that brown shells are denser than white shells, so they last longer.

What State Standards say

Storing chicken eggs according to GOST has its own characteristics. This depends primarily on the type of product and applies to table and dietary eggs.

The species does not depend on the breed of chickens and other factors. It changes depending on how many days have passed since the demolition. During the first week, the egg is considered dietary because it contains more nutrients and can even be consumed fresh. And then it goes into the canteen category. In this case, its shelf life is extended to 25-30 days.

There are markings on the eggs. The letter D stands for dietary, and C for table.

How to store at room temperature

It is allowed to store without refrigeration, observing certain conditions:

• Eggs must be raw and fresh.
• The air temperature should not exceed 20 ° C, and humidity – 85%.
• There are no drafts or sudden temperature changes.

To preserve the product for as long as possible, use popular storage methods.

Wrapped in paper

Plain paper increases shelf life. Wrap each egg in a layer of newspaper or tracing paper, place it in a container and leave it in the coolest place in the apartment.

Immersed in salt solution

An egg, dipped in water with salt, undergoes a kind of preservation. Dilute ordinary salt in water at the rate of 25 g per 1000 ml of liquid, cool and immerse the eggs in the solution. Close the container with a lid and put it in a cool, dark place.

How long can you store without refrigeration?

If you know exactly the demolition date, preservation is possible in room conditions for about 3 weeks. Additional storage methods in paper or saline solution will extend freshness for about 7 more days.

In a refrigerator

Traditionally, all housewives store eggs in the refrigerator. For high-quality preservation of eggs, some rules are also provided:

• Watch how you laid it. The pointy end of the egg should be at the bottom. This will ensure proper gas exchange inside and long-term preservation.
• Do not place in the refrigerator door, but in the vegetable container.
• Don't wash. On the surface of the shell there is a thin shell that protects the egg from the harmful effects of bacteria.

How long to store hard-boiled and soft-boiled eggs?

Boiled eggs will spoil much faster than raw eggs. The shelf life depends on the consistency of the yolk and external damage. During cooking, the shell sometimes bursts, which shortens the shelf life of the product. Boiled eggs can be stored for no more than 72 hours. A whole soft-boiled egg should be used within 2 days, and a hard-boiled egg should be used within 14 days. Without the shell, it will last in the refrigerator for no more than 3 days.

How long do raw eggs last in the refrigerator?

Taking into account all the factors, laying time and type of storage, the eggs will easily lie on the refrigerator shelves for 30 to 90 days.

How long can Easter eggs be stored?

The storage time of Easter eggs is determined by the method of dyeing. If the egg is covered with film, the quality will remain only for 3-4 days, even for hard-boiled eggs. Chemical food coloring adds several days to the traditional shelf life. Colored with natural products (onion peels, beets) will last for 2 weeks.

How long does a cracked egg last?

If the outer shell of the egg is damaged, consume it within 2 days.

Table of storage temperature conditions

If you take into account suitable conditions and the number of days when storing eggs, you can correctly calculate the shelf life. Below is a table with these parameters.

temperature conditions for storing raw eggs
Storage of boiled eggs

temperature conditions for storing boiled eggs

In the freezer

It is recommended to store raw eggs without shells in the freezer. This storage method will save you if you accidentally break many eggs at once. Pour the mixed white and yolk into a freezer container and add a little sugar (salt) to prevent the product from becoming grainy. Simple dishes are usually prepared from such a mass, so think in advance what needs to be added. Separately, the whites and yolks are frozen in the same way. Boiled ones can also be kept in the freezer, but only the yolk is preserved; after defrosting, the white loses its taste and nutritional qualities. Boil the yolk for a few minutes, then place in a container and place in the freezer.

Eggs preserved using this method must be thawed properly. Do not take the raw frozen product directly into a warm environment; let it thaw in the refrigerator compartment. Pre-cooked frozen yolks can be immediately placed in the microwave.

Is it possible to freeze eggs

It is not recommended to freeze eggs for future use. As a result of such storage, they will lose some of the valuable substances. But if you cannot do without it, for example, if there are a lot of them, then know that only the yolks can be frozen. The structure of the yolks will not change after defrosting, unlike the whites, which become rubbery. Before sending eggs to the freezer, they must be shelled and placed in a bag or container with a tightly closed lid. This is necessary to ensure that the product does not absorb any foreign odors. Boiled eggs can be stored for up to a year if frozen.

Traditional methods

Using traditional storage methods, you can ensure long-term preservation of the product up to one year. Most methods are based on coating the shell with some substance.

Grease

To keep eggs longer than usual without a refrigeration chamber, the shells are coated with fat and vegetable oil. Lubricate the egg with a fat-containing substance and place the pointed end down in a box with oats, wheat, sand.

Brush with egg white

Prepare the required amount of protein, then, without beating it, cover the egg with one layer, and after drying, with a second one. When all the layers are dry, wrap the food in newspaper, tracing paper and put it in a container. It is better to save it in a dark place - under the bed, in the farthest cabinet.

Lubrication with paraffin or wax

Melt paraffin or wax in a water bath. When the mixture becomes liquid, quickly and carefully dip the egg into it. Wait until the “cover” has completely hardened and put it in a storage container.

Potassium permanganate solution

It is recommended to store testicles using a solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate) for about 3 weeks at room temperature. Prepare a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate, dip the product in it for a few seconds and dry.

Sweet water

The question is controversial. Some housewives do not believe in this method of storage, others recommend and promise: this way the product can be stored for up to 6 months. To use this method, prepare sugar syrup at the rate of 1 kg of sugar per 1 liter of water and cool. Place the eggs in sweet water for a few seconds, dry and wipe with a towel.

Dry salt

To use this method you will need a lot of table salt. Place the eggs in a container - a box, a box, gradually filling the space between them with large crystals.

Lime solution

Eggs are stored in lime solution for up to six months at a temperature not exceeding 10 °C. Pour 300–400 g of lime into a bucket of water and wait until the solution turns bluish-green. Then add the food into the solution and close the lid. The water in the bucket should be covered with a film. If it disappears, the solution is replaced. Please note: if stored in this way for a long time, a specific taste may appear.

Important

The above dates, of course, can only be valid for recently collected eggs. A store-bought product at home, of course, will have less shelf life. After all, quite a lot of time can pass from the assembly of such eggs to the moment they reach the counter. In addition, this product often remains in the supermarkets themselves for quite a long time.

At room temperature, eggs are, of course, best stored away from various heating appliances. For this product, you should find the coolest and preferably darkest place in your apartment. Most often, eggs in the house are kept in kitchen cabinet drawers or in the pantry.

When stored for a long time in the refrigerator or at room temperature, even if the GOST requirements for terms are met, this product still changes its qualities somewhat over time. Eggs are considered fresh only for 9 days after collection. If desired, such a product can be boiled either soft-boiled or in a bag. If the eggs were stored in the refrigerator or in the room for more than 9 days, it is still better to cook them only hard-boiled. This way you can eliminate the risk of poisoning.

How to cool eggs without a refrigerator

When it is hot in the apartment and outside, a structure is built that is suitable for cooling and storing any food, including eggs. Place the products in a container with a tight lid and place in a bowl of cold water. Cover the top with a natural cloth or towel so that the ends fall into the water. The water on the towel will evaporate, absorbing the heat of the container.

If you need to quickly cool boiled eggs, immediately after boiling, drain the boiling water and place the pan under running cold water. The egg will cool quickly and will be easier to peel.

Shelf life of eggs according to GOST

Any food product can be consumed within a strictly defined period. According to GOST and SanPiN, products whose shelf life does not exceed a week are classified as dietary. At 0 - minus 20 degrees Celsius they can last no longer than 25 days, from minus 2 to 0 - up to a quarter. After the specified periods, the product becomes unfit for consumption.

Shelf life of chicken eggs (photo source: Yandex.Pictures)

Storage without refrigeration

Chicken, duck, quail, goose and turkey eggs can be kept in a room or cellar without harming their freshness. If they are not heat treated, they can be stored at temperatures up to 10 degrees Celsius for 14-21 days. The norms and shelf life of a dietary product depend on temperature conditions - the lower they are, the better.

If you don’t have a refrigerator, you can put the eggs in wooden boxes:

• Lubricate the surface of the product with oil or fat.
• Place shavings on the bottom of the box.
• Place the eggs with the pointed end down, being careful to avoid them touching each other.
• Cover with burlap and place in a cool place (outside, on the balcony).

At low air humidity in the above temperature conditions, the product is stored for 2-3 months. To extend this period, it is recommended to use lime mortar. If eggs are placed in lime, they should only be stored at sub-zero temperatures: about 10 degrees. It is also important to know that after aging in lime, the product whips worse and has a specific taste.

Storing eggs at room temperature (photo source: Yandex.Pictures)

Cold storage

This is the most popular option used in urban environments, especially in hot weather. Placing them in the freezer will help keep chicken or other eggs fresh even longer. The shelf life in the refrigerator necessarily depends on the intended purpose of use:

• for raw consumption – up to 7 days;
• for minimal processing – up to 25 days;
• if boiled hard – up to 45 days.

The product is placed in a special tray and covered with a lid - this will help avoid spoilage and rotting. The special shelf on the side door is not suitable for storing eggs - it is better to use a container and place it as close to the freezer as possible.

How to store quail eggs

Eggs laid by quail and guinea fowl are stored longer than chicken eggs due to the higher content of microelements that resist bacteria. Such products can be stored in an apartment for up to 4 weeks. In the refrigerator, quail eggs should be stored only in a closed container to reduce evaporation from the surface. They will last for about 2 months. Follow the recommended storage conditions:

• place each product with the pointed end down;
• do not store them in the refrigerator door;
• keep away from strong smelling products.

Egg products

GOST standards, of course, must be observed for such a semi-finished product. Dry egg products should be stored:

• at temperatures up to +20 °C - maximum 6 months;
• up to +4 °C - no more than 24 months.

According to the rules, liquid egg products are stored:

• at temperatures up to +4 °C - maximum 24 hours;

• up to -18 °C - no more than 15 months;
• up to -12 °C - maximum 10 months.

How to store goose eggs

Goose eggs are rarely found on store shelves, but they are still eaten, although they are not as healthy as chicken eggs. The storage conditions for a goose egg do not differ from the method of storing a chicken egg, but the period is reduced to only 10 days. The optimal storage place is the refrigerator. Before placing in the refrigerator, be sure to wash the product with detergent or baking soda. The pores in the shell are large, and there is a risk of infection of the white or yolk with dangerous bacteria. By washing it, you will reduce the shelf life, but protect yourself from diseases.

How do fresh eggs differ from those collected long ago?

It is therefore clear how eggs should be stored. It is best to keep this product in the refrigerator at a temperature of 0 to +8 ° C. But how can you distinguish fresh eggs from those laid long ago? It's actually not too difficult to do this.

In order to find out when the eggs were collected at the poultry farm, you just need to look at the markings. Stamps with the date of production at such enterprises are placed on each egg.

Also, to determine the freshness of this product, you can look at it through an ovoscope. Many villagers who breed chickens and incubate chickens have such a device. If the yolk in a translucent egg is in the middle, it means it is fresh and can be eaten either soft-boiled or in a bag.

If under the ovoscope it is clear that there are dark spots in the yolk next to the white, this means that the egg has been lying somewhere for at least a week after it was laid. This product can also be eaten, but preferably only hard-boiled. Stale chicken eggs will not be visible under an ovoscope. Of course, it’s not worth eating such a product.

You can also immerse an egg in a glass of water to determine freshness. If it sinks and falls to the bottom, it means it was demolished just a few days ago. If the egg touches the bottom only with the sharp end, its “age” is about a week. Of course, such a product can also be considered fresh. If the egg sinks only to the middle of the glass, it is 2-3 weeks old and can still be eaten. If it floats on the surface, it means it is rotten and all that remains is to throw it away.

Useful tips

Is it possible to store eggs in the refrigerator door?

Experts do not recommend putting eggs in the refrigerator door. Frequent opening and closing of the refrigerator will cause a sharp temperature difference, which will have a detrimental effect on the freshness of the product. The best installation option is boxes for vegetables or fruits. Lay in several rows, but do not overdo it: the bottom layer may crack under the pressure of the top ones.

Is it possible to store eggs together with other products?

It is not recommended to store eggs together with other strong-smelling foods. The shell actively transmits odor, so an unpleasant taste may appear when used.

Factors that impair quality

Initially, fresh products without external defects . Long-term savings are possible if all unfavorable aspects are eliminated. The quality of stored protein deteriorates under the influence of the following factors:

• High humidity.
• Lack of ventilation.
• Temperature above +20°.
• Sudden temperature changes.
• Being near a source of strong odor (protein quickly absorbs foreign odors).
• Direct exposure to sunlight.