Although it may seem that washing an egg is a natural way to remove dirt, this habit is not always the best choice.
When food scientist and registered dietitian Jennifer Pallian was asked whether eggs should be washed before cooking, it turned out that the answer depends on where they came from, writes „Simply Recipes“.
Why shouldn’t store-bought eggs be washed?
If you buy eggs in a store, they should not be washed at home. Eggs have a natural protection.
After a hen lays an egg, its shell is covered with a thin, almost invisible layer called the cuticle. It acts as a natural barrier and helps protect the egg from bacteria entering inside.
However, by the time store-bought eggs reach the buyer, they have already been professionally washed. Since the natural protective layer is removed during washing, producers coat the eggshell with a thin layer of mineral oil before packaging, which helps protect the shell again.
“Eggshells are porous – they have thousands of tiny holes through which air can enter,” says J. Pallian.
Therefore, washing store-bought eggs at home is not recommended. If you wash an egg with cold or lukewarm tap water, the water can be sucked in through the shell pores along with bacteria.
Different rules apply to eggs bought from a farm or neighbor
If you get eggs from a local farm, market, or a friend who keeps hens, the situation is different.
Fresh, unwashed eggs may still have the natural protective layer – the cuticle, which helps prevent bacteria from penetrating the shell.
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J. Pallian recommends first asking whether the eggs have been washed. If not – that is a good sign. Preserving the natural protective layer can better protect the eggs and maintain their quality.
Since we want to preserve this protective layer as long as possible, such eggs should also not be washed. Small dirt spots are better removed with a dry cloth, paper towel, or brush.
If the egg must be washed, J. Pallian advises using water warmer than the egg itself, not cold water. After washing, the egg should be dried immediately and used as soon as possible.
Although in some countries fresh, unwashed eggs are stored at room temperature, the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension in the United States recommends storing eggs obtained from poultry farmers in the refrigerator.
How to store eggs safely?
Eggs should be stored in their original packaging and in the coldest part of the refrigerator, not in the door.
As J. Pallian explains, the door is the warmest part of the refrigerator, and the temperature there fluctuates every time the refrigerator is opened.
The refrigerator temperature should not be higher than 4 °C.
It is also important to wash your hands and clean all kitchen utensils and surfaces that have come into contact with raw eggs.
If you have already placed eggs in the refrigerator, they should continue to be stored there. Do not leave them at room temperature for more than two hours, as bacteria can multiply quickly in warmer environments.
