Poll: Do you refrigerate eggs?

[ipsedixit]

Without being judgmental, I'd like to know whether you refrigerate your eggs.

And relatedly, what country you are in.

[Bill Hunt]

Yes.

Hunt

[LMAshton]

Yes. Canada, Sri Lanka, New Zealand.

Mostly yes but sometimes no in Singapore.

Eggs in Sri Lanka weren't washed before selling - evidence is the chicken crap, feathers, and straw on the eggs. Eggs in Singapore - maybe washed, maybe not. They're mostly clean, but I do find bits and pieces of chicken crap, feathers, and straw on them every now and then.

[tcamp]

In Virginia, USA, where my storebought eggs are in the fridge. In summer I get farm eggs through my CSA and I'll sometimes leave them out for a day or two if they're going to be eaten soon.

Lived in Israel, Spain, and Romania where eggs straight out from under the chickens were normally not refrigerated.

[Nayners]

In the US and eggs must be refrigerator or they will spoil. If you've ever had salmonella poisoning (I have) you'll never forget.

[sunshine842]

they need to be refrigerated if they have been pressure-washed and are missing their natural protective barriers.

Salmonella exists in eggs (about 1 in 20,000) whether they're refrigerated or not.

Spoiling and salmonella are not the same thing.

[Nayners]

Thanks. I knew this but had forgotten.

[John Francis]

Yes. US. It's the most convenient storage here.

[deputygeorgie]

Yes, although I try to remember not to. I grew up with my mo. Refrigerating them. Now we don't buy eggs very often but I thoughtlessly stick them in the fridge. And United States.

[stilldontknow]

No, UK

[sauce101a]

Yes

[pedalfaster]

Refrigerate: yes.
Country: USA

Even though you didn't ask why: I'm forgetful and I don't use eggs every day. I think the cold of the fridge keeps em "safe".

[Kashmirgirl]

Yes. United States

[Kelli2006]

Yes I do refrigerate eggs. USA.

A dozen eggs last me almost a month.

[Patrincia]

Yes, for the most part, but I buy them in bulk here in the US. When I was in England, the grocery stores did not refrigerate their eggs and my husband's grandmother, who grew up on a farm, said they never refrigerated eggs so if I run out of room in my fridge, I'll pull the eggs out for a day or two.

[John E.]

I had an interesting thought about the almost universal habit in Europe that eggs are not kept in the refrigerator. In many areas I am sure the eggs are transported much shorter distances and so do not need to be kept fresh for as long as they do in the U.S. The other major reason eggs are not kept in he refrigerator in Europe is because most of the time the refrigerators are a fraction of the size of most refrigerators in the U.S.

[sunshine842]

they're also not washed, which allows the natural coatings on the eggs to protect the insides.

Rinsed to remove the worst, but it's common to open a carton of supermarket eggs and find random feathers.

[Jay F]

>> it's common to open a carton of supermarket eggs and find random feathers.<<

I have never once found feathers, or anything feathery, in my eggs. And I check each dozen before I buy it. And I've bought eggs every week or two, and sometimes a lot more often, for thirty-some years.

[sunshine842]

sorry, I don't remember - where are you located?

[Jay F]

Pittsburgh, PA. And you?

[sunshine842]

France...which is why Harters and I (and cresyd, and linguafood for part of the year, and a bunch more that I know I'm missing) sometimes have experiences that are miles different from the posters based in the US.

I've never had feathers on a storebought egg in the US either...but here, it's not uncommon, because they're rinsed to remove the worst, but not enough to remove the natural protective coatings present on fresh-laid eggs.

[Nayners]

That's frightening.

[sunshine842]

no it's not frightening -- eggs come from chickens, and chickens have feathers.

It's a food supply system that makes no attempt to hide the origins of the food.

People here actually comprehend that meat and eggs and milk come from animals, not from styrofoam trays and plastic cartons.

[Harters]

European fridges generally have a specific egg storage compartment - usually with half a dozen holes cut into the plastic shelf with them. I use that space to store the margarine and Parmesan. Because we are less inclined to fridge productsof all sorts, our fridges are, indeed, generally smaller than the enormous ones that are sold as "American style" . Mine fits under the worktop and has a 4.6 cubic foot capacity - it's rarely full.

[John E.]

I'm guessing the reason Europeans do not refrigerate a lot of products that Americans do is because of small refrigerators instead of the other way around.

I visited my high school German exchange student buddy and his refrigerator was like yours. I once spent a month in a Soviet-style aparment in Chisinau, Moldova and since the owner of the apartment mostly rents out the apartment to Americans, and apparently Americans expect large refrigerators, she had an almost 10 cubic foot refrigerator which I'm pretty sure is on the smaller side for American refrigerators. I think Americans generally shop for food less often for food than do Europeans. However, when we were in Moldova we stopped at a small grocery store everyday. Of course other than restaurants, that was the only place we ever went to that was air conditioned.

[sunshine842]

the difference in refrigerator size is diminishing rapidly -- US fridges are still bigger, but the three-shoebox refrigerator is no longer the norm.

[Harters]

You may be right that we dont fridge stuff because we havnt room in the fridge. Maybe that's why our food manufacturers make the products so they don't need fridging. As I said, my fridge is rarely full - I've just looked in it and there's just milk, butter, sunflower spread, yoghurts, cheese, sandwich meats and salad leaves.

You may also be right that Europeans shop more often than Americans. We, and most folk I know, shop about once a week, at the supemarket. Does that differ much from American shopping habits?

[kengk]

Just checked our refrigerator and it has very little "real" food in it. It's typically at half capacity just with all the sweet and savory condiments we keep on hand. Plus sodas and bottled water.

Most of this stuff would not necessarily have to be kept cold but it takes the two of us a long time to use a jar of mustard or jam.

[Harters]

I've never known a jar of mustard to spoil in the cupboard - but then even the big jars I buy in France will only last us two or three years.

Jam's a different thing - most jams are fine in the cupboard but the high fruit/low sugar content of some of the French makes (say, Bonne Maman) means I do have to keep them in the fridge once opened, as they will spoil if kept for a few months.

[sunshine842]

and in fact Edmund Fallot says to NOT refrigerate their mustards.

[Nayners]

Isn't there an expiration date on the mustard?

[sunshine842]

Please cite examples of mustard spoilage.

[John E.]

Maybe it's and older stereotype, but I was under the impression that Europeans shop more frequently than once a week. Of course 'European' covers many cultures. It has been my experience (mostly Minnesota) that people here usually have two refrigerators and a separate freezer full of food.

I find it interesting how much stuff that you do not refrigerate (jam/jellie) that we do keep in the refrigerator but that we do not keep the sunbutter (sunflower spread) in the refrigerator. I am going to place an opened jar of jam in the cupboard for a few months to see what happens. I get my entertainment wherever I can.

[Harters]

It's an older stereotype, I'm afraid, John. Dating to before most of us had cars and out-of-town supermarkets. And, no doubt, also dating back to a time when women were housewives rather than wage slaves. Of course, as with any stereotype, there will be some folk who conform to it and there will be differences across the various European cultures - but French and Spanish supermarkets seem just as busy as the ones in the UK

FWIW, I have four supermarkets (say, around 25,000 square feet in size) within ten minutes drive of home. Of course, I'm living in suburbia and there will be folk living in much more rural areas who will have more of a drive. But we are a small country - almost nowhere is really far from a large town. I know of one small town (population about 20k) which fought for years to prevent a supermarket opening up, saying it would destroy the local shops. Well, they were right. The supermarket finally got permission to build and, unsurprisingly, folk go there to do the weekly shop.

[John E.]

An interesting thing happened in our area a few years ago. A small Aldi store opened up about two miles from our house and we seem to be stopping there more frequently than we used to shop. On the other hand, We have neighbors at our northern Minnesota farm and they plan their shopping better because it is a 45 minute drive each way just to get to town.
An interesting sidenote, my Parents were part owners of a large combination supermarket/discount store (much like Walmart/Target supercenters in the U.S. or the Aldi stores in Germany) but it was apparently too far ahead of it's time. That, and the managing business partner couldn't keep his zipper zipped.

[linguafood]

Hmmm. Dunno about older stereotype. I think it may just come down to personal habit / time available. We shop almost every day (yes, not very economical), whether here in the US or in Berlin. I don't plan meals ahead and like to have flexibility when it comes to dinner. I'll never know what I'll feel like eating two days from now....

That said, I found that "stuff" in Europe (particularly dairy & produce) spoils WAY faster than in the US, which I find unfortunate, although it also makes me weary of the things that last weeks in the fridge when they perhaps should not.

[sunshine842]

here on the continent, and specifically in France, 2-3x per week is the norm -- even with the working moms.

[earthygoat]

I'm in Canada. I don't refrigerate eggs from my chickens, but I do store bought. During peak season, we have several dozen eggs laid daily and we don't wash them, so they stay out for a couple of days until sold.

[mayt]

No. New Zealand (currently living here).
Eggs here are fairly farm fresh. No excessive washing. They keep for about 3 weeks without refrigeration, by which point they're usually consumed by my partner and me.

Yes. USA.
Unless I know I'm getting them from a local source, I keep them in the fridge.

No. Asia.
Having lived and traveled throughout various countries in this part of the world, I have yet to see any kind of egg whether duck, chicken or quail, put into a fridge. Winter or summer. And anyone who has traveled in SE Asia in the middle of summer know how hot it gets.

[lolabrw]

Yes - USA.

BUT I'm not against not doing so. I raised my own hens for the first time this year and I can see why you don't need to refridgerate them. However if they're store bought and already refridgerated - I might keep them that way. I'm not exactly sure why.

[Palindrome]

Yes. USA. I refrigerate everything, including breakfast cereal.

[ipsedixit]

How about unopened canned soup? Or instant ramen? Salt and pepper as well?

[Palindrome]

I guess I don't refrigerate everything. Not canned soup, nor salt. Pepper yes for whole peppercorns, which I don't use very fast.

[ChefARA]

I always refrigerate my eggs in the carton they came in...and remove those I will use for baking. I bring those to room temp in 1 hour.

In the USA there is an Egg Safety organization with a website (http://www.eggsafety.org/consumers/co...

)

From their site:
"Why should eggs be refrigerated?

Temperature fluctuation is critical to egg safety. Eggs are required by FDA to be refrigerated as soon as possible. After eggs are refrigerated, it is important to keep them that way. A cold egg left out at room temperature can sweat, facilitating the growth of bacteria that could contaminate the egg. Refrigerated eggs should not be left out more than two hours."

[Lillipop]

When my now grown daughter was five years old we were fortunate enough to live in the country near Sebastopol here in California.We had a few hens that layed eggs in our chicken coop and several other assorted animal friends(some of whom later became food for us)This was the late 70's. My daughter got a kick out of helping me gather those eggs but believe me I scrubbed those effin things (most likely with diluted bleach) and inspected and cracked every one of them into a bowl prior to cooking with them. And YES Mama Cheri refrigerated them:) I do not use eggs very frequently these days but if I do buy them at the store I do refrigerate them and if I am going to use them I take some out and let them get to room temperature.This is in California/USA.

[kathryn_dayle]

Yes we refridgerate our eggs.
In Canada, they are refrigerated when you purchase them, but in Australia, they are not.

My husband, who is Australian, agrees they should be refrigerated.

[Uncle Bob]

Yes! Straight out of the nest and into the refrigerator in less than an hour...at most.

[seamunky]

yes. USA

[alliegator]

Yes. United States
The main reason, though, is that I have limited counter/pantry space. It's more convenient. I take them out about a half hour before cooking.

[KSlink]

Since I am not an egg fan, mine are only used for baking and are definitely refrigerated! :)

[kengk]

I have a dozen hens, keep the eggs in the refrigerator. U.S.A
They will stay fresh longer if kept cold but obviously many people use them up quickly enough that it does not matter.

Here is a pretty good study about different methods of egg storage should anybody be interested.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sustai...

[Gio]

Yes, USA

[Tripeler]

Yes. Japan.

Eggs are very cheap here, usually about the equivalent of US$1.25 for ten. (Nobody sells eggs by the dozen. Usually packs of ten, but sometimes packs of six or eight. )

[Palindrome]

I seem to remember a Japanese book, "How to Wrap Five Eggs"

http://www.amazon.com/How-Wrap-Five-E...

[Tripeler]

Interesting book, but nobody in Japan packages eggs that way. They usually come in plastic molded cartons of 10, but sometimes 8 or 6.

[westaust]

Yes Canada, and Yes when I was in the UK even if they came unrefrigerated from the store

[hippioflov]

USA

If they're from my hens I don't refrigerate them. During the summer I try to use them within a week or they go in the fridge. It can get 90+ during Georgia summers.

If they come from a store, always refrigerate and use within two weeks.

[snax]

Yes
Federated States of Micronesia
Each one is checked to see if it floats before it's used, some cartons are 100% off

[dave_c]

Eggs that float are not an indication of spoilage, but a sign of age.

[Hobbert]

Yes, USA. I have nosy cats and would come home to a floor full of broken eggs otherwise.

[Marusik]

Yes, always, no matter what country I am in.

[ricepad]

Yes, but only because we lack any other convenient place to store them. (US)

[zuriga1]

UK eggs are just on an ordinary supermarket shelf and my British husbands says he has never refrigerated them. Out of habit (U.S.) I do put them in the refrigerator, but I guess it's not necessary. We use them rather quickly.

[FrankJBN]

Yes I refrigerate - heck, my eggs go bad in the refrigerator. - get runny. Like others have said, I can keep a dozen eggs for more than a month.

[dave_c]

USA, Yes.
It takes us 3 to 4 weeks to finish a dozen eggs.

[pinehurst]

Yes; USA.

[MonMauler]

Yes. I always refrigerate my eggs. USA.

But I do generally let them come to room temp before I cook them.

[Reston]

Ditto. I refridgerate eggs but take them out at least 30 mins before using. USA

[Harters]

No. UK.

I work on the assumption that if the supermarket doesnt feel the need to fridge them , then I don't.

By the by, I cannot recall ever seeing eggs in a fridge in any European supermarket.

[linguafood]

Ditto on that. In German supermarkets, eggs aren't refrigerated.

They taste better, you save time by not having to get them to room temp before cooking, and it's completely unnecessary, even here in tropical PA :-)

Of course, I get my eggs from a friend in town, so they don't get much fresher than that. I easily go through a dozen in a week.

[eviemichael]

Greece

From the open air market (and when I know I'll be using them within the next few days)- No
From the grocery story- Yes

[Linda VH]

Yes - USA

[jbermo]

DEPENDS - Unlike Europe, the USDA requires commercial eggs to be washed, and washed eggs should be refrigerated. Unwashed eggs don't need refrigeration (but they thus have a shorter shelf life).

[sunshine842]

er, no -- unwashed, unrefrigerated eggs are just fine, even several weeks after purchase.

The structure begins to suffer after a couple of weeks, but that happens whether they're in the fridge or not.

[subal]

Yes, USA

Several years ago we were on a 14 day dive trip in tropical Thailand and all the eggs sat out side in the 100* sun all the time. We ate them and never got sick! But then if you know divers, you know we eat any thing!

[alliegator]

Haha, I've eaten those and never had a problem. My eggs in the fridge were a huge curiosity to a Thai student I hosted a couple of years ago.

[John E.]

Of course we refrigerate eggs. I suppose if the eggs get used within a couple three days they would not need to be refrigerated but we don't use that many eggs on a regular basis. I can think of no advantage to leaving eggs out of the refrigerator and several reasons why they should be refrigerated. For one, counter space, second, food safety. If they should not be refrigerated, why are they refrigerated in the store? (Of course I'm referring to the U.S., don't reply and tell me they are not in a refrigerated case outside of the U.S....by the way, I'm in Minnesota).

[sunshine842]

because in the US, the natural protective coatings of the egg are washed off.

In Europe, they rinse them, but they do not have the pristine matte-porcelain appearance that US eggs have. European eggs have a bit of a sheen to them -- indicating that the natural coatings are still in place. It's not unusual to find a feather obstinately stuck to the eggs.

In the US, yes, I refrigerated the eggs, because they're refrigerated at the store....

But under that very same logic, if they're not refrigerated at the store, then there's really no reason to refrigerate them at home, other than very hot spells or if I am going to be gone for a while (at which point I usually use them or just toss them).

[thimes]

+1 about the washing of the coating here in the US, which is why we refrigerate eggs. Also told to me by an egg farmer in France . . . .

[John E.]

You missed this part: "Of course I'm referring to the U.S., don't reply and tell me they are not in a refrigerated case outside of the U.S."

The eggs in Europe are not transported long distances like they are in the U.S. They don't need to have a long shelf life.

I grew up in farm country where we had to wash the chickenshit off the eggs before we used them. One of my dad's best friends was an egg farmer. When I was a young teen I picked eggs for him in his henhouse that held 15,000 birds. It was not automated. I rolled a cart up and down the aisles and picked eggs. After I was done, the cart went into the cooler. While eggs do not have to be refrigerated, they certainly will last longer and will likely cause less illness if they are refrigerated.

[thimes]

No I saw it. I don't like being told how to reply. This thread was a poll of everyone. Never a good idea to end a post with a rhetorical question.

[John E.]

It wasn't rhetorical. When was the last time you saw eggs in a grocery store in the U.S. that were not under refrigeration? (That is rhetorical). Of course you may reply in any manner you wish. I thought maybe you did not read my entire post. My post was about eggs sold in the U.S.

[sandylc]

I have seen them unrefrigerated in small ethnic grocery stores in the Twin Cities.

[John E.]

Yea, I guess that still proves my point. I'm sure those eggs do not come from the same supplier that is providing eggs to Cub, Rainbow, Target, or Kowalski's. In my post above I was going to write mainstream grocery stores, I guess I should have.

[HoosierFoodie]

Most states have an egg board or similar agency. They have inspectors that go around making sure sure the refrigerated cases are up to temp as well as the holding cooler(s). They make sure eggs are labeled correctly, not expired, and spot check multiple cartons. Retailers, at least in some states, have to actually have an Egg License.

[sunshine842]

with the incidence of foodborne illness in the US approximately 5 TIMES that of Europe, the data just isn't there to support your statement. I haven't ever seen a recall of contaminated eggs in Europe, and lightly-cooked eggs show up in every course...and people fall ill at far-lower rates in spite of it.

And eggs in Europe have expiration dates -- just about as far out as US eggs.

[Harters]

By the by, the eggs we have at the moment have a "use by" date of 17/12. We've had them for about a couple of weeks already.

[Perilagu Khan]

There could be dozens of explanations for higher foodborne illness in the US that have nothing whatsoever to do with storage of eggs. And just out of curiosity, what is the source for that statistic?

[ipsedixit]

C'mon folks. Let's try and not be judgmental ...

[Perilagu Khan]

Huh?

[sunshine842]

any governmental health body -- including WHO.

[John E.]

With foodborne illness in the U.S. at approximately 5 times that of Europe, that is a good reason to keep eggs refrigerated in the home in the U.S. Besides that, once an egg has been refrigerated, it is more likely to create problems if it is then left unrefrigerated at a later time.

I don't really care where anyone keeps their eggs by the way. People can store them in a low oven for all I care. (Of course if they were purchased direct from a farm and happen to be fertile, well you know what that means in 28 days).

[kengk]

21 days.

[FattyDumplin]

Too funny. I was just about to reply, as I just finished reading "How are Chicks Made" with my 5-year old!

[sunshine842]

Exactly -- specifically to your first paragraph....but to your second, as well.

[jw615]

I refrigerate our eggs. Our kitchen doesn't have hardly any counter space, and we don't go through eggs particularly quickly.

In addition, I'm allergic, so I'd rather those little death bombs be relegated to their corner of the fridge then out and about.

[Bowyer]

My friend raises several chickens and she claims if you don't wash fresh eggs, they need no refrigeration. Otherwise, refrigerate. (USA)

[tardigrade]

Yes, out of habit and because my mother and grandmother did, and because sometimes a dozen eggs will last us a month. I do, though, bring the eggs up to room temperature (these days in the high 50s) before using them. US.

[deet13]

In the fridge/USA

[thelittlemiller]

Yep. USA.

I never even knew it was safe to leave them out until I was living in Italy last year and my host family kept them on the counter. I also do not use eggs often (really I only use them for baking) and also I too have limited counter space. Also I'd be nervous my cats would jump onto the counter and knock them off somehow!

[justalex]

USA. Yes I refrigerate. We don't use a lot of eggs. A carton could last two to three weeks so into the fridge they go.

[NE_Wombat]

Yes - unless I need the fridge space. USA

[sedimental]

Yes, most of the time. USA.

I have chickens so sometimes they sit out in the barn -collecting in the containers for days, until I have several dozen to bring in. They are on the counter until I sort them, clean them off, then they go into cartons for sale.

[Wyvern]

Didn't know it was an option!

[ipsedixit]

Didn't know it was an option to refrigerate, or an option to keep it on the counter?

[Perilagu Khan]

The same. Always assumed refrigeration was necessary.

USiNO, BTW.

[seamunky]

USiNO? intrigued. . .

[biondanonima]

Yes, both in the US and in Germany (my second "home"). I realize it's not necessary, but I tend to buy eggs in large quantities in the US (Costco) so they last a few weeks usually, and I figure better safe than sorry. In Germany I fridge them because there isn't a great place out of the fridge for them, and my housemate has a cat and a dog who might get into them.

[Njchicaa]

Yes. USA

[GH1618]

Yes, USA.

[fldhkybnva]

Yes, USA. However, we rarely eat eggs and a dozen lasts us a very long time.

[andrewtree]

No, never USA

[juliejulez]

Yes, US. I don't use that many eggs so it takes me awhile (aside from during December when I'm baking a lot) to get through a carton.

[bagelman01]

Yes, especially as they are refrigerated when I buy them. My ex MIL used to buy eggs direct from the chicken farmer, and as they were not sold under refrigeration, she just kept them in a cool cellar, UNTIL everyone became violently ill one holiday from eggs she kept too long without refrideration.

USA

[Bacardi1]

A HUGE YES!!! And this goes for supermarket eggs, farmers' market eggs, & eggs from my own chickens. I'll never understand the reasoning for not taking advantage of modern technology to increase the safety/shelf life of enjoying these wonderful goodies.

[charles_sills]

shelf life! very punny!!!

[weezieduzzit]

USA, Yes, most of the time. It's the most convenient place for me to keep them. If the fridge is full like it frequently is before a holiday and I'm going to be using them anyhow I leave them on the counter in an area of the kitchen where the heater doesn't blow directly at them. I don't like leaving things out if I don't have to, though- our cats counter surf at night and things left on the counter are frequently found on the floor in the morning.

[hambone]

x2 (Except for the cat part.)

[lcool]

US,Italy and France, a no with caveats
Here,Md in the spring the geese,ducks,turkeys and pea fowl start to lay before ideal weather conditions.In the name of brood size,population control I have so many pounds of eggs the refrigerator becomes the manager between batches of pasta or ice cream.

[Motosport]

Yes, only because I don't use them up quickly. USA.
Oherwise, they will easily last a couple of weeks without refrigeration.

[melpy]

+1 don't want to take up counter space, don't use them quickly.

[Jay F]

Yes, but only to save counter space. I didn't use to when I had a larger kitchen. USA.

[eastofnevada]

When in the US, yes. When I was in the UK, mostly no, unless it was going to take me awhile to use them up, then yes.

[foodieX2]

USA

Farm fresh from the neighbors, no

typical grocery store eggs that have already been refrigerated, yes

[Bryan Pepperseed]

Ditto

[Veggo]

U.S. yes, Mexico no. Local custom.

[chefathome]

Yes. Canada. No. Croatia. Weird. I do know that it is not necessary - I just do it out of habit here in Canada. Before baking I bring to room temperature.

[ipsedixit]

NO

United States.