Washing Chicken Eggs With Soap & Water…
2 Feb
“An article you had earlier, about not damaging a film on the egg if you want to hatch them, has caused another concern in my mind. I clean all my eggs under cool water and soap before storing them. Is this the proper way to do it, or am I causing the storage life span of the stored egg to be shortened? Thanks” ~ Charlie
Charlie,
You have the same thing on your mind that so many people seem to lately; what is the best way to wash an egg?
I’ve been trying to get an answer our of a large egg producing company but can’t seem to get through to someone who will tell me how they clean their eggs.
So I’ll tell you how we wash our eggs and the reasoning behind why we do it this way. If there is anyone out there who disagrees with me, and feels there is folly in our practice, please write back with the reasons why and I will publish as an addendum next week.
Okay, a quick review of the “bloom” for those who are new to keeping chickens.
Just before an egg is laid, a protective membrane is applied to the outside of the shell. This membrane is called the bloom. The bloom is a thin protein coating that protects the egg from the entrance of harmful bacteria through it’s porous shell.
Once the bloom encounters water, it is quickly washed away and therefore cannot protect the contents of the egg any longer.
So, onto the actual washing of eggs and whether it’s even necessary to do so before storing them in the refrigerator.
If an egg is clean, meaning not soiled with manure or mud, I gently brush off any dust or straw and put it in the refrigerator. I use the word gently because I want to keep the bloom intact and a lot of handling of the egg can wear away the bloom. (more…)
