Eggs have small pores which harmful bacteria can enter. Even shells that appear clean can carry germs. Even so, eggs do not need to be washed. If not washed, they can keep without spoiling for weeks without refrigeration.
Egg washing is not required in Australia, but sale of dirty eggs is prohibited by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). Storing washed eggs below 7°C can help reduce the ability of Salmonella to grow.
The major disadvantage of egg washing is the potential damage to the physical barriers, such as the cuticle, which can occur during or after washing, for instance fromincorrect operations, in particular washing eggs in cold water.
Washing with warm water causes the egg's contents to expand and push dirt and contaminants away from the shell's pores. Never soak eggs, even in warm water. It is unnecessary and encourages the transfer of contaminants to the inside of the eggs.
Washing Fresh Eggs
To wash fresh eggs, Bunning recommends using water and an emery cloth or a brush. During cleaning, eggs should not touch bacteria or soil, which could enter the interior egg through its porous shell. Washing water should be warm, but not scalding.
Eggs that are not thoroughly cleaned can cause human illness. Salmonella, a disease associated with poultry, can also be passed through contaminated shells. Dirty shells contaminate clean cooking areas, kitchen utensils, food, or hands. Eggs have small pores which harmful bacteria can enter.
The short answer is “No”. Eggs are laid with a natural coating on the shell called the “bloom” or “cuticle”. This coating is the first line of defense in keeping air and bacteria out of the egg. Eggshells are porous, so when you wash them you're removing that natural barrier.
In some European countries, egg-laying hens are vaccinated against salmonella. In the U.S., vaccination is not required, but eggs must be washed and refrigerated from farm to store, and producers must follow a host of other safety measures.
“We require very specific washing and rinsing procedures for participation, but as a practical matter, every producer in the United States washes their eggs. It's an industry standard,” says Mark Perigen, national supervisor for AMS's shell egg quality assessment division.
When producers wash eggs to sell in the U.S., the process completely removes the bloom, also known as a cuticle, from the surface. The government requires washing the bloom off because it also removes some topical dirt and germs from the shell. A sanitizing spray removes any bacteria left after washing the exterior.
Is it OK to eat eggs every day? Because of their numerous benefits, it's OK to eat one whole egg, including the egg yolk, every day if you don't have cardiovascular disease and you do have a healthy level of blood cholesterol. Or you can mix two egg whites with every egg yolk to give yourself more protein.
Summary. Eggs are a wonderful source of nutrition. Two to three eggs a day can be safely eaten as long as they are eaten as part of a healthy diet.
In Europe it's a health risk to store eggs in the fridge. In Australia, it's a health risk to store them out of the fridge. Who is right? The answer is all about Salmonella, the general name for about 2,000 types of bacteria that lead to food poisoning.
If that's the case, then why are eggs not stored in fridges at the supermarket? Well, there's a simple explanation for that. It's apparently because store temperatures are kept below 20ºC, so refrigeration is unnecessary. 'This also prevents significant temperature fluctuations.
In Australia, most egg producers recommend storing eggs below 15C. This makes the fridge the best place for them. The Australian Eggs organisation also recommends a “climate-controlled refrigerated environment” for storing eggs.
British authorities actually discourage refrigerating eggs on the theory that chilling and then warming could create condensation, which would allow salmonella to penetrate the shell.
Best practice is to store eggs in the fridge; that way the temperature is always at a constant and your eggs will be fresher!
Mostly, it's about washing. In the U.S., egg producers with 3,000 or more laying hens must wash their eggs. Methods include using soap, enzymes or chlorine. The idea is to control salmonella, a potentially fatal bacteria that can cling to eggs.
Many European countries, like the UK, vaccinate their hens to prevent the transmission of salmonella when the hens lay eggs. The vaccinations, in conjunction with the protection of the “cuticle,” are thought to protect the European eggs from bacteria, therefore they don't refrigerate their eggs.
Refrigeration extends the shelf-life of eggs, so if they are not kept cool, consumers must use them faster. We aren't the only country who washes our eggs. Japan, Australia, and some Scandinavian countries also wash their eggs.
A general rule, unwashed eggs will last around two weeks unrefrigerated and about three months or more in your refrigerator. If you're experiencing an egg boom, it's smart to refrigerate any unwashed fresh eggs you aren't planning to eat immediately. This will help them last longer.
In the refrigerator, unwashed eggs will still last longer than washed eggs, and also longer than they would at room temperature (about 7 times longer to be precise).