Why Do You Keep Refrigerating Your Eggs?

In case you are an American, there is a great chance that you are storing eggs in the fridge and you have probably never thought that there is another option for storing this food. However, the fact is that the United States belongs to a small group of countries where people keep chicken eggs in the refrigerator. For example, in the majority of European countries, people leave eggs at room temperature. On the other hand, the eggs produced in the USA would not be allowed on the European market because US manufacturers use an egg-washing process which makes them prone to bacterial contamination (Salmonella).

US eggs are kept in the refrigerator as protection against Salmonella

In case an egg gets infected with these bacteria, Salmonella will begin to spread rapidly if it is left at room temperature. This is especially true for eggs that are not used for more than three weeks. This is exactly why most public health agencies in the US suggest storing eggs in the refrigerator. What is worth mentioning is that the process of production practiced in the US (the use of CAFOs or concentrated animal feeding operations) makes eggs more prone to salmonella. During this process, the hens that are laying the eggs are usually placed in small quarters where they literally can’t do anything else other than sit. This is a fertile ground for infections because birds are not very clean and the sad truth is that we made them like that by forcing them out of nature and making them less resistant to diseases. Eggs that come from large flocks (large companies have flocks with tens of thousands of birds) and eggs produced by hens in cages contain a higher level of salmonella compared to eggs that come from small flocks and hens that are fed with organic food. Most of them develop resistance to antibiotics because they are receiving doses of antibiotics on a regular basis. In addition, the so-called egg washing process that is forbidden in Europe is contributing to the development of salmonella too.

An additional reason why the EU advises storing eggs at a room temperature

According to EU regulations, the practice of storing eggs in a refrigerator and then leaving these eggs at room temperature for a longer period of time usually leads to condensation which supports the development of bacteria on the shell and it may result in contamination of the egg itself. According to io9, the EU suggests storing eggs at room temperature all the time. After Reading, You Will Never Throw Away Eggshells EU guidelines regarding eggs storing suggest the use of constant room temperature between 69.8 F and 73.4 F in the summer period and between 6.2 F and 69.8 F in the winter period. So, forget about all the things you’ve heard and believed, fresh eggs with uncompromised cuticles should be left at room temperature, but only if you are planning to use them in the next few days. One of the main reasons why Americans started to store eggs in refrigerators is the fact that mass production of eggs leads to the transportation of eggs from one part of the country to the other and in some cases, this meant weeks before the eggs reach the supermarkets. In addition, the filth of CAFOs contributes to these measures of precaution because refrigeration acts as some kind of disinfection. However, if you know that the eggs are fresh and their cuticle is fine, you don’t need to store them in the fridge. The director of the American Egg Board’s Egg Safety Center, Hilary Thesmar, suggests that the most important factor is the shelf life of eggs. Refrigerated eggs last between 30 and 45 days while those that are left out of the fridge last for up to 10 days. Simply put, one day outside the fridge equals one week in the fridge. Eggs found in grocery stores are usually three weeks old when we buy them. Eggs that have USD certificates have a visible production date. However, keep in mind that in most cases the eggs are packed a few days after they were laid. The vast majority of eggs found in US grocery stores should be refrigerated because their cuticles are compromised with the egg washing process. On the other hand, if you are buying eggs from an organic farm, with healthy cuticles and you are planning to use them in the next few days, you can feel free to leave them in the kitchen – on the countertop or cupboard. Via Healthline