How Eggs Stay Fresh: The Big Chill

Eggs are a big deal in the global food market. But not every country treats them the same way.

The U.S. Approach

In the U.S., eggs get a bath and a chill before hitting the shelves. This can be a problem when sending them to other countries.

The Big Question

So, what's the best way to keep eggs fresh for a long time?

The Study

A study looked at four ways to handle eggs and how they fared over 27 weeks:

1. Unwashed
2. Washed
3. Washed and coated with oil
4. Chilled for three weeks before washing

These eggs were then split into two groups:

• One kept cool at 4°C
• The other left at room temperature (22°C)

The Findings

Weight Loss

• Eggs left at room temperature lost more weight, especially the unwashed, washed, and washed-after-chill ones.
• The oiled eggs held up better, losing weight similar to those kept cool.

Quality Grade

• The chill factor was huge for egg quality.
• After just one week at room temperature, the unwashed, washed, and washed-after-chill eggs dropped to a lower grade.
• The oiled eggs stayed top-notch for four weeks.
• For the cooled eggs:
• The unwashed and oiled ones kept their grade for the full 27 weeks.
• The washed and washed-after-chill ones lasted 18 weeks.

The Conclusion

This study shows that keeping eggs cool is key to maintaining their quality over time. It's a simple lesson: if you want your eggs to stay fresh, give them the chill treatment.