Alright, the spring weather has got me thinking about our next camping trip, and again I am trying to figure out how to bring those eggs with us without smashing half of them. Forget cartons, or those cute egg holders that they sell in camping departments. Besides which, our supersize homegrown hen fruit wouldn't fit in them, anyway. I am NOT going to put them in my flour; you aren't supposed to wash the homegrown eggs until you cook them, and you KNOW how a homegrown egg sometimes gets...even in a clean hen house! SO, any ideas out there?

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), April 25, 2000

Answers

Leann, since you won't be storing these eggs, might as well wash them. Even if you don't use them all camping, you probably will want to pitch them when you get home since they'll have been through a lot of temperature changes. You could also put them in plastic bags, or yougurt containers and then bury them. Be interesting to see what sort of ideas everybody else comes up with. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), April 25, 2000.

I did a lot of camping in the Scouts as a youth (and will again someday), and we tried not to take eggs out with us. When we did however, we dipped the eggs into boiling water for 15-30 seconds. This cooked just the outer layer of the egg and made it less prone to breakage....hope this helps.

-- Chris Stogdill (cstogdill@rmci.net), April 25, 2000.

Leann, I've used those plastic egg holders from the camping department for large eggs. Place them carefully in the holders and then put rubber bands around them to keep a firm, but not crushing, hold on the eggs. You might also try a plastic container on the order of Tupperware, and pack them wrapped in paper towels. Homegrown eggs usually have thicker shells, so shouldn't break as easily as "storebought". Good luck, and happy camping!

-- Blue Tick (coonhound@mindspring.com), April 25, 2000.

We break them at home into a cold thermos. Then pour out what we need when we need them.

-- Rich (pntbeldyk@wirefire.com), April 25, 2000.

Same as rich, if I know its scrambled eggs Saturday morning than I would crack a dozen, give them a stir and freeze them. If it was eggs for pancakes, detest the mixes, then its crack 3 stir them up and pop them in the freezer, then in the icechest they slowly thaw and are ready to use. 1/4 cup of stirred egg equals one large egg. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), April 26, 2000.

I have sent packages of delicate breakables in rice crispy bar material. In the case of eggs I would make a pan full. Before it set I would make depressions in it with a ladle or my hands, wrap the eggs separately in plastic wrap and place them in the depressions. Cover with more rice crispy material. When the eggs are used up there are still treats to eat.

-- Peg (NW WI) (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), April 26, 2000.

You know those tall, narrow jars that olives come in? Break the eggs into those, put on the cap, place in the cooler, and "pour" out what you need when the time comes. GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@mix-net.net), April 26, 2000.

I have a tupperware rolling pin I have, had for years!!!!! The end screws off & I break the eggs & put them in this non-breakable rolling pin & it will fit in cooler-or camper ref.-- pour out eggs one at a time to use. Don't know if they still sell this rolling pin or not as it was a gift I received many moons a go!!!

-- Sonda Bruce (sgbruce@birch.net), April 27, 2000.

Take three hens and place in a cardboard box with air holes...LOL

-- Anne (HealthyTouc101@hotmail.com), April 27, 2000.

3 hens in a box I love it!!!!!!! Thanks for the laugh--I really needed it tonight! Sonda

-- Sonda Bruce (sgbruce@birch.net), April 27, 2000.

LOL!! But I hope nobody seriously tries it -- we found that whenever laying hens were disturbed by moving that they would stop laying for a few days! We have taken milking goats camping, though!!

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), April 28, 2000.

The Mrs and I dont take chicken eggs. We use a piece of tupperware and put washed duck eggs in, sometimes with a few sheets of paper towel. The shells from the free range ducks are very thick and require a firm blow to crack (compared to chicken eggs) and the membrane is tougher so even if a crack appears in the shell then no egg leaks out.

-- William in WI (thetoebes@webtv.net), April 28, 2000.

Sounds like breaking them in recipe appropriate amounts and freezing them in containers is the way to go. The only time I have seen a chicken in camp, the chicken had one leg tied to a string attached to a tent peg. She was contentedly pecking around in the grass, and seemed unconcered with the hubbub around her. I asked the owners if they brought her for fresh eggs. They said no; she was the hen house bully and made lives miserable for the rest of her house mates, so she was the "guest of honor" at Sunday dinner. No refrigeration needed!

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), April 29, 2000.