but the membrane is still intact and you know it is fresh?

I got my second egg today but it has a bit of a crack on it but the membrane is intact. Is it safe to eat? I would never eat a cracked egg from the store as who knows how long those eggs have been hanging around and I suppose over time germs/bacteria can pentrate the membrane. However, I checked the chickens this morning and then again this afternoon - so I know the egg isn't more than 4 hours old.

What is the general rule for eggs that are cracked? Also, do chickens lay eggs standing up or sitting down? I know it may seem like a silly question but inquiring minds want to know. Thanks

-- Anita in NC (anitaholton@mindspring.com), February 18, 2002

Answers

I do...if it looks clean.

-- julie (jbritt@ceva.net), February 18, 2002.

If it's cracked it should go straight into the refrigerator and be eaten fairly soon.

If it's cracked and dirty or leaking then I wouldn't eat it.

.......Alan.

-- Alan (athagan@atlantic.net), February 18, 2002.

Well, they can lay an egg either way! I have seen them kinda do the sneak out the side, and I have seen them sitting there and get up and there it is, and I have seen them running away and whoops out it comes! Especially if they are scared! Isn't that lovely technical knowledge there! heehee!

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), February 18, 2002.

Normally, a chicken will sit on the nest for a bit, then stand up and push to lay the egg.

We also eat the cracked ones if they aren't messy, and the membrane isn't broken. Use them first.

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), February 18, 2002.

Nan darling, your grasp of the technical is amazing!!! ;>) We eat cracked ones or use them for cooking right away. We just don't sell them.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), February 18, 2002.

Anita, jest cook thet thar egg real good afor ya eat it. Aint no bacteria gonna survive no fryin pan temperatures.

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), February 18, 2002.

Yes, you can. As long as it's not filthy. At the Farm Bureau egg farm years ago my mother used to buy them. They were called CHEX. Meaning that there were slight cracks or "dents" in the shell. As long as the membrane is not punctured they are fine...

-- Gailann Schrader (gtschrader@aol.com), February 19, 2002.

Gee...guess I'm the only one that doesn't eat cracked eggs?? I save them for the dog's dinner. Guess I figure the crack would allow "germs" to enter and sure don't want to get sick. I suppose if you cook them really well they would be OK. But...I don't think it's worth the chance of getting ill.

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), February 21, 2002.

Well, bacteria take a while to multiply - particularly if the membrane is unbroken. I worked once (summer job, studying agricultural science) on a smallish egg factory-farm (and broilers, and citrus orchard), and we'd even eat the broken eggs (you know, not smashed, but so broken that the contents were oozing out). Eggs were fresh, used the same day, cooked as omelettes - as far as I'm aware it didn't kill me. However, if that was the case I'd definitely use them that day, and even just a cracked egg I'd refrigerate immmediately and use within two or three days tops. P.S. Remember that factory farm was wire cages, so the broken eggs were quite clean.

-- Don Armstrong (from Australia) (darmst@yahoo.com.au), February 21, 2002.

Eggs were fresh, used the same day, cooked as omelettes

Juist so that no one will miss it I'm repeating a bit of Don's text here. The key words are FRESH, used THAT day, and were COOKED.

I'll occasionally break one in gathering eggs and if I'm going to be using eggs RIGHT THEN I may possibly still cook it but as a general rule *leaking* eggs are not eating eggs.

Eggs that are cracked but without the membrane broken (checks) are somewhat safer but even they need to be promptly refrigerated and used. My family used to buy checks from the egg man when he came around years ago too because they were cheaper but it was trading economy for risk.

..........Alan.

-- Alan (athagan@atlantic.net), February 21, 2002.

The egg shell is porous anyway, it is not the major barrier to the germs in the 1st place, it lets air and water pass through, either could carry germs. The barrier to germs is the membrane and the coating on the outside of the unwashed shell.

-- Thumper/inOKC (slrldr@yahoo.com), February 21, 2002.