Never wash raw eggs before storing them. An egg has what is called a "bloom" on it which is natures way of perserving the egg. If you wash the egg, you will remove the bloom and the egg contents will deteriorate very quickly.

-- Karen (mountains_mama2@hotmail.com), April 08, 2002

Answers

What about dirty eggs from muddy footed chickens? What can I do?

-- Dena (ddew1962@earthlink.net), April 08, 2002.

When I took a Master Food Preserver course through the county a couple years ago, the teacher said we should wash fresh eggs. We were told to soak the eggs briefly in cold water with a couple drops of dish detergent added, then gently wash them with a brush. After wiping dry and refrigerating, our duck eggs keep for months. There is no way I could just refrigerate them, as they are often very dirty.

-- Kris in Wisc (kkwoestman@yahoo.com), April 08, 2002.

I guess I have been very lucky because my eggs are almost never dirty. If they are I just wipe them off with a damp cloth. By the way, removal of the bloom by washing is the reason store eggs don't last as long.

-- Karen (mountains_mama@hotmail.com), April 08, 2002.

Eggs should be stored clean but not washed. I keep a small square of fine sandpaper in my laundry room and any eggs with debris on them are lightly sanded. My ducks have cedar shavings for bedding and it is rare to have a soiled egg, but it does happen. If they have clean bedding, the eggs will stay nice also. Little Quacker

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), April 09, 2002.

wow, i'm posting this a little late (first time visiting the cooking and craft forum) but from everything i've read and been told, you should never wash your eggs in cold water. it has something to do with the pressure and causes the eggs to draw bacteria and such from the outside to the inside through the pores. thus you should wash them in water that is warmer than the eggs, about 20 degrees warmer. this actually causes the eggs to release air, so nothing can come in. :)

-- C (punk_chicadee@yahoo.com), April 14, 2002.

I wash mine in warm water with a little dish soap. I just can't stand the thought of unwashed eggs in my refrigerator. I don't have to worry about them going bad, though. I have five kids to feed and I give my friends all they want (maybe more).

-- Gayle in KY (gayleannesmith@yahoo.com), April 15, 2002.