How long are duck eggs good for?
In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “how long are duck eggs good for” with an in-depth analysis of the shelf life of raw duck eggs. Moreover, we are going to discuss ways to check the freshness of duck eggs and tips to minimize the risk of Salmonella infection from duck eggs.
So without much ado, let’s dive in and figure out more about it.
How long are duck eggs good for?
Raw in-shell duck eggs last for about 6 weeks if stored properly in the fridge at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
On the other hand, raw beaten duck eggs last for about 2 days when stored properly in the fridge in an air-tight container at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Raw beaten duck eggs or cooked eggs last for about 2 hours when allowed to stay out of the fridge. Thus, you should never leave raw duck eggs for more than an hour or a maximum of two hours at room temperature.
You should discard the raw or cooked duck eggs that have been left in open for more than 2 hours as bacterial growth takes place at a faster pace between the temperature of 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, therefore there are greater chances of the raw duck eggs being already contaminated with bacteria when left out for more than 2 hours.
Moreover, if the temperature of the surroundings is about 90 degrees Fahrenheit, then the process of spoilage takes place at a faster pace and it is recommended to discard duck eggs that are left out in the open for more than an hour at 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Moreover, the in-shell duck eggs that were previously refrigerated also last for about 2 hours when left out at room temperature.
It is worth mentioning that the in-shell duck eggs should not be stored for more than 2 hours at room temperature in the US, Netherland, Japan, and Australia while in other countries, duck eggs can be kept for 1-2 weeks at room temperature.
Last but not least, Raw beaten duck eggs last for about 6-12 months when stored properly in the freezer in a plastic freezer bag. It is worth mentioning that you should never freeze the in-shell duck eggs or else they can explode in the freezer. You should always freeze the slightly beaten duck eggs in plastic freezer bags.
Thus owing to the cold temperature of the freezer, properly stored raw duck eggs can stay good for a long time.
It is worth mentioning that these figures are the estimated shelf life of the egg and this is the time during which you can enjoy the peak quality of the duck eggs provided that they are stored properly.
Ways to check the freshness of a raw egg
There are a couple of indicators that distinguish fresh duck eggs from old ones. You should consider the appearance, consistency, and smell of duck eggs to reach a final verdict of whether or not they are fresh.
Floatation test
Now this one is pretty simple. All you have to do is to fill a bowl with water and suspend your egg in it. If the duck eggs lay on the bottom of the bowl that means that they are fresh and you should go ahead in using them in making your favorite chocolate cake. But if the duck eggs remain suspended or floating in the water that means that they are really old.
Now there is another option that your duck eggs do sink to the bottom of the bowl but they remain in an upright position, so it is an indication that the duck eggs are a few weeks old.
Cracking egg
So for testing the freshness of the egg, break the egg into a plate and notice its appearance. If the egg white does not separate much from the bright orangish-yellow yolk then it means that your egg is fresh. In case that the gg white gets more separated from the yolk means that your egg is past its prime age.
Smell
If the smell of the egg is intense it must be an old egg as the fresh duck eggs do not have much of a smell. If the egg is giving off a sulfur-like, putrid smell, then it is an indication that it has spoiled.
Consistency
The egg whites of old duck eggs will have a thinner consistency. Moreover, their egg yolks will also be flattened.
Minimizing the risk of Salmonella infection from duck eggs
You should consider the following tips while buying duck eggs to reduce the chances of bacterial infections to some extent.
- Do not consume duck eggs having cracks in them.
- It is better to buy pasteurized duck eggs and egg products.
- The duck eggs should be refrigerated promptly.
You can read about the nutrition, benefits, and side effects of duck eggs here.
Other FAQs about Eggs that you may be interested in.
Can I give my dog scrambled eggs?
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we answered the question “how long are duck eggs good for” with an in-depth analysis of the shelf life of raw duck eggs. Moreover, we discussed ways to check the freshness of duck eggs and tips to minimize the risk of Salmonella infection from duck eggs.
