How long are organic eggs good for in the fridge?
In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “How long are organic eggs good for in the fridge?”, discuss answers to other related questions like how should you store organic eggs to increase their shelf life, and what can happen if you eat bad organic eggs.
How long are organic eggs good for in the fridge?
The organic eggs, if stored properly, can stay good for at least 3-5 weeks in the fridge. However, the longer the eggs are stored, the more their quality declines, making them less springy and runnier.
How long are organic eggs good for?
Store-bought organic eggs can usually last for 5 days beyond the mentioned expiry date. Moreover, if the eggs are refrigerated, their shelf life is roughly 3 – 5 weeks. However, it must be kept in mind that storage for longer durations makes the eggs less springy and runnier.
2 important reasons to refrigerate eggs
Organic eggs, if left unrefrigerated, may not remain good to be used or consumed. This is because, at room temperature, the proteins of eggs degrade more quickly. Also, the room temperature offers a favorable environment to the microorganisms particularly bacteria to grow on the eggs.
Protein degradation
Eggs stored at room temperature will degrade more quickly than those stored in the refrigerator. Because as eggs age, their protein structure degrades. This causes older egg whites to become runnier, and the yolks to stand less round and tall. The warmer the room temperature, the more this is true. So it is better to keep the eggs in the refrigerator than to keep them in the kitchen.
Bacterial growth
Storing eggs at home temperature encourages bacterial growth. Eggs are particularly more susceptible to one particularly nasty bacteria, named Salmonella. This bacteria can be a reason for a very severe form of food poisoning, with symptoms developing from 12-72 hours after infection.
How should you store organic eggs to increase their shelf life?
To keep the organic eggs fresh for a longer period, store them in the carton because the carton protects the eggs and prevents the eggs from absorbing the strong odors and flavors of other foods in your fridge through the thousands of tiny pores in the eggshell. And, also the best-by date is always visible to you so you can guarantee freshness.
Eggs should always be stored with the large end up, the same way they are packaged in the carton, to help the yolk remain centered.
Do not store eggs in the door of the refrigerator but store them in the main body of the refrigerator. This will ensure that they keep a consistent and cool temperature.
Leftover raw egg whites and yolk should be kept in air-tight containers and stored in the refrigerator immediately. To prevent yolks from drying out, cover them with a little cold water and drain this water before using the yolk.
Other FAQs about Eggs which you may be interested in.
How to peel a soft-boiled egg?
How to tell if organic eggs are gone bad?
Organic eggs can easily go bad if they are not stored properly. To check whether the eggs are good to be used or not, you must keep a few important points that might help you:
Expiration date
If you have kept eggs in the carton, you can check for the expiration date to see whether the eggs are gone bad or are still good to be used.
Smell test
The smell test is the simplest and most reliable way to tell whether an egg has gone bad or not. A bad egg will give off a foul odor when cracked. This smell will be present even after the egg has been cooked.
Visual inspection
One of the simplest ways to tell if the eggs are gone bad or not is the visual inspection. Don’t cook the eggs if there is a crack in the shell, or there is a powdery substance on the shell or the shell is looking or seeming slimy.
Float test
The float test is a quick and easy way to check the freshness of an egg. For this, place an egg in a bowl of water. If the egg stays at the bottom, it is fresh, and if the egg stands on its end, it is not fresh (older egg).
Candling
Candling involves the use of bright light to examine eggs for signs of cracking and interior defects.
What can happen if you eat bad organic eggs?
The main risk of eating bad eggs is to be the victim of food poisoning due to Salmonella infection. Salmonella, a gram-negative bacteria, can grow both on the shell and inside the yolk and egg white. Symptoms of Salmonella-based food poisoning include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, and vomiting. Excessive vomiting and diarrhea may lead to dehydration and may require hospitalization. So it is recommended to increase the uptake of fluids in such a condition.
These symptoms usually develop 6-48 hours after eating a contaminated egg and last for about 4-7 days.
Conclusion:
In this brief guide, we answered the question “How long are organic eggs good for in the fridge?”, discussed answers to other related questions like how should you store organic eggs to increase their shelf life, and what can happen if you eat bad organic eggs.
