Eggs, like many thousands of years ago, are a sought-after and indispensable product. Chicken eggs are considered the most affordable, which is why they are most often bought. They contain fatty acids, lecithin, choline, vitamins and a huge amount of chemical elements useful for the body. They contain calcium, zinc, selenium, copper, iodine, chromium, iron, manganese, potassium and other substances. Eggs are widely used in cooking, so it is not surprising that many housewives stock up on them for future use. However, this is not always effective. Eggs have certain shelf life, after which they become unsuitable for food, that is, you can stock up on them, but do not have time to eat them. So how much to store the eggs and how best to do it so that they stay fresh longer?
Storage period for raw and boiled eggs
How many eggs remain fresh depends on where they are stored and at what temperature.
In the fridge, raw eggs are best stored at a temperature of +1 to +2 degrees.
- Table eggs under such conditions do not deteriorate for 25 days.
- Dietary - 7 days.
- Homemade eggs, if not washed before storage, will be fresh for 3-4 months.
- A fresh egg without a shell will not spoil for 2 days.
It is also possible to store fresh raw eggs without a refrigerator. They will not spoil for about 2-3 weeks if they lie in a dark, cool place with a relative humidity of 70-85%.
- Boiled hard-boiled eggs, placed in airtight packaging after cooking, can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- Without an airtight container, it is recommended to eat them within 10 days.
- If a hard-boiled egg has cracks, it will remain in the refrigerator for no more than 5 days.
Boiled boiled eggs spoil much faster.
- Their shelf life is 48 hours.
- Peeled boiled egg should be eaten on the same day.
Boiled eggs are best stored in a refrigerator at a temperature of +2 to +4 degrees.
- Outside the refrigerator, boiled hard-boiled eggs can stay fresh for up to 3 days at temperatures below 20 degrees.
- Under the same conditions, a soft-boiled egg is stored for 24 hours.
How to store eggs in the refrigerator
Eggs will stay fresh longer if they are not stored on a special section located on the refrigerator door, but in a chamber that is intended for fruits and vegetables. The thing is that when you open the refrigerator comes warm air. As a result, eggs undergo constant temperature changes, which negatively affects their freshness. It is better to keep eggs on the refrigerator door only if they are eaten in a short time.
It is most correct to store the eggs so that they stay in a fixed position and always with a sharp end down so that the yolk is in the center and does not come into contact with the air layer. For this you can use both the box in which they were sold, and a special stand. It is more correct that the container for storing eggs is cardboard, because it helps to maintain the necessary humidity and better protects the eggs from foreign smells. Eggs retain their freshness better if they are not in contact with each other during storage. The eggshell has a porous structure, so they can easily absorb other smells. For this reason, it is not recommended to store eggs near foods that have a strong odor: smoked meats, fish, citrus fruits, spices, mushrooms.
Eggs should always be washed only before immediate use. If, putting on storage, wash off a protective layer from them, they will rot out much faster.
How to store eggs without a refrigerator
Fresh eggs are well preserved if close the pores of the shell. For this it is best to use pork fat. Also suitable vegetable oil. After smearing the eggs, place the tip down in a box filled with dry oats, salt, sand, chips with sawdust, millet, wood ash or chaff. Eggs need to lay out in such a way that they lay apart from each other at some distance. Top product must be covered with burlap. In this form, chicken eggs, if they are stored in a place with low humidity and a temperature not exceeding 20 degrees, will not deteriorate until 3 months.
salicylic acid will help keep eggs fresh. To do this, you need to make a solution in proportions of 0, 5 liters of water to 2 teaspoons of salicylic acid. In this solution, the eggs should lie for half an hour, then you need to dry them, not wiping, and place in a dry cool place. Thanks to this method, they do not lose their taste and properties throughout the month.
You can also store eggs in lime mortar. This method is good because it allows the eggs not to deteriorate until 3-4 months. However, it has a significant drawback - eggs acquire a specific unpleasant taste. In addition, egg protein, which was stored by this method, is poorly whipped. One pound of quicklime must be poured with 10 liters of boiled water. The resulting solution should be set aside for 10-12 hours so that it is infused. Every 3 hours it is necessary to mix. Pour the ready lime mortar into the pottery with the eggs laid with the pointed end down. The lime solution should be several centimeters above the level of the eggs. Store eggs, therefore, should be in the cellar or basement, that is, where it is dry and cool. For egg storage, you can use brine. For every liter of water, add 20 grams of salt. Boil the prepared solution, let it cool. Then fill them with eggs laid in a deep enamel bowl. Eggs in saline solution are stored in a cool place for up to one and a half months. When storing it is important to put a load on the pan so that the air does not penetrate it.
These methods will help to save eggs as long as possible, but still it is better to use this product as quickly as possible. Indeed, in fresh foods there are much more nutrients, and therefore they are much more beneficial for the body.
