Are You Smarter Than A Tortus?

May 12, 2010

At the grocery store, you'll find eggs in the refrigerated section, but at your local farmer's market they're not. In the U.S. people generally pop their eggs into the fridge the minute they get home from the store, but in Europe many people leave them out on the counter until they consume them. So do eggs really need to be refrigerated?

Yes and no.

In Europe, eggs are not washed but in the U.S., they are. Unwashed eggs can last up to 30 days without refrigeration. In fact, a farmer is allowed 30 days to ship their fresh eggs to the market. The store is allowed 30 days to sell the eggs. Most people simply feel more comfortable refrigerating their eggs, and it does make them last a week or two longer. The FDA recommends a maximum of 5 weeks in your refrigerator.

At any rate, the Easter eggs you boiled may have been laid by chickens partying on New Years Eve!