To wash or not to wash?

[Sad Eyed Lady]

I have a good friend who has backyard chickens and very generously gives us eggs from time to time. She always reminds me to wash them before I use them. Her eggs are VERY clean, looks like they have already been washed, but they haven't. I have tried to research this, wondering if they look clean, and the part I am going to eat is inside, why must I wash the egg at all? The sources I have read vary on this, and the following quote I copied from the Prairie Homestead:

"My personal method? I only wash eggs that are visibly soiled. Anything that comes in the house already clean is left alone. If they have a bit of dry manure or shavings stuck on them, I try to flick those things off before bringing them inside. The less washing the better, I say!"

So, do you wash your eggs before consumption, or not? Some things I have read talked of an actual danger in washing in water too cool causing the egg to contract and pull in bacteria. I am confused. Would love your input as always.

[Jilly]

I suppose you could keep doing that, but if there are undetectable bit of nasty stuff, i.e. manure, they can get into the juicy stuff. There certainly is no guarantee, but undercooked eggs that have been even minimally contaminated can cause food-borne illness. Eggs have some kind of protective coating, according to my egg person, and she says never to wash them ahead of time, only when you are about to crack and use them. So, that is what I do.

I only rarely have that kind of fresh egg, but I do love them barely cooked. I am too old to take the risk of getting sick.

This is a separate issue, but she also tells me to immediately refrigerate the eggs that she brings to me, and to keep them there.

[awakenedsoul]

I have a chicken, and now that you mention it, I only wash an egg if it's dirty. Sometimes they will have blood on the outside, or a bit of manure from the nest. I guess I should wash each egg before I use it. I've never had a problem. My chicken is so old now that she barely lays eggs...

[Float On]

There is a protective coating on the egg as it exits the hen, to prevent yuck from penetrating the shell. No need to wash until right before you use it and I only dry wipe when I bring eggs in if there is clinging yuck on them. If there is still visible hen house yuck on the egg when I'm ready to cook or boil them then I'll wash especially if I'm going to be cooking eggs over easy.

[ToomuchStuff]

Before you use it. It isn't just about chicken stuff on the egg, but the people who handled it (was the person starting to show signs of illness when they brought them over, or caught one and didn't know it).

[JaneV2.0]

"I have a good friend who has backyard chickens.." I read that as "backward chickens"... http://www.kolobok.us/smiles/madhouse/sarcastic.gif

I've never washed an egg in my life, and I eat a lot of eggs. I've been doing so for years and years, and have never gotten sick.

[Sad Eyed Lady]

"I have a good friend who has backyard chickens.." I read that as "backward chickens"... http://www.kolobok.us/smiles/madhouse/sarcastic.gif

I've never washed an egg in my life, and I eat a lot of eggs. I've been doing so for years and years, and have never gotten sick.

LOL!!! Gave me a laugh too.

[Blackdog Lin]

We are into our 3rd year of having chickens, and based on my research.....we never wash eggs ahead of time, only just before use, and then only the visibly "soiled" ones. I just set out the eggs I'm going to be using, wash off the ones that need it, then wash my hands and I'm good to go.

We give away many of our eggs, and I tell all our recipients the same thing: some of them may look gross, so just wash them (then your hands) right before using.

[goldensmom]

I always wash eggs as soon as gathered. I never thought why other than that is how we did it when we had chickens/eggs when I was a child.

[Float On]

http://www.suburbanchicken.org/eggs.htm There are some great quick egg facts on this site, talking about the "bloom" on the eggs (protective coating) and why you shouldn't wash until just before use.

[jp1]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/29/english-eggs-vs-american-eggs_n_5403941.html

A detailed article on the pros of not washing eggs. (I would've said pros and cons but the article didn't really have any cons to provide.)

[CathyA]

Having raised egg layers, I've been on various chicken forums. Alot of people don't refrigerate their eggs. They just leave them on their counters. (But these are eggs from their own chickens).
I've always heard that washing the eggs risks bacteria entering the shell. Many people who raise eggs to sell just lightly sand-paper any dirt off the eggs. I found that a paper towel works just as well.

Seems like the U.S. always over-does things...........probably because of all the lawsuits that people feel they are entitled to have, if something bad happens to them.