I just recently started selling my extra eggs at the feed mill. I went there to drop off another batch and was told they would sell better if I washed them. I explained about washing off the bloom and that they would last longer if washed just before use. But that I also understood that most people are used to store eggs and that I would wash them. After washing and drying 15 dozen eggs, I'm shaking my head! I guess they think an egg comes out perfectly clean. I'll continue to wash them because I want to sell them and it's no big deal to wash them. These were really pretty clean actually. Maybe I'll wax them too next time:)!

-- Denise (jphammock@msn.com), April 11, 2001

Answers

I hate washing eggs and posted once asking for an easier way of doing it. I finally told my customers I didn't wash the eggs and it would be a while if they want to wait until I can. Most say it's okay, they'll wash them. I usually pick out the cleaner ones for them. Aahh, no more washing.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), April 11, 2001.

You can allways buy an egg washer. Try Murray McMurray Hatchery, they use to sell them. Be happy they're not requiring to grade the eggs.

-- David in NH (grayfoxfarm@mcttelecom.com), April 11, 2001.

Here's how I do mine - I wet the corner of a thin, cotton dish towel and gently wipe down the eggs and dry with the rest of the towel. This gets the surface clean and doesn't seem to really disturb the bloom. This works for all but the really dirty eggs. Those I wash under cool running water, then dry. When one corner of the towel is soiled, I wet a different corner. It works for me.

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), April 11, 2001.

Denise:

It is probably too late this year, but Easter is just a couple of days away. Next year perhaps hardboil and decorate some as an experiment to sell for Easter at maybe 2-3 times your normal price starting maybe a week before.

After the first year, you might take orders.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), April 11, 2001.

I love the Easter idea! Now I'll ask a silly question. My eggs are brown. Will these look OK after they are colored? Thanks

-- Denise (jphammock@msn.com), April 11, 2001.

I am not too embarassed to ask.. so what is a "bloom" on an egg?

-- Carole (carle@earthlink.net), April 11, 2001.

We have sold our eggs both washed and unwashed. It's kind of a nice customer service idea to clean them up a bit. However, the odd feather that is sometimes attached seems to lend a bit of authenticity!

My husband usually washes (just wipes off) the eggs before I sell them.

This year I sold goose eggs. I sold them for a buck apiece, but I guess I could have doubled my money. Next year I'm going to make sure the geese nest in a nice clean spot (yeah, right.) as they sure can make dirty eggs in wet western Washington!

-- sheepish (WA) (the_original_sheepish@hotmail.com), April 11, 2001.

Carol, The bloom is a natural protective coating on the egg. When you wash an egg, this coating comes off and shortens the "shelf life".

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), April 11, 2001.

You can get really deep colors with brown eggs. Very lovely shades of teal, deep green, marroon, gold, midnight blue or purple can be achieved. I held an easter egg hunt last year and everyone wanted the beautiful eggs(brown) not the yucky ones. I laughed at their amazement over the golden egg. It was really a goose egg. One girl claimed it was a dinosaur egg. :)

-- Marie (imacountrygirl4ever@yahoo.com), April 11, 2001.

Speaking of the bloom keeping the eggs fresh, I have so many eggs lately that sometimes they can't all be stored in the fridge. They just sit in the bucket out on the porch. They are unwashed. Is it safe to use eggs that are kept this way for a matter of days?

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), April 12, 2001.

Shannon, I don't think it is to good to store your eggs on the porch unless the outside temp is just right. What I have always done with extra eggs is make pasta. You use up lots of eggs and the noodles store lots longer. Joanie

-- Joanie (ber-gust@prodigy.net), April 12, 2001.

I always wash my eggs to sell. I can inspect them closely too. Yeah, I'll agree it's a pain. I was told (don't remember by whom but it was a reputable source) that when you wash them use water that is warmer than the egg. That way the egg doesn't absorb it - and anything icky. Maybe it was here at the forum where I learned that. Anyway, some of my eggs are so icky I wouldn't be able to sell them. Especially the duck and goose eggs.

-- Gailann Schrader (gtschrader@aol.com), April 12, 2001.

Shannon,

You can store your eggs at room temperature for an extended period of time as long as they remain unwashed. We had a thread about this a few months back that might still be in the archives. I can't remember just how long it was, but I know it was weeks, not days.

The reason the American public is told that eggs are dangerous to eat if left unrefrigerated is that American egg producers can sell their eggs up to one year after they are laid( thanks to our very "careful" government standards). At that point, they definitely need all the help they can get!

But in Europe, fresh eggs are kept out on the counter, etc. for up to a month if I'm not mistaken. I know one of the long-timers here probably has more info about this. Anyone out there? : )

Have a great week....

-- Kristin, in LA. (positivekharma@aol.com), April 12, 2001.

If you rub the soiled egg with a dry loofah sponge, it cleans most of the egg. If you wet the loofah sponge, it will clean the egg better, but then you still have the problem of removing the bloom. I grew some loofah sponges a few years ago and got so many loofahs that it was amazing. I found that this is a great use for loofahs. I keep one at my kitchen sink for eggs and for cleaning pots & pans.

-- Mary in East TN (barnwood@preferred.com), April 12, 2001.

I've never heard of growing loofahs. How do you do it? What kind of a plant is it? What conditions does it like?

-- Denise (jphammock@msn.com), April 12, 2001.

we've had egg customers ask us NOT to wash the eggs prier to them buying them. And others that perfer them to be washed. It's up to you. If I find really bad ones then I wash them but if not then I don't.

-- michelle (tsjheath@ainop.com), April 12, 2001.

I keep mine in a big basket on the counter. When I see it's full, I call my customers and ask if they need eggs. Lately I've had all my chickens laying so I have more then usual. I've put some in a cool spot in the basement.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), April 12, 2001.

Actually, the dirtiest eggs we keep for ourselves because we don't care. We keep them in separate cartons so we can quickly tell the difference.

At one time when we had an overabundance, I just broked the eggs out of their shell, scrambled them slightly, and froze them in big gallon- sized freezer baggies. Haven't tried to fry them up yet, but if nothing else, they'll be food for the cats!

-- sheepish (the_original_sheepish@hotmail.com), April 12, 2001.

Is it me or am I mising something, we never have much trouble with dirty eggs, maybe one or two a week. I use shavings in the nest boxes and try to keep them cleaned out regularly. We never wash an egg even if it is dirty until it's ready to be used. I have told all our people if they want to wash them at home feel free , but that I don't wash eggs. Nobody seemed to mind. I keep the dirty ones( when we have some ) for us.

-- Kelle in MT. (kvent1729@aol.com), April 13, 2001.

Denise,

Loofahs are the dried sponge like insides of a squash/guard like plant. They need space or something to climb up (with training), fertile soil, and deep waterings when it's dry. After the fruit is harvested and left to dry in a well ventilated space over a screen, you'll have loofah sponges. I think the seeds can be ordered from Burpee.

-- Marty (Mrs.Puck@Excite.com), April 13, 2001.

If ya wanna make some good extra money and save yourself some work for next Easter, raise some Ameracaunas. The eggs plop out of the hens ready to sell! -LOL-

http://home.gay.com/scotlynd/files/eggs2.jpg

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), April 13, 2001.

It's muddy here. Even if we keep the nests clean, they still bring mud in. Chickens aren't so bad (nest boxes are up) but ducks and geese are messier.

-- sheepish (WA) (the_original_sheepish@hotmail.com), April 13, 2001.

I stopeed keeping my fresh unwashed eggs at room temperature when I discovered that they were incubating on the countertop. Room temperature without A/C is a little warmer down here though.

-- DMT (dmtaylor@fanninelectric.com), April 16, 2001.

The best way I know to clean eggs for selling is to lightly wipe them with a piece of dry emery cloth. My grandma told me this is how they used to do it, and it still works fine for me. Unless you are sure that your eggs are unfertilized I would recommend keeping them in the fridge around 45 degrees. If not, you might end up with a "surprise" inside!

-- Patty (CaptainPat_@hotmail.com), June 19, 2001.