Eggs stay fresh 5 weeks longer when stored in 1 unexpected place in the kitchen
It turns out Britons have been storing their eggs in the wrong place in the kitchen, and you can extend their shelf life with one simple change that will make them last five weeks longer.
Eggs are at the top of most people’s shopping lists as they make an incredibly tasty breakfast, but it has often been debated whether it is best to store them in the fridge or not.
In the UK, eggs are typically kept at room temperature on the kitchen counter as they are not washed before being sold, so they still have their natural coating that keeps away bacteria.
However, Judd Clarke, an expert from Currys, has solved the debate and shared that the absolute “best” place to store eggs is the fridge if you wish for them to have a long shelf life.
Judd said: “According to the British Egg Information Service (yep, there’s such a thing), eggs should be kept in the fridge if you want them to stay fresh for longer. Most importantly – salmonella bacteria does not multiply in the fridge.”
Eggs will typically last up to four to five weeks longer when kept in the fridge as the cold temperature preserves their freshness as well as slows down bacterial growth.
Can you keep eggs on the countertop?
It is fine to keep eggs stored at room temperature if you prefer, it just means they will only last up to one or two weeks after being bought.
The key to storing eggs and preventing salmonella is keeping eggs at a consistent steady temperature as it will prevent condensation from forming on the eggshell.
A sudden shift in temperature will create moisture, which bacteria will thrive in and potentially penetrate the shell.
Changing the temperature will also cause the eggshell to contract and expand which will weaken the shell and increase the risk of contamination.
No matter if you wish to store your eggs in the fridge or countertop, just make sure to keep eggs at the same temperature once you have bought them to make sure they are safe for war.
How should you store eggs in the fridge?
It may seem easy enough to simply place your eggs in the fridge, but you should be careful not be store them in the fridge door on a rack.
Judd said: “You should avoid storing eggs in the refrigerator door itself. It’s the place where temperature changes the most, caused by the door being opened and closed.
“So even if your fridge has got one of those cute and tempting egg racks in a shelf on your door, you should ignore it.”
Instead, it is much better to keep them in the original carton they came in at the supermarket as it has been designed to protect eggs from damage and will also display the expiry date.
If you want to expand the shelf life of your eggs then the optimal place to keep them is on the middle shelf of the fridge as it will keep them fresh for longer as it will keep a steady temperature and moisture level.
Judd said: “The middle shelf of a fridge tends to stay at a more consistent temperature than other areas (especially the fridge door or near the freezer).
“Remember, temperature fluctuations can have a serious impact on the quality and freshness of your eggs.”
