Join Waitlist We will inform you when the product arrives in stock. Please leave your valid email address below.
Chickens,  Eggs & Laying,  Food & Ferment

How to Store & Wash Fresh Eggs: Best Practices for Backyard Chicken Eggs

July 21, 2020 / 58 Comments
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit

Farm fresh and backyard chicken eggs are remarkably different from eggs you buy in stores in a number of ways! Their deep golden yolks and unique variety of eggshell colors may catch your attention first. More often than not, fresh eggs have superior flavor, texture, and thicker eggshells – all due to the higher quality of care and nutrition that small farm and backyard chickens receive over large-scale poultry operations. Last but not least, fresh eggs are not processed in the same manner as commercial eggs. This means you can wash and store fresh eggs differently than store-bought eggs.


What is the best way to store fresh eggs? Do you have to wash backyard chicken eggs? Do fresh eggs need to be refrigerated? How long are eggs good for? This article will answer all of those questions – and more! 


A dozen chicken eggs are being stored in an egg storage container. It is white ceramic and open to the air, the edges are slightly wavy. There are four rows of eggs, each row contains three eggs each row from a different bird. The lower row has light blue eggs, the next row contains eggs that are light brown to pink, the third row up are medium brown with dark speckles, and the top row has very dark brown eggs with darker speckles.
A collection of our backyard chicken eggs, held in a ceramic egg crate. From bottom to top: Phoebe the Crested Cream Legbar, Zoey the Barred Rock, Ginger the Welsummer, and Luna the Black Copper Marans.


Can I store fresh eggs at room temperature?


Yes, unwashed freshly-laid eggs from backyard chickens or a local farm can safely be stored at room temperature for several days or even a couple of weeks. We love to display some of our hen’s gorgeous collection of eggs in a wire basket or ceramic egg tray on the counter! However, this only applies to unwashed fresh eggs.

Washed eggs must be stored in the refrigerator, including those from your backyard flock or the store. If you purchase local eggs at a farmers market or farm stand, ask if the eggs have been washed and/or if they need to be refrigerated. When in doubt, store eggs in the fridge. 

Curious why?


The Protective “Bloom”, Fertilization, & Pasteurization


During the process of laying an egg, a hen’s body deposits a natural protective coating on the outside of the eggshell – commonly known as the “egg bloom”. In more scientific terms, the egg cuticle is a layer of protein that covers the surface of the egg, effectively sealing the otherwise porous shell.

As the University of Edinburgh explains, “the cuticle prevents bacteria from entering the egg and forms its first line of defense against infection.” It is the hen’s innate way of protecting her chicks during development inside a fertilized egg. The bloom also helps to keep unfertilized eggs fresh longer, preventing both the loss of moisture and the introduction of contamination. Don’t worry, a fertilized egg will NOT continue developing on your countertop and can be treated just like other eggs.

When eggs are washed the bloom is also washed away, thus leaving the eggs more susceptible to spoiling – particularly when stored at room temperature. In the commercial egg industry, eggs are washed and also pasteurized. Pasteurization is the process of rapidly heating eggs to a certain temperature and time to kill bacteria, and is required by the USDA for all commercial egg products sold in the US. It kills pathogens present at the time of pasteurization, but provides no long-term protection.

That is why it is considered a food safety best practice to store eggs that have been washed in the refrigerator – pasteurized or not, store-bought or home-raised. However, note that we are especially cautious here in the United States. In other parts of the world, it is not uncommon to store eggs at room temperature – even in grocery stores!


An illustrated diagram of the inside of an egg. It shows the inside of the egg and the name for each part such as the chalazae, yolk, blastodisc, egg white, and air space. There is also a magnified area to the right which is showing the shell and membranes and the name for each. There is the cuticle, the shell, the outer shell membrane, and inner shell membrane.

The Anatomy of an Egg, via MannaPro


When to wash fresh backyard chicken eggs


In general, I recommend waiting to wash your fresh eggs until right before you use them. That is, unless they are soiled with poop, mud, or otherwise in need of a good rinse. In that case, wash dirty eggs but then store them in the refrigerator thereafter. Otherwise, avoiding washing eggs right after you collect them will extend their shelf life and freshness, whether you store them at room temperature or in the fridge. I know many backyard chicken keepers who don’t wash their eggs at all!

To wash our eggs, we simply rinse and rub them under warm water. There is no need for harsh soaps, vinegar or bleach!


Keeping backyard chicken eggs clean


To prevent eggs from getting dirtied up, do your best to keep the hen’s nesting boxes clean. Discourage sleeping (ahem… and pooping) in the nesting boxes by providing suitable sleeping roosts above the height of the nest boxes. Their natural instinct is to sleep as high above the ground as possible. Also collect eggs daily, or even a couple times per day depending on your schedule and flock size!

If your chickens are prone to laying eggs in random places, help train them where to lay by placing wood dummy eggs inside the nest boxes. They want to lay where eggs already are! Finally, change out soiled nest box bedding material as needed. We use these nesting box pads with a little layer or straw or hay on top. The straw can be changed out for a small mess, or swap the whole pad for a deeper clean.


Four eggs sit in a chickens nest box. They are on top of a bed of hay and straw, on egg is blue, one is light brown, and two are dark brown with dark speckles. There is a fluffy chicken feather barley entering the image from the right most edge.
Keeping the nest box clean will keep your eggs clean too!


How long can you store fresh eggs at room temperature?


Various resources say to store fresh eggs at room temperature for no more than 2 to 3 weeks. However, the recommendation doesn’t stem from food safety alone – but more so to maintain optimal eating quality. As eggs age, their protein structure degrades. This causes older egg whites to become more runny, and the yolks to stand less round and tall. Eggs stored at room temperature will degrade more quickly than those stored in the refrigerator. The warmer your home is, the more this is true. Therefore, I recommend storing eggs at room temperature for about a week – and only a few days if it is very hot and humid.

We usually keep a small collection of eggs out on the counter, both for convenience and simply to admire them. If we add eggs to the basket more quickly than we use them, we do our best to rotate the oldest eggs (after a week) into the refrigerator. We also try to consume older eggs first. Using an egg skelter instead of a basket makes it easier to keep track of which eggs are new or old.

Keep in mind that we have a small flock of four chickens, and a couple of them are only sporadic layers. Thus, this rotation method is manageable for us. If you have a large flock and ample egg supply, it may be best to store the majority of your fresh eggs in the refrigerator after collecting them.


Four sunny side up or over easy eggs are being cooked in a cast iron skillet. The oil and edges of the eggs are visibly bubbling while the yolks and inner whites are not yet fully cooked.
Gorgeous golden yolks from our girls – one was even a double-yolk egg! Freshly laid eggs have more perky, tall yolks. Older eggs have more flattened yolks (that break more easily) with thinner whites that will run and spread in a pan more.


How long are fresh eggs good when stored in the refrigerator?


Storing fresh eggs in the refrigerator significantly increases their shelf life. It is perfectly fine to store unwashed fresh eggs in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 months! Washed eggs will lose moisture and quality sooner, but may still be safe to consume within that same timeframe. Because washed eggs are more porous, it is best to store them in an enclosed container within the refrigerator to reduce moisture loss and also the absorption of off-odors or bacteria. 

Once eggs are refrigerated, they should be kept in the refrigerator, washed or not. According to the USDA, “a cold egg left out at room temperature can sweat, facilitating the movement of bacteria into the egg and increasing the growth of bacteria”. Therefore, refrigerated eggs should not be left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature. 


A dozen eggs are in a plastic egg storage container. The eggs range in color from light blue, to light green, and dark brown. The eggs have a sheen on their shell from being used in a float test. The container is partially covered with a clear plastic lid that will be fully placed over the container during storage.
One of our many egg storage containers. It is best to keep washed eggs in an enclosed container in the refrigerator. We usually do not wash our eggs until we use them – these eggs look wet because I had just put them all through the float test (described below) trying to get a good photo for this article. Alas, all of them were too fresh to make a good example!



Other Tips for Storing Eggs


It is best to store eggs with their round end up and pointy end facing down. There is an air sac within the rounded end. When the air sac is on top, it acts like a little balloon of insulation and helps to reduce evaporation and additional moisture loss. 


Signs of Egg Freshness or Age: The Float Test


Did your egg rotation get mixed up, or aren’t sure which eggs are the most fresh? Try the float test! Fill a glass or bowl with cool water, and gently place the eggs in question inside. The freshest eggs will lay on the bottom of the glass. Eggs that are a few weeks old will stay on the bottom but “stand up” slightly. Middle-age eggs may partially float but stay submerged. The higher the egg floats, the older it is. Full-blown floaters are considered bad to consume. 

Moderately old eggs are still perfectly fine to use! Within reason, that is… I don’t suggest eating eggs that are more than a few months old, or those that completely fail the float test. Yet there are some real perks of using slightly older eggs for some things. For instance, just-laid eggs are incredibly difficult to peel. The shells stick to the whites and make an absolute hot mess out of hard-boiled eggs! On the other hand, older eggs peel much easier. We purposefully save and seek out eggs that are a few weeks old to make hard-boiled or steamed eggs.


A cartoon diagram of a float test for eggs. There are three cylinders, each one is filled halfway full of water. The first cylinder is marked fresh underneath the cylinder and the egg is resting on the bottom of the cylinder. The second cylinder shows the egg floating just above the bottom of the cylinder, its pointed end is pointing directly downwards. The third cylinder is marked "Bad Egg" on the bottom and the egg is floating on the top of the water. Part of the egg is even sticking up out of the liquid.
Egg float test diagram via the Happy Chicken Coop


Why are older eggs easier to peel? 

You know the air sac that I mentioned within the round end of the egg? Well, as a raw egg ages, the air sac or air cell inside gets larger. As it expands, it creates a small void between the eggshell membranes and thereby also makes the hard cooked egg easier to peel. It is the same reason why older eggs float! The enlarged air sac makes them more buoyant. 


We love having this reliable autodoor on our chicken coop, which lets the girls in and out of their protected run each morning and night.


Recap: Best Practices to Store Fresh Backyard Chicken Eggs


  • Don’t wash the eggs until you use them, unless they’re soiled.
  • Fresh unwashed eggs do not need to be refrigerated for several weeks.
  • Always refrigerate washed eggs.
  • Eggs will maintain a higher quality when stored in the refrigerator – washed or not. However, unwashed fresh eggs will keep the best.
  • Once refrigerated, keep cold eggs in the fridge. 
  • Keep track of your eggs. Rotate room temperature eggs into the refrigerator once a week. Use old eggs first. 
  • Store eggs with their pointy end facing down.
  • Older eggs are easier to peel, making them ideal for hard-boiling or steaming. 


A close up image of three chickens roosting on a cross section of a saw horse underneath a lemon tree. They are staring straight back at the camera, their feathers fluffed up so they are more round than usual. The chickens range in color from brown and black, to black and white, to finally copper brown and gold.
Hennifer, Zoey, and Ginger say “thanks for reading!”

Well, that was fun. Even I learned a few new things while putting together this article, so I hope you did too! Please feel free to ask questions, and help spread important food safety information by sharing this article. Enjoy those fresh eggs!


Don’t miss out on these related articles:



DeannaCat signature, keep on growing

Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit

You May Also Like

How to Freeze Zucchini (Summer Squash) Two Ways

June 10, 2021

How to Grow Zucchini (Summer Squash): Planting, Pests, Pollination & More

March 18, 2020

Gift Guide: Home, Health, Garden & DIY Gift Ideas

November 21, 2020

58 Comments

  • ruby

    March 1, 2022 at 3:01 pm Reply

    i was a newbie in raising chickens (started with 2 lost 1, got another 3 and losing one again; got 1st chick but now 2 chicks from 2 hens), a year in it. getting eggs from them provides satisfaction. tested eggs via flotation test. not eating the eggs fast enough i guess so i get 2 months old eggs. float test, indeed floats but i open up the eggs don’t smell, whites aren’t runny. still safe to eat or use in baking as part of the ingredients? you hear the word salmonella.

    • Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)

      March 2, 2022 at 1:51 pm Reply

      Hi Ruby, eggs can indeed last quite awhile before they go bad although the quality of the egg itself will decrease with time. If you aren’t eating your eggs quickly enough, try giving them away to neighbors or store them in the refrigerator from the get go in hopes of preserving the quality of the egg for longer. Hope that helps and good luck!

      • Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)

        April 25, 2022 at 7:32 am Reply

        Hi Jules, I don’t have any experience with that in particular but the CDC does state that salmonella can be transferred from the egg to ones hands. It’s tough for a 2 year old kid but it is recommended to wash your hands after handling eggs as any eggs that come in contact with bird droppings have the possibility of being infected with salmonella. Sorry about your granddaughter and hopefully she has fully recovered, good luck!

  • Richard

    February 8, 2022 at 9:31 pm Reply

    Hey there… Thanks for informative article….! My Question…. We just received 3 DZ fresh eggs from a neighbor that definitely needed washing. I placed them in a utility sink just covered w water to ease the cleaning process – they remained there in cool water for about 14 hrs before washing, drying and placing in refrigerator… Then I read online “not to leave in water” as they can absorb the water, etc – in this case, possibly “poopy water”…. Do you think there is any risk that they absorbed any dangerous bacteria… the washing took place AFTER the 14 hrs – hopefully leaving the bloom in place for protection…. Any thoughts…? Thank you….!

    • Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)

      February 9, 2022 at 8:00 am Reply

      Hi Richard, I would suggest you discard the eggs as soaking them in water is not advisable. If you happen to get more eggs that are soiled, it is best to just rinse them under water, lightly dry them, and place them in the refrigerator. I’m sure your neighbor will have more eggs to gift in the future and hopefully next time they aren’t quite as soiled.

      • Richard

        February 9, 2022 at 8:26 am Reply

        Aaron, thanks for quick reply…. I was afraid of that answer but in hopes that the cuticle / bloom still being intact might protect them….! Best to you guys and many thanks….!

  • Dave

    January 3, 2022 at 12:34 pm Reply

    Hey Deannacat / Aaron,

    This might be a silly question but I need to ask it anyhow. If you perform a float test, considering most people wash their eggs in water only, would that sufficiently remove the cuticle from the egg requiring you to refrigerate it from that point forward or can it again be stored on the counter at room temperature?

    Thanks for all of the great information in your article.

    • Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)

      January 4, 2022 at 8:19 am Reply

      Hi Dave, if your questioning if your egg is still good than it is probably best for it to be in the refrigerator anyway. For us, if our eggs typically ever get wet, we will usually just put them in the fridge to be safe as we typically have space for them and they store best in the fridge as well. Hope that helps and good luck!

  • Deb MacDonald

    December 28, 2021 at 10:33 am Reply

    Hi Deannacat! I just read your post about storing eggs. Great information! I have been collecting fresh eggs from my neighbor who is on vacation (and told me to take them so they don’t go to waste.) I’ve made egg salad and hard boiled eggs now twice and although the eggs are about 2 days old, I have not had any trouble peeling them. My method is to bring a pot of salted water to a rolling boil, then I carefully add the eggs one at a time so they don’t break. I let them boil for a good 20 minutes. While they are boiling, I prepare an ice bath, whereby I fill a bowl with ice and water. After the eggs are done boiling, I quickly drain the hot water and then quickly dump the eggs in the ice bath. I usually let them sit in the ice bath at least another 20 minutes. This sudden change in temperature causes the inner skin to pull away from the shell. I then tap the egg on the bottom rounded side and gently roll it across the counter to break up the shell. I have peeled them completely in tact, no sticking to the inner shell! This has worked for me perfectly! Nice smooth hard boiled eggs that I collected 2 days ago!

      • Elizabeth

        January 30, 2022 at 1:50 pm Reply

        Great article. In comparing with egg handling practices of other countries it is important to mention that the US does NOT require salmonella vaccination of egg laying hens. Many other countries do and this greatly increases the safety of room temperature stored eggs.

  • Chris

    August 30, 2021 at 11:14 am Reply

    While I have no desire to raise chickens, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the chickens/eggs article and links top to bottom. Love to read everything Homestead & Chill! You guys are fantastic and so very knowlegable! So glad I found your website.

  • Tonya Hamlet

    August 29, 2021 at 10:28 pm Reply

    Thank you so much for the info. It has helped me a lot. I’m a new chicken owner and my precious darlings are just starting to lay eggs for the first time. Iv’e gotten 3 eggs over the past week, although i’m not quite sure which one is leaving me the gift each day, i have 3 different breeds doing the “submitting squat” and talking up a storm. I haven’t been able to sit and watch to see which it is yet, but they’re the Barred Rock, Rhode Island Red, and Golden Sex Link. I also have white leghorn and speckled sussex in that same coop as well, but none of them are doing the “submitting squat.” I’m getting ready to move the trail cam on into the coop, instead of over looking the run, for a couple of days to see which one it is. I have 2 seperate coops, one is for the multi breed big girls, and the other is for the multi breed bantams. I’m also eager to see what the bantams eggs will look like. I don’t have a big rooster, yet. I do however have 2 bantam rooster’s. I’m wondering if it would be ok to put the bigger bantam rooster ( millie fluer cochin) in with the big girls, and them not hurt him cause he’s smaller. What is your suggestion?

    • Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)

      August 30, 2021 at 8:01 am Reply

      Hi Tonya, it becomes a little easier when they are all laying as their colors (even if brown) may all vary somewhat. As far as introducing your rooster goes, it really can go any of a number of ways and the only way to know for sure is to put him in with the hens and see what happens. Some hens are fine with it while others may gang up on the rooster, I think it also depends on the temperament of the rooster as well. We have not had a rooster yet so we don’t have too much experience in that department. Hope that helps and good luck!

    • Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)

      August 25, 2021 at 2:28 pm Reply

      Hi Evelyn, sometimes hens can lay odd shaped eggs and I don’t see anything wrong with eating them. Are the odd shaped eggs a regular occurrence for each of your older hens?

  • Amy Rossi

    June 9, 2021 at 6:34 am Reply

    Thank you so much for that info. I “met” a lady online and local to my area that is selling her chicken eggs, and I ordered some and I could not get there the same day, She said no worries they are out front in the big mailbox overnight, get them in the am!!! I thought oh lord…It’s 86 degrees outside!
    So thank you for schooling me in the art of amazingly fresh eggs!

  • Sunny Kim

    June 7, 2021 at 9:40 am Reply

    Thank you so much for your well written and very informative article! I recently came across some fresh eggs and they were a bit “scary” to me. I know they haven’t been washed and they’ve just been sitting on the counter for a couple of weeks now. I love the idea of getting back to basics and freshness of real food. I came across your article and now armed with new knowledge…I will do the float test!!

  • Harry G. Williams

    May 4, 2021 at 2:45 pm Reply

    I hope you are having a great day and what you are doing is very exciting and something in which I would like to get involved. I am 78 years old and would like to find a partner with whom my passion can be shared. I would like to find a lady who would enjoy the country life. I do not need to get married, but meeting the right lady with whom I could share what life has to offer us the rest of my life. If you know of a lady who would like the same life style, I would not object to meeting her. My family has lived in Sacramento for over 150 years and I would like to see this farming thing happen.
    Regards,
    Harry

    • Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)

      May 13, 2021 at 7:25 am Reply

      Hello Harry, we do not know of anyone but maybe check out what farmersonly.com has to offer as it is geared towards people inclined to that lifestyle. Hope you find someone to share the rest of your life with and good luck!

    • Heather

      November 4, 2021 at 6:27 pm Reply

      HARRY! Maybe I have a match for you but she lives in Pleasant Hill 💝

      Loved this article so much, glad I found your website!!!
      I don’t know if you get snow where you live…I’m having the worst time gardening, I finally got tomato plants to grow but they never fruited.
      Thank you

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *