Eggs are highly nutritious and an indispensable food in our daily lives. However, many people have misconceptions about how to store and eat them. Come and see if you're making any of these mistakes!
1. Eggs should not be stored on their side
The white of a fresh egg is thick and can effectively hold the yolk in the center. Over time, especially in warmer temperatures, the albumen gradually loses some of its water due to the action of proteases, losing its ability to hold the yolk in place. If the egg is stored on its side, the yolk, being lighter than the white, will rise and stick to the shell, becoming a "stuck yolk" egg. Therefore, eggs should not be stored on their side.
II. Tips for Storing Eggs
1. Eggs bought from the store must be stored correctly in the refrigerator.
After buying eggs, people often just put them in the refrigerator randomly. The correct way to store them is with the large end up and the small end down. This way, when the yolk rises, it will be under the air cell, which prevents microorganisms from entering the yolk and helps maintain the quality of the egg.2. Eggs should not be transported or stored with volatile substances.
Substances like onions, ginger, and chili have strong odors that can penetrate the eggshell through its pores, accelerating spoilage.3. Fresh eggs taken from the refrigerator should be consumed as soon as possible and not left out at room temperature or refrigerated again.
Once an egg is taken out of the refrigerator, it may "sweat" at room temperature. Bacteria and microbes in the resulting moisture can quickly penetrate the shell and reach the inner egg contents. Therefore, the egg can no longer be guaranteed to be fresh and should be eaten immediately.4. Do not wash eggs before storing them.
Some people wash dirty eggshells before storing them to avoid contaminating other food. However, washing can destroy the natural cuticle on the shell, allowing bacteria and microbes to enter the egg and accelerate spoilage. You can wrap the eggs in a plastic bag or cling film to prevent contamination.5. Store eggs in individual compartments.
If refrigeration is not possible, try to make individual egg-shaped compartments out of clean paper or cloth. This gives each egg its own space and prevents direct exposure to air. This reduces the chances of bacterial and microbial contamination and can extend the storage time of the eggs.III. Eggs also have a shelf life
The time it takes for an egg to spoil is closely related to the temperature and humidity during storage.In northern China, eggs stored at room temperature in summer for 30-35 days or at below 15°C in winter for 40-50 days generally will not spoil.
In the hot and humid south, eggs may spoil in 25-40 days. When the temperature is above 25°C, the time for an egg to spoil will be significantly shortened. The production date on an egg is the date it was laid by the hen, not the date it was packaged or shipped. As we all know, the fresher the egg, the better its quality. Even within the shelf life, the closer the egg is to the production date, the higher its nutritional value.