Egg Storage and Preservation

How should I collect and handle fresh eggs?

Collect eggs often, at least once a day, and keep nest boxes clean. Dirty eggs and warm weather raise the chance of bacterial contamination. Wash your hands after handling eggs and hens.

Discard cracked eggs, since shells protect the inside from bacteria. Keep eggs out of heat and sun.

Backyard flocks can carry Salmonella without looking ill, so good hygiene matters for everyone in the household. Make sure nest boxes have clean bedding and replace it as soon as it is soiled, since a clean nest makes for cleaner eggs and fewer problems. Keep a dedicated egg basket and clean it regularly, since baskets collect dirt and droppings.

• Collect daily
• Discard cracked eggs
• Wash hands

Should I wash eggs?

Practices differ. Eggs have a natural coating that helps protect them, and washing can remove it. Some food safety sources advise washing visibly dirty eggs with warm water and refrigerating them, while others recommend dry cleaning for minor dirt. Rules for selling vary.

Ask your extension office or state agriculture department for current guidance for your situation.

Whichever method you choose, be consistent and refrigerate washed eggs. If you choose to wash, ask your extension office what water temperature and sanitizing steps it recommends. Dry the eggs and refrigerate them promptly.

Where should I store eggs?

Refrigeration slows bacterial growth and keeps quality, and it is the safest default, especially for washed eggs. Store in a carton on a shelf, not in the door, and away from strong odors.

If you keep unwashed eggs on the counter, understand that it is a practice based on the coating and your local climate, and it increases risk in warm weather. Once refrigerated, keep them refrigerated.

Ask your extension office what it recommends for your household. If you have more eggs than you can use, rotate stock carefully and keep a record of dates on cartons, rather than letting crates pile up unnoticed.

How long do eggs keep?

Quality declines over weeks, though refrigerated eggs keep well for a long time. Label cartons with the date collected and use the oldest first. Check eggs before use by smelling and looking at them when cracked.

Discard any with an off smell, odd color or unusual look.

Ask your extension office for storage periods for the method you use. A simple float test is often mentioned online, but it is not a food safety test. Rely on proper storage and a careful look and smell when you crack the egg. Keep eggs pointed end down in the carton if your source suggests it, and avoid storing them beside strong-smelling foods.

What about freezing eggs?

Eggs can be frozen when taken out of the shell and prepared as tested sources describe, since whole eggs frozen in the shell can crack and are not recommended. Extension and NCHFP publications give directions for whole eggs, whites and yolks.

Label with the number of eggs and the date.

Do not improvise, since egg handling carries real food safety risk. Beat and freeze eggs in small amounts, in containers that suit the portions you will use, and thaw them in the refrigerator.

Can I sell or give away eggs?

Rules for selling and sharing eggs, including labeling, cleaning, refrigeration, licensing and flock size, are set by state and local authorities and vary widely. I cannot state them. Ask your state department of agriculture and your local health department what applies to you.

Ask about rules for farmers markets and for selling to neighbors or stores.

Do not assume that rules for a friend in another state apply to you. If you sell, ask about carton labeling, flock registration and any inspection that might apply to your operation. Keep a copy of any local rule you are given in writing, along with the name of the person who gave it.

How do I reduce the risk of illness?

Cook eggs thoroughly, especially for children, older adults, pregnant people and anyone with a weakened immune system. Keep hens and their droppings away from the kitchen, wash your hands after contact with poultry, and do not let young children handle chicks without supervision.

If someone becomes ill, contact a doctor or public health office. Poultry disease reporting and biosecurity rules vary by state, so ask your state veterinarian or extension office.

Do not wash chicken equipment in the kitchen sink. Keep the henhouse clean, control rodents and wild birds as your extension office advises, and report unusual flock illness to your state veterinarian.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Homestead & Small Farm Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.