We focus on GOST, or how long eggs can be stored without refrigeration

Eggs of chickens, quails and other birds are rich in easily digestible protein, vitamins and fatty acids.

In order for this healthy product to remain fresh for a long time, you need to know the rules for its selection, storage and processing.

If you don't have a refrigerator, you can extend the shelf life of eggs using sawdust, paper, saline solution, salicylic acid, and other home remedies.

We’ll tell you further about how long eggs can be stored without refrigeration.

Can it be stored at room temperature, for how long, and why is it dangerous?

According to GOST for food eggs, their shelf life varies from 4-5 to 90 days . Heat increases the rate of bacterial growth and protein decay, so it is recommended to keep the product in the refrigerator or cool room. However, if you take precautions, you can leave the eggs at room temperature.

Storing eggs incorrectly or for too long can lead to food poisoning. The breakdown products of amino acids and Salmonella toxins disrupt the gastrointestinal tract, causing vomiting, diarrhea and general intoxication.

Pathogenic bacteria are present on the shell only in 10-20% of cases, but it is impossible to exclude their presence when purchasing. As a rule, external cleaning is sufficient to remove microbes, but during long-term storage they can penetrate into the shell through small pores.

How to quickly check the freshness of a product?

There are several ways to determine whether an egg is edible:

1. 
   By shaking . If the contents of the shell dangle freely inside when shaken, this indicates deterioration and disruption of the protein structure.

2. To the light . When a spoiled egg is scanned, dark spots and inclusions become visible on the inside of the shell.
3. Using salt water .
   The breakdown of proteins and the activity of bacteria is accompanied by the release of gases, so rotten eggs float in the container, while fresh eggs lie horizontally on the bottom. To check, you need to dissolve 1 tbsp. salt in 250 ml of cold water and lower the egg into the solution. When purchasing a large batch, you can examine only a few copies without breaking the protective film on the rest.

If the egg floats in the water with the blunt end up, then it must be subjected to long-term heat treatment (for example, hard-boiled).

Storing raw eggs without refrigeration

Rules:

1. To increase the shelf life of eggs without refrigeration, you need to put them in a container that does not allow moisture to enter. In this way, it will be possible to eliminate external influences that affect damage. Additionally, this allows you to protect the product from various odors.
2. The ideal storage method is in a dry and cool place out of direct sunlight.
3. The testicles should be placed with the sharp end down.
4. When the shell cracks, the egg should be used immediately. If you wait, it will spoil and there is a risk of poisoning.
5. It is advisable to turn on the fan to further cool the product.

If these conditions are met, the raw eggs will be left in an edible form for 5 weeks.

When separating two internal components, different storage methods should be used. Only a refrigerator is suitable for protein; it is placed in a glass container and cooled. The shelf life will be 4 days.

The yolk will dry quickly without the shell, and therefore will lose its freshness after a couple of hours. But if you put it in chilled water, you can use it within two days.

Shelf life of cooked and raw product

Recommended storage periods depend on several factors:

• varieties;
• shell integrity;
• the state of the white and yolk;
• degree of readiness and method of heat treatment.

By type and variety

When selling eggs, they are divided into table and diet eggs. The former are marked with a blue stamp, and the latter with a red stamp. They differ in shelf life: the table product remains fresh for 25 days, and the dietary product – 7 days.

According to GOST 31654-2012, eggs can be stored at a temperature of 0...+200C and a humidity of 85-88%, but for pantries and warehouses the humidity indicator is reduced to 70-75%.

The category, which is designated by the letter “C” in the labeling (CB, C0, C1, etc.), does not affect safety . But large specimens are more likely to be damaged during transportation, so they need to be carefully inspected before purchasing.

In shell and without

The shell is a natural protective barrier that protects the white and yolk from the penetration of bacteria.

If it is damaged, the shelf life of the egg at room temperature is reduced to 6 hours, and the maximum shelf life is reduced to 10-12 hours. After this, consuming the product becomes hazardous to health.

A product with a damaged shell should not be consumed raw, regardless of the duration of storage. If the integrity of the shell is damaged, the contents should be poured into a dry, clean jar and lightly salted. If there are traces of dirt and droppings on the shell, it is not recommended to eat the product.

By cooking method

Finished products retain their properties from 4 hours to 3 days. The shelf life of the dish depends on the integrity of the shell and the cooking method.

For example, soft-boiled or scrambled eggs can be stored indoors for no more than 4-6 hours , and with a thick yolk - up to 12 hours. It is recommended to place the dish in a closed container and place it in a cool, dark place.

Hard-boiled eggs remain edible for up to 3 days, soft-boiled eggs for up to 20 hours. Damage or removal of the shell reduces the shelf life to 10-12 hours and 6-8 hours, respectively.

If the room temperature exceeds +20°C, it is recommended to eat the finished product within 3-6 hours. You can find out how long raw eggs last here, boiled chicken eggs here, and boiled quail eggs here.

Composition and benefits

The chemical composition of a chicken egg includes a large number of vitamins, which have a positive effect on human health:

• B;
• B1;
• B2;
• B6;
• B9;
• B12;
• A;
• WITH;
• D;
• E;
• K;

The product also contains a large number of useful elements:

• magnesium;
• potassium;
• copper;
• zinc;
• calcium;
• manganese;
• chlorine;
• Fe.

There is a lot of iron in the testicles, but it is poorly absorbed, and therefore it is advisable to use animal liver or meat as a source of this element.

Watch the video: “How long can you store raw eggs without refrigeration at room temperature?”

Properties

Chicken eggs contain a lot of healthy protein, which is an easily digestible natural protein. This enzyme has a beneficial effect on the body.

At the same time, the yolk, according to scientists, has an ambiguous effect. So, many are inclined to the theory of harmlessness. But a number of professors claim that it contains a large number of unwanted chemical compounds, such as cholesterol. If a person prepares scrambled eggs from four eggs in the morning, only two yolks should be used. This allows you to stay healthy.

The product contains lecithin, which is responsible for improving blood supply to brain cells. The vitamin also prevents the formation of sclerosis and significantly improves memory functions.

After cooking, it is not necessary to throw away the shell, since when dried, it can be used to create effective decoctions that strengthen bones and stimulate hair growth.

In terms of nutritional properties, one egg can replace about 200 grams. milk and 500 gr. meat. You can safely use the product several times a week, since it is absorbed by the body by approximately 98%. At the same time, it does not clog the intestines with harmful toxins.

By eating eggs, a person does not gain excess fat, and therefore they are included in diet programs. Athletes use protein as a building material to gain muscle mass.

Other useful properties:

1. Problems with the heart and blood vessels are eliminated.
2. The nervous system and immunity are restored.
3. Performance increases. For this reason, they are often used by bodybuilders.
4. Positive effect on hair and dermis.

Storage methods

To prevent rotting, various traditional methods are used. Their main tasks are:

• limiting oxygen access to the shell;
• preventing the spread of bacteria and their entry;
• inhibition of microbial activity.

To create an additional protective shell, eggs are treated with oil, liquid clay or paraffin. Storage in dry coarse salt, ash, saline or lime solution has a good antiseptic effect.

When stored in a cellar or pantry, eggs are placed in baskets or boxes, lined with sawdust, cloth, paper or a mixture of coal and bran. The main influence on the shelf life of eggs is not the method of preparation and storage, but the temperature of the environment.

Preserving the freshness of chicken, quail and other eggs

The shelf life of turkey and quail eggs does not differ from that recommended for chicken eggs . It is not advisable to leave the finished product without refrigeration for more than a day.

Duck and goose eggs, despite the additional oily film, have a shorter shelf life - 7 days. This is due to the high porosity of the shell, which increases the likelihood of infection.

Ostrich eggs retain their freshness the longest. They can be stored at room temperature for up to 2-3 months. This article will tell you about storing goose eggs, this article, quail eggs, and this article.

How to properly store boiled eggs without refrigeration

If, in order to extend the shelf life of an egg, you decide to boil it, your mistake will very soon become obvious. Boiled eggs are stored for only a few days, and then only if certain conditions are met.

• If you cook an egg for a snack on the road, under no circumstances wrap it in a plastic bag - store boiled eggs only in paper packaging.
• Only those eggs whose shells have not lost their integrity during cooking have a relatively long shelf life (2–3 days). Cracked eggs are best eaten immediately.
• Easter eggs are stored much longer - from a week to 10 days. This happens because some housewives, after dyeing, treat the eggs with sunflower oil to give them shine. If you want to extend the freshness of a boiled egg a little, treat it with fat and let the egg dry.

All proposed methods for storing eggs are reliable and tested over the years. However, try to use them only in exceptional cases. Fresh foods are considered the most beneficial.

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Useful tips

To prevent premature decay, the following rules must be followed:

1. Wash shells only before eating or preparing the product.
2. When storing, place the eggs separately, avoiding their contact.
3. When choosing, carefully inspect the shell, checking its integrity and cleanliness.
4. Store containers with the product in areas with low temperature and humidity (cellar, pantry, etc.), separately from raw fish, meat and products with a strong aroma.

If there are spots of dry droppings on the shell, they can be wiped off with a soft, dry cloth. Dried dirt is washed off with warm running water, using soda, soap or a special disinfectant.

The egg is then dried with a paper towel and stored separately from those intended for long-term storage. After cleaning, it remains fresh for no longer than 4-8 days.