How to Clean Fresh Eggs

Learn to clean fresh eggs properly.

If you have your own chickens laying eggs, you may be surprised by the way the eggs look. You may notice dirt, feathers and even chicken feces. Naturally, you want to clean the eggs as quickly as possible, but this might not be in your best interest. Fresh eggs have a protective coating on them, called bloom, that keeps eggs free of bacteria. Removing this layer too early can harm the egg.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Sandpaper
• Refrigerator

Instructions

1. Store fresh eggs in your refrigerator unwashed. To keep the bloom, clean the eggs immediately before you intend to eat them. If it bothers you, use your fingers to carefully pick any feathers off the eggs.

2. Remove dirt with sandpaper. Eggs have a porous surface, which means that any water or detergent you might use could enter the egg and ruin it. Lightly scrub the outside with dry sandpaper.

3. Rinse the eggs in lukewarm water. Cold water can create a vacuum, pulling bacteria into the egg, while water that is too hot could start the cooking process.

Tips & Warnings

• Keeping your chicken coop clean will help you to start out with cleaner eggs. Encourage your chickens to lay eggs in a nest, and clean the coop regularly.

References

• Green Diva Mom: How to Clean Fresh Chicken Eggs
• Urban Chickens Network: How to Handle Fresh Eggs

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish