How Long Do Fresh Eggs Last? The Facts About Farm Fresh & Store Eggs
How long do farm-fresh eggs really last? Surprisingly, they can stay fresh for weeks, even months, if stored properly—often outlasting the ones from the store. But where you keep them —and how— makes all the difference. Should you leave them on the counter or store them in the fridge? It turns out that how you store your eggs can affect not only their freshness but their nutritional value, too.
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How Long Do Fresh Eggs Last?
Generally speaking—and there are exceptions I will get to—freshly laid eggs can last up to a month or longer in the fridge but are safe at room temperature for a shorter period, about two weeks.
Eggs can last a significant amount of time if stored properly. Studies suggest they can last between 21 and 85 days, depending on storage conditions. Some studies suggest fresh eggs last up to 75 days when stored at or below 25°C, while others indicate they last 10-14 days at room temperature and up to 35 days with specific treatments.
That’s quite a confusing range! But if you think about it, the temperature at storage and the condition of the eggs matter significantly.
What does that mean for us mere homesteaders and backyard flock chicken keepers? Personally, I err on the side of caution and store my eggs in the refrigerator after collecting them. I quickly wash my eggs first with just water, even if they’re spotlessly clean, and I store them up to a month or even a bit longer that way.
I know that lacks the romance of a basket of multi-colored eggs on the counter, but I prefer it. Know that you are perfectly fine to store your eggs that way, though. The science backs it up so let’s get into that.
Eggs can also be preserved in different ways, like water glassing, which significantly extends their shelf life.
Related: 11 Chickens That Lay Blue Eggs — & Why {With Pictures!}
Key Insights
- Commercial eggs stored at refrigeration temperatures of around 38°F maintain good quality for up to 28 days. (Sources: 1.)
- At room temperatures up to 77° (20-25°C), commercial eggs can last up to 14 days before their quality significantly deteriorates. (Sources: 1,2,3.)
- Higher temperatures 86 and above (30-42°C) lead to rapid quality degradation, with eggs becoming unfit for consumption within 7-14 days.
- Unwashed eggs stored at higher temperatures above 77 (25°C and above) deteriorate rapidly in quality, with significant decline within a few weeks. (Sources 1,2,3.)
- At lower temperatures (around 7°C), unwashed eggs can maintain a higher quality for a longer period, up to 12 weeks, retaining grade A quality. (Sources: 1,2.)
- Unwashed eggs tend to have higher microbial contamination compared to washed eggs, which can affect their shelf-life. The differences in bacterial counts between washed and unwashed eggs are not always significant. (Sources: 1,2,3.)
- The presence of pathogens like Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus on unwashed eggs can be a concern. Egg contents showed no marked change after storage for 14 days, but heavy contamination with gram negative bacteria or moulds was detected after storage for 21 and 28 days. Source: 1.)
- Unwashed eggs develop more intense aromas and flavors over time, which can be perceived as staleness. (Source: 1.)
Freshly laid eggs can last without refrigeration at room temperature because they have a natural protective coating called the bloom that prevents bacteria from entering them. They should only be kept on the counter if they have not been washed and are not dirty.
If you are getting dirty eggs from your hens (like during spring when everything is muddy from the rains) it is best to wash your eggs as soon as possible and refrigerate then them promptly.
Refrigeration slows down the aging process and helps keep the eggs fresh for longer periods.
Unwashed eggs can last up to 12 weeks when stored at lower temperatures (around 7°C), maintaining a higher quality. However, at room temperature or higher (25°C and above), their quality deteriorates significantly within 2-4 weeks. Microbial contamination and flavor quality also decline over time.
In Hotter Temperatures Err on The side of Caution
The abundance of pastured summer eggs is a beautiful thing, but the higher heat poses risks and concerns. If you don’t have AC, I would not store eggs on the counter.
You should know that freshly laid eggs coated with groundnut oil, cottonseed oil, or coconut oil can be stored under tropical room conditions for 36 days. (Source: 1.)
Finally, an actual use for seed oils!
I’ve actually stored eggs covered in butter and I’m sure lard or tallow would work just as well.
Nutritional Composition Changes of Eggs
Beyond safety and freshness, the thing I’m most concerned about is the nutritional quality of the eggs I’m eating and feeding my family.
I’m not raising chickens on pasture and the best fermented feed I can find and afford for nothing.
According to one study, stored at room temperature for 21 days, fresh eggs maintained most of their nutritional composition and mineral profile. (Source: 1.)
Storage duration significantly affects the nutritional composition of eggs, including moisture, crude protein, ash, fat, and carbohydrate content. Nutrients such as amino acids, fatty acids, nucleotides, sugars, and vitamins degrade over time, while ammonia and biogenic amines are produced, affecting the egg’s nutritional value and flavor. (Source: 1.)
Eggs stored for longer periods show an increase in certain minerals, although the overall nutritional quality declines
Unsurprisingly, the diet of the hen’s affects the nutritional quality of the eggs.
For example, eggs from hens fed cottonseed protein or something called “double-zero rapeseed meal” (some type of canola plant byproduct) showed lower quality compared to those fed soybean meal. (Source:1.)
I wish we could get our own eggs tested, I’d be so curious to see what their profile looked like compared to grocery store eggs.
Egg storage conditions, including temperature and duration, significantly impact the nutritional quality of eggs. Lower storage temperatures are better for maintaining egg quality. Prolonged storage leads to nutrient degradation and quality deterioration.
Dietary supplements and protein sources can impact the rate of quality loss.
A Few Storage & Freshness Tips
- Eggs should be stored in a cool, dry place.
- Eggs should not be stored near foods with strong odors, as they can absorb those smells.
- Eggs should be used within a week of being laid or purchased.
- If you are unsure about the freshness of your eggs, you can test them by placing each raw egg in a large bowl of water. Fresh eggs sink to the bottom. Older eggs will float.
To sum it up, farm-fresh eggs can last for up to a month or more when kept in the fridge, while they’re generally safe at room temperature for around two weeks. However, storing them in cooler conditions might impact their nutritional value, so it’s worth considering how you store your eggs based on how quickly you’ll use them and your priorities for nutrition.
