2mo ago

Who stores eggs in the fridge (UK)?

I’ve just bought a new fridge and it comes with a section to hold eggs. I’ve never stored them in the fridge since salmonella isn’t really a problem here because our chickens are vaccinated. Does anybody in the UK actually refrigerate their eggs?

As an aside, I tend to decide what goes into the fridge based on where it was in the supermarket. If they don’t refrigerate it, neither do I. So for eggs, I don’t.

Secondary question - what am I gonna use the egg holder in the fridge for now, other than maybe briefly cooling my balls?

65 comments

It's not just vaccination - European eggs aren't pressure washed like American ones to remove the protective coating.
I've honestly never understood why America does that to their eggs.
- Salmonella. It's carried in chicken dung, sometimes eggs get a bit of feces on them, so the US washes them to attempt to reduce exposure.
  Problem is that without the protective coating, the eggs are more permeable and susceptible to bacterial infection, hence the refrigeration.
  So it's a question of whether it's better to reduce bacteria exposure or susceptibility. I am sure there's research out there with numbers indicating one works better than the other, but it's been such a long-standing thing at this point that I don't think Americans would trust unrefrigerated eggs.
  
  The research shows both methods are equally effective at controlling salmonella, afaik
  
  Both work for protecting humans. However, I believe vaccination is better overall. It also improves the quality of life of the chickens. Unfortunately, it's also (very slightly) more expensive, so America went the cheap route. The EU mandated to reduce animal cruelty, by vaccination.
- In Australia our eggs are kept in the refrigerated section in the supermarket (usually near the cheese and butter, because everyone knows eggs are dairy), and we've always put them in the fridge at home, so I guess they wash the protective coating off here too.
- Another reason I'm glad I'm not american or living there today
  
  I think refrigerating eggs is inconsequential compared to the other thing that happened.

Refrigerating eggs also roughly doubles their shelf life.
Is salmonella vaccination required in the UK now? It's been a few years but last I knew it was voluntary and roughly 3/4 of egg farmers did do it.
Egg farmers? Chicken ranchers? Poultry producer? Idk what they're called.
- The correct term is Fowl Fiddler
  
  This sounds like something you'd get arrested for.
  
  I accept this new term and will utilize it in everyday conversation. Thank you.
- Refrigerating eggs also roughly doubles their shelf life.
  Yeah that’s fair enough, although they already last for ages. “Can’t wait to eat these eggs in a month”.
  
  Do yourself a favor and find a local small farmer to buy eggs directly from. They are much better than supermarket eggs. It's not necessarily a matter of keeping eggs from going bad, it's more about preserving them at that peak flavor/texture. I have no clue where this picture is from, so I don't know if the data are sound, but you get the idea. https://digitaleggtester.com/wordpress/wp-content/themes/nabel/files/images/egg/img_yi02.png

We don't have to in Germany, but they last longer and sometimes we don't eat a lot of eggs. Putting them in the fridge ensures that we can safely eat them even quite some time after the expiration date (then we cook them fully though).
- I'm in the US, so I do have to store eggs in the fridge. BUT I do what you do for a lot of foods that don't need to be refrigerated. I refrigerate them anyway because they last longer. I live alone, so my groceries don't deplete as fast as people with large families, and so it makes sense for me to try to stave off food spoilage as long as possible.

I put them in the fridge... On top of the egg holder ... In their box 😈
I don't get through many, so putting them there means I know they are probably still good after a couple of months. The box has the best before date to let me know if I need to float test then.
- I put them in the fridge... On top of the egg holder ... In their box
  Absolute madman

Same in Italy. But i pur them in the fridge because they last a lot longer

I've always done that, here in germany. They are supposed to last at least ~2 weeks (or so, idk) at room temperature, after all they are stored like that in stores. But the eggs I have right now are more like 3-4 weeks old, so I prefer to put them in the fridge, because why not? They don't take much space and last for double as long, so 6 weeks.

I do here in Sweden despite there is no need. Mostly because it is the convenient place in my kitchen.

In the US, eggs are washed, which significantly decreases their shelf life.

When I buy supermarket eggs, I refrigerate them because they are washed (in the US). When I get unwashed eggs (from a farm or a friend), I still refrigerate them and just wash them prior to use. I don't have to refrigerate them since they have the cuticle intact, but refrigerating them still makes them stay fresher longer, so if I have the space for them, why would I not?
That said, the eggs already come in a carton, so I'm not going to transfer them into a separate container in my fridge for no reason.

As an aside, I tend to decide what goes into the fridge based on where it was in the supermarket. If they don’t refrigerate it, neither do I.
There are quite a few items that are fine to store unrefrigerated until opened, but need to stay cold afterwards. Jam comes to mind.
- This is true, an egg won't last long unrefrigerated after its opened ;)
- Yeah that doesn’t really apply to eggs though, their “container” is unopened. Otherwise your fridge will get messy.
  But yeah, obviously I’m gonna put stuff in the fridge that would go off once the seal has been broken.

It's detachable in my fridge.
I use the egg holder on the door shelf for small bottles that would otherwise fall over when the door is opened. Medicine or nail polish, that sort of thing.
I also the egg holder to .. hold the eggs .. after they're boiled, so I can fill the egg cooker instead of boiling just a few at a time. I use cold boiled eggs for sandwiches or salats.
I do not use it for holding raw eggs as those already come in an egg shaped carton.
- How long do boiled eggs in fridges last?
  
  About a week maximum.
  The taste changes over time, so I prefer using them in 1-2 days.

in the US the eggs are washed so that they won't last as long if not refrigerated. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/09/11/336330502/why-the-u-s-chills-its-eggs-and-most-of-the-world-doesnt
- Yeah I know, that’s why I was focusing on UK egg-fanciers.
  
  yeah but your talking an appliance which is not necessarily just produced for the UK.

We do.... but we don't need to. Just force of habit.

I live in Canada, where eggs need to be refrigerated, and yet I've never seen a fridge with an egg holder. I already have an egg holder. The box they came in.
- Still one too many pieces of packaging for my liking. Put the OG egg holder in the fridge. The chicken.

Idk, I think my family, as Germans, does this.

US have to store eggs in the fridge because they mandatory wash them before selling, brushing away the natural protection layer that enhance durability.

The methods of salmonella mitigation, storing eggs from vaccinated chickens unwashed at room temp or storing washed eggs in the refrigerator, have roughly equal outcomes. There are still many egg-related salmonella outbreaks across Europe each year, roughly equivalent to the US. One method is not superior to another as far as outcomes, they're just two different systems that already exist and therefore are unlikely to change without a good reason

Why are you limiting your answer to UK? My decision to store eggs in the fridge has nothing to do with salmonella concerns and I believe it's likely people in the UK may also have similar judgement.
- Because in countries that don’t vaccinate their chickens (like the US) the risk of salmonella is much higher so the recommendation is that eggs should be refrigerated to reduce bacteria growth.
  
  This doesn't really answer my question, but I'm glad someone from the UK already voiced my reason- as I predicted

I don't keep them in the fridge, I've got my own hens and I didn't before when I got shop bought eggs. I have 0 concern about salmonella or anything like that.
The fridge egg holder is for keeping hard boiled eggs, not raw ones.
- The fridge egg holder is for keeping hard boiled eggs, not raw ones.
  That’s an interesting observation, I hadn’t thought of that. Although the day I consider pre-boiling eggs for later consumption is the day I give up on the illusion of youth.
  
  I grow old, I grow old
  I wear my trousers rolled
  Shall I eat a peach?
  Nah, it's 3:00 pre-boiled egg time
  Then some ~~Wheel of Fortune~~ QI and a nap

Why bother? They're safe at room temperature unless they've already been refrigerated, might as well use that fridge space for some that actually benefits from the cold.
At room temperature they're good for a month or two. If you want long term storage you might as well prep and freeze them which will last you about a year, or there's a ton of other long-term preservation techniques.

Dumb question: where do you store your eggs now, if not the fridge? My American mind is reeling.
- This’ll blow your mind, but I actually put the box on top of the fridge. It makes sense in my kitchen layout, but I understand how much of fridge-tease it is for them.
  
  This did in fact blow my mind!
- Eggs survive in the wild at ambient temp because when they are laid, a coating basically seals off the egg. Unfortunately, chickens have one hole, and they are messy animals, so there's often some poop, too. In many countries, this coating is left intact, and technically, you should wash eggs before using them so nothing from the shell ends up inside when you crack it. As Americans, we have bigger houses and bigger fridges, and we love convenience, so we wash our eggs prior to packaging. This means they have to be refrigerated.
  Either approach works, but the important thing is not to leave washed eggs unrefrigerated.
- This is actually a very big difference with the USA and the UK (and possibly most of Europe, not sure though). We generally store eggs outside of the fridge. On a shelf or in a pantry/cupboard for example.

Apricots, upside down pears, Easter eggs, those teeny tiny sealed shot glasses of UHT milk you get in hotels, those big marbles we used to call Tom bowlers in primary school, eye balls, a large toy ant(assuming 6 holes in the holder rather than 12, otherwise 2 large toy ants)
The possibilities are endless!!!!
- I think it is obvious that the intended use is Easter eggs, and kinders in a pinch. Also, that sock drawer to keep socks cool in the summer is genius

put limes in there lol

Everyone
- Apart from pretty much every single supermarket

I put them in the fridge because I don't have anywhere else to put them, but I'm aware it's unnecessary.

65 comments