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?
US have to store eggs in the fridge because they mandatory wash them before selling, brushing away the natural protection layer that enhance durability.
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.
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).
Same in Italy. But i pur them in the fridge because they last a lot longer
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
I accept this new term and will utilize it in everyday conversation. Thank you.
