# Eggs - In the fridge or not? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 10, 2003, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggs-in-the-fridge-or-not/174305 "2003-05-10T11:07:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DrLiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DrLiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrLiver)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggs-in-the-fridge-or-not/174305/1 "2003-05-10T11:07:51Z")
So, today I have this conversation with my flatmate: me: you should put your eggs in the fridge, they’ll go bad fm: no, probably not, did you notice that at the supermarket they never put them in cold places me: hmm…you’re right, but I still think they’re better off in the fridge So, what’s the straightdope on that? will my flatmate die anytime soon, or should I free up some of my fridge space by removing the eggs? ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggs-in-the-fridge-or-not/174305/2 "2003-05-10T11:11:21Z")
I always store my eggs in the fridge. The [UK Food Standards](http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/safereating/foodadvice/eggs2002advice) agrre that you should store them in a cool, dry place, ideally the fridge. ---
**Author:** ![refusal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@refusal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/refusal)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggs-in-the-fridge-or-not/174305/3 "2003-05-10T11:22:56Z")
I agree with Ice Wolf, but when I worked in a prominent British supermarket chain we displayed eggs at room temperature while advising people to store them chilled. So I guess it isn’t so important. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggs-in-the-fridge-or-not/174305/4 "2003-05-10T12:13:44Z")
I find that rather odd. I’ve never seen eggs here (Canada) sold in anything other than a refrigerated case, usually of the open-front variety. One of the things I did notice when visiting the UK was that supermarkets appeared to store about twice the amount and variety as the stores I visit here, only in half the space. Perhaps this has something to do with echewing the bulk introduced by refrigeration? ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggs-in-the-fridge-or-not/174305/5 "2003-05-10T12:54:30Z")
Eggs should be stored in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. Warm eggs grow salmonella faster than cool eggs. Here in Alabama, restaurants may leave eggs out on the counter as they are being used, but must be returned to the fridge when not being used. And, of course, you can’t serve these eggs raw (because they have warmed up and potentially have more salmonella). ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggs-in-the-fridge-or-not/174305/6 "2003-05-10T17:48:07Z")
- - - In the US, all the stores keep eggs in cooler cases–all the stores that I have seen anyway. The invoices warn that eggs age 7X faster kept at room temperature, compared to kept refrigerated. ~ ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggs-in-the-fridge-or-not/174305/7 "2003-05-10T18:11:21Z")
I agree with the above posters. I have never seen eggs sold in anything but open refrigerated cases. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggs-in-the-fridge-or-not/174305/8 "2003-05-10T18:54:46Z")
In Europe there seems to be an aversion to refrigeration. Orange juice is packaged in boxes that are displayed on regular shelves. Then there is the fact that they dole out ice like it is a precious commodity. Considering the difference in climate, there is not as much danger if eggs are not refrigerated as there would be here in Mississippi or for that matter in New Jersey. ---
**Author:** ![Ezstrete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ea924/32.png) [@Ezstrete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ezstrete)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggs-in-the-fridge-or-not/174305/9 "2003-05-10T22:08:10Z")
Those eggs you bought this morning weren’t just laid yesterday They’ve been in cold storage for various lengths of time-----some longer than you can imagine-------or would like to think. They’ve done a little truck and dock time too. Keep them cool------cook them well--------salt-----fresh ground pepper-----YUM! Keep 'em warm and you’d do well to break them into a sauce dish before you put them into the pan!–a bad egg smells like the smoke in Hell! ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggs-in-the-fridge-or-not/174305/10 "2003-05-10T22:18:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DeVena \* > \*\*Eggs should be stored in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. \*\* Actually, they can be stored longer, but when you break them, nice round yolks will no longer be the case. How long ago do you think they were laid before you bought them? The Grade will tell you. Grade AA are the freshest; next come Grade A and then Grade B. [http://www.aeb.org/professional/productinfo/shelleggs.html](http://www.aeb.org/professional/productinfo/shelleggs.html) > [@](#): > > Shell eggs must be transported and stored at a temperature of 45°F or below at all times. Proper storage and handling are important in maintaining quality. If not refrigerated properly Grade AA eggs can rapidly degrade to Grade B eggs. Eggs kept at room temperature (or above 68°F) may lose more quality in one day than in one week under refrigeration. > Kept under proper refrigeration (45°F or below; do not freeze) eggs will retain their quality for several weeks. Cool temperatures retard the growth of bacteria should they be present. Eggs should be kept in their case to prevent loss of moisture. Store eggs away from food such as onions, apples, and cabbage as eggs can pick up strong odors. ---
**Author:** ![futureman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3da27b/32.png) [@futureman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/futureman)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggs-in-the-fridge-or-not/174305/11 "2003-05-12T04:35:30Z")
Actually, I think that in Europe they don’t refrigerate things that don’t need to be refrigerated. The OJ is probably from concentrate that doesn’t need to be kept cold, so it is put outside the fridge to save space. The eggs, I suppose are a mixed bag. If you are going to eat them in a week it isn’t important. This goes along with the fact that you can buy 6 eggs in Europe. The grocery stores in Spain are small, and abundant, so you can walk there every couple of days and it isn’t very taxing, but a trip to the supermarket would be a bad thing to do every other day. The smaller stores must conserve space. In America we refrigerate anything that you may want cold, like beer, and concentrated orange juice, although it won’t go bad without it. It takes up extra space, but we got plenty of space. I bet the poster is from Europe. As for the ice thing, I have no clue. Somehow, europeans have desire for little ice, when Americans want half a glass. I have no clue how that happened, and why. ---
**Author:** ![phraser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a88e4f/32.png) [@phraser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phraser)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggs-in-the-fridge-or-not/174305/12 "2003-05-12T04:41:13Z")
Here in Australia, eggs are sold from unrefrigerated shelves… however, not storing them in the fridge (or failing to cook them properly if you don’t) is definately asking for a case of Salmonellosis :eek: The reasoning is probably that supermarkets are refrigerated, and turnover is high, so no need to keep them refrigerated _there_. Besides which, it saves on the power bill. Also, _most_ people cook their eggs well. ---
**Author:** ![DrLiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DrLiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrLiver)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggs-in-the-fridge-or-not/174305/13 "2003-05-12T07:08:05Z")
How long do you think the eggs can stay at room temperature before going bad? Also I’d like to know if unfertilized eggs go as bad as fertilised ones; I’m asking this because I used to live by the farm and there were chickens going around and they layed eggs, which sometimes gave little baby chickens (so it would be safe to say that they were fertilised), and from time to time we would find an egg that went bad; and as Ezstrete mentionned; they emit the most horrible smell ever… But since I live in the modern city I’ve never encountered a bad egg like that (and I’ve been told that comercial eggs cannot make baby chickens because they are not fertilized), so I’m wondering if is it because they’re unfertilised that they don’t get bad (or at least not as bad) or is there something else to it… By the way, thanks a lot for the answers, I’ll tell my flatmate that he’s asking for trouble (unfortunatly I doubt he’ll listen to me) ---
**Author:** ![mr-monday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@mr-monday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr-monday)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggs-in-the-fridge-or-not/174305/14 "2003-05-12T12:40:00Z")
Here’s a little tip If you want to know how fresh an egg is, put it in a glass of water. The more it floats, the older it is as it has absorbed more air. If it sinks, it’s nice a fresh. ---
**Author:** ![Theom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9a28c/32.png) [@Theom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theom)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggs-in-the-fridge-or-not/174305/15 "2003-05-12T15:48:17Z")
Delia Smith doesn’t keep her eggs in the fridge and if you get bored while cooking them and read the side of the pask, like me, it says they are best cooked if you leave them out to get to room temperature. I keep mine in the pantry where it is cool but not as cold as a fridge. On the subject of Europe vs America and Ice, I generally find life is much more fun if you regard things like ice as luxury items, every day becomes special. ---
**Author:** ![In\_Conceivable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@In\_Conceivable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Conceivable)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eggs-in-the-fridge-or-not/174305/16 "2003-05-12T16:09:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DrLiver \* > \*\*Also I’d like to know if unfertilized eggs go as bad as fertilised ones; \*\* Unfertilized eggs can go just as bad a fertilized ones. I have smelled bad eggs of both styles and trust me, they both smell awful.