How to Wash Fresh Eggs—and When It's Safe to Leave Them Unwashed

Understanding when and how to wash eggs is important. While the egg might be our most versatile ingredient, it can carry salmonella, a bacteria that causes an intestinal disease that can be deadly. Given the importance of food handling and safety (and the stakes of not taking the proper precautions), the question of whether or not you should wash eggs is a valid one. We consulted an expert to learn when it's OK to wash fresh eggs and why the ones at the store differ from farm-fresh.

When Should You Wash Eggs?

When you buy eggs from a grocery store, they look spotless. "When's the last time you bought a carton of eggs that didn't look beautiful?" asks Marisa Bunning, a professor and food safety extension specialist. They look beautiful because the USDA requires eggs to be washed before they're sold. "Those eggs are washed in a definitive procedure," Bunning says. But should you wash them again?

Store-Bought Eggs

Because store-bought eggs are washed before they are sold, Bunning recommends that you do not wash eggs purchased from a store. "It's not a good idea because washing these eggs could actually lead to problems, especially if someone washed their eggs in really hot or really cold water," Bunning says. "The shell is porous. It's just extra work and wastes water."

Backyard Eggs

Backyard eggs are another story. If you have backyard chickens or get fresh eggs from somebody who does, things change. "Consumers aren't used to eggs from their backyard," Bunning says. "They're treating them like they're the same, but they're not the same."

Though supremely fresh, backyard eggs or eggs from the farmer's market may require washing. Eggs from a backyard chicken grower who's a "good flock tender" with clean nesting boxes may not need to be cleaned, Bunning says. But this isn't always the case. "If eggs obviously have straw, debris, or manure on them, then you're going to need to clean them," Bunning says.

How to Wash Fresh Eggs

There are two different methods commonly used to wash your farm-fresh eggs: wet-washing and dry-washing. We go over both below. Regardless of the method you choose, remember that it is very important to wash your hands before and after handling fresh eggs. Additionally, you'll also need to thoroughly sanitize the area your eggs touched.

Wet-Wash Method

Wet washing eggs is a good method to clean farm fresh eggs. Just be sure to immediately use or store the eggs in the refrigerator after washing with water. To wash fresh eggs, Bunning recommends using water and an emery cloth or a brush.

• Wash the eggs individually under warm to hot running water, between 90-120°F. The water needs to be at least 20°F warmer than the egg to properly clean them. For this reason, use hotter water on freshly laid eggs which are usually about 105°F when laid. Do not wash eggs with cold water, as this could cause bacteria to infiltrate the egg.
• Use an emery cloth or brush to wipe the eggs down while washing. An unscented dishwashing liquid can also provide some extra cleanliness.
• During cleaning, eggs should not touch bacteria or soil, which could enter the interior egg through its porous shell.
• Eggs shouldn't be left in standing water (as, again, unwanted contaminants could enter through the porous eggshell).
• Be sure to thoroughly dry off your eggs after washing.

Dry-Wash Method

You can also clean eggs using the dry-washing method to avoid removing the bloom. This method also allows you to keep storing them at room temperature instead of in the fridge. To do this, gently wipe the eggs with a brush, emery cloth, or fine sandpaper to remove all dirt and debris.

In the end, most of the billions of eggs we consume every year in the U.S. don't need to be washed. But it's important to know that some of the best ones do.

Sanitizing Eggs

According to The Center for Food Security & Public Health, all eggs should be sanitized to prevent human illness, especially when they are visibly dirty. To sanitize your backyard eggs, follow these instructions:

1. Make a solution of 1 tablespoon of bleach to 1 gallon of water.
2. Fully submerge the eggs into the solution and promptly remove them.
3. Rinse each egg with water.
4. Use a towel to thoroughly dry off the eggs.
5. Place eggs in the refrigerator, making sure the temperature is between 35-40°F.

How to Store Fresh Eggs

How you store your eggs will depend on whether they are store-bought eggs or backyard eggs.

Storing Store-Bought Eggs

In the U.S. at least, Bunning believes people should be refrigerating eggs. That's because, unlike in some other countries (such as in most of Europe), the U.S. generally removes the "bloom" that's on backyard eggs. The bloom is a covering that coats the eggshells. It protects the eggs from bacteria. Without the bloom, people in the U.S. need to refrigerate eggs to help keep bacteria at bay.

"We're keeping our eggs longer," Bunning adds. "To me, there's no reason not to refrigerate them. And we say treat them like you do with dairy products [except butter, which can be left on the counter]. You don't leave your milk or yogurt out for a while. Eggs are the same." Bunning adds that egg whites (the kind leftover from recipes calling for just yolk) can stay in the fridge for four days or in the freezer for a year.

Storing Backyard Eggs

Backyard eggs don't necessarily need to be refrigerated because the bloom keeps them fresh. That's why you won't see them refrigerated in Europe because they keep the bloom. Europeans and Americans tend to approach eggs differently, but so do the agricultural systems that produce these eggs and the authorities that set rules for them.

"There are so many differences between them," Bunning says. "You just can't compare the two." Be sure to keep this in mind when comparing egg grades at purchase, storing, and thinking about washing them. Once you wash your eggs and the bloom is removed, they will need to be refrigerated.