Preventing Frozen Eggs This Winter

Here are some tips that will help prevent cracked, frozen eggs this winter. I often get asked: do eggs need to be refrigerated. Freshly laid eggs will keep out on the counter at room temperature for a week or two as long as they aren't washed. Washing chicken eggs removes the "bloom" which keeps air and bacteria from getting into the egg. If you find eggs your chickens have hidden in the chicken coop or yard during the warm months, you can be pretty sure they are still good to eat. (And if you aren't sure how old an egg is, simply perform an egg freshness test. ) In fact, I often leave a bowl of eggs on the counter after collecting them instead of putting them in the refrigerator so I can enjoy how pretty they are and also because room temperature eggs are better for baking.