how (not) to wash eggs
This happened, as do so many of the most interesting things that go on in a marriage, as miscommunication between myself and my husband. Because our eggs come straight from the coop I often soak them in water when I bring them in and wipe them with soap then rinse them before putting them into the refrigerator. Josh told me not to use soap and water to clean eggs, to wipe them with vinegar. What I heard was: use vinegar because soap and water will eat through the outer membrane and make the egg permeable to bacteria. So, today I gathered up the eggs and soaked them in white vinegar (we keep a huge jug of it under the kitchen sink for cleaning) and water, about a 50-50 mix. That took the color off the outside of the eggs.
Not what I had in mind. Apparently what Josh said was: don’t soak fresh eggs, wipe them off with either water or vinegar. As he so kindly pointed out, we learned in science class that vinegar is acidic. I guess I need to work on my listening-and-following-directions skills.
The right way to wash eggs is just before you use them, no soaking in anything. And then either soap or vinegar seems to be OK. I may stick with soap just for my own peace of mind about eating food tainted with chicken crap (and for more info on that read Jonathan Safran Foer’s Eating Animals. *shudder*).
Good advice, and timely, too, as the traditional coloring of eggs for Easter approaches! (The eggs are delicious, as expected.)
On checking the Wyandottes link, I learned that your babies are already a year old! Did you have a party?? I remember how you’ve said you are thankful each day for the eggs you gather, so some meal worm snacks seem in order! And I’ll be sure and give each of the hens a good backrub next time I’m over.