How Long Do Eggs Stay Fresh?

According to the American Egg Board (www.AEB.org) here's your answer. This is assuming you need to know about raw eggs in their shells and not hard-boiled.

"The oil coating which seals the shell's pores helps to prevent bacteria from entering the egg and reduces moisture loss from the egg. RAW SHELL EGGS REFRIGERATED IN THEIR CARTONS WILL KEEP FOR ABOUT 4 TO 5 WEEKS BEYOND THE PACK DATE WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT QUALITY LOSS. (The pack date is usually a number from 1 to 365 representing the day of the year starting with January 1 as 1 and ending with December 31 as 365.)"

"Properly handled and stored, eggs rarely "spoil". If you keep them long enough, they are more likely to simply dry up! But, don't leave eggs out at room temperature. They'll age more in 1 day at room temperature than they will in 1 week in the refrigerator. Room temperature is also an ideal temperature for bacterial growth."

Package Dating and Freshness

To figure out when your eggs were packed, check the 3-digit number that all USDA-inspected eggs carry. Jan 1 is #001 and Dec 31 is #365. Date reveals freshness.

Storage

Did you know that an egg stays fresher longer if kept at a temperature of below 40 degrees F and at a relative humidity of 70% to 80%? According to the American Egg Board that is considered the ideal temperature.

How Shell Color is Determined

According to the American Egg Board, shell color of an egg is determined by the breed of hen. Shell colors can range from white to dark brown.

The breeds with the white feathers and lobes lay white shelled eggs. The breeds that have red feathers and lobes lay brown shelled eggs.

Eggs-Food Allergies

According to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, there are eight foods that account for 90 percent of allergic food reactions in the United States. These are:

Eggs
Fish
Milk
Peanuts
Shellfish
Soy
Tree Nuts
Wheat

These foods affect over 6 million Americans; many of them are children. Learn how to help protect children from potential risks and what to do in case of an allergic reaction by calling the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network at 1-800-929-4040.

Selecting Eggs

When selecting eggs, please make sure they are not cracked, broken, leaking, or unclean. Variances in color and odd shapes are fine, as they do not affect the taste. Also make sure that they are refrigerated as the cold inhibits organism growth.

How Size is Determined

When the eggs go through the packing process they are separated based upon their size.

The minimum standards based on weight per dozen eggs are:
Jumbo-30 oz.
Extra Large-27 oz.
Large-24 oz.
Medium-21 oz.
Small-18 oz.
Pee Wee-15 oz.

Brown Shelled Eggs

Brown shelled eggs are laid by the following breeds:
Rhode Island Red
New Hampshire
Plymouth Rock

Brown shelled eggs usually cost more to the buyer because these hens are slightly larger than hens of other breeds. The larger breeds require a greater quantity of feed to produce eggs and therefore cost more to the consumer.

Coloration-Does it Affect Quality?

According to the American Egg Board, color does not make a difference in an eggs nutritional value, taste, quality, or cooking characteristics.