American Eggs vs. British Eggs

Did you know that American eggs would be illegal in a British supermarket because they are washed and British eggs would be illegal in a US supermarket because they are unwashed?

It is generally best to leave the egg unwashed. However, eggs that have dirt, feathers, or chicken droppings attached when removed from the nest box should be washed in warm water and used first.

Washing eggs may actually increase the risk of contamination because the wash water can be “sucked” into the egg through the pores in the shell. At the egg processing plant, government regulations require that USDA-graded eggs be carefully washed and sanitized before being packed.

Unwashed eggs will last at least two weeks unrefrigerated, and three months if refrigerated. While washed eggs should be refrigerated, and will last at least two months, but won’t taste as fresh as an unwashed egg of the same age.