Prolonging eggs

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There is a trick to keep your hens laying year around. When laying starts to slow down in the fall keep the lights in your hen house on for a few hours each night. They need about 18 hrs. Of light each day and laying will pick up again. This tricks your hens into thinking its summer when laying is at its peak. Doing this we get about 75% of the production we got in the summer. Eventually your hens will need to molt and will stop laying for about a month then will start again.

Don't have lights in the hen house! The one thing that we have noticed that helps is we give the hens warm water. At 8300' elevation and many below zero days in the winter, our "girls" appreciate the warm water. Our hens never completely stop laying, but 4-6 eggs a day isn't enough for our clan! Thus the reason we keep eggs in the cellar. When you consider eggs purchased at the store are 6-8 months old, on average....I'm not worried about mine!

Blessings,
Shenandoah
 
I've got a question for some of you egg experts. I have heard that when an egg goes bad, it floats in water. Is that a reliable test?

We love pickled eggs, BTW. I just put peeled hard boiled eggs in the pickle juice left after eating all the pickles in a pickle jar. But I keep them in the fridge and not for very long. (they tend to disappear rather quickly)
 
I've got a question for some of you egg experts. I have heard that when an egg goes bad, it floats in water. Is that a reliable test?
In saltwater,yes.Give me a few min and i'll find the ratio of salt to water.

Well,that didn't take long,heres a copy -#5


35 uses for storing salt

1. Rust remover. Make paste out of 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 6 tablespoons of salt, apply to rusted area with cloth. Rub thoroughly then rinse and dry.
2. Improve coffee flavor. Adding a pinch of salt in your ground coffee before turning the coffeemaker on will reduce the beverage’s acidic taste.
3. Eliminate bad odors. Pour 1/2 cup of salt into the garbage disposal then run it according to manufacturer’s directions. Get rid of fish odor from your hands by rubbing them with a lemon wedge dipped in salt and then rinse with water. For smelly wooden cutting boards, remove the bad odor by gently rubbing a generous amount of salt over the surface using a damp cloth. Wash it with warm, sudsy water afterwards.
4. Salt soothes sore throats. A mild sore throat can be remedied by gargling several times a day with a mixture of 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 cup warm water.
5. Test egg freshness with salt. Add 2 teaspoonfuls of salt to a cup of water. Put the egg in the cup of water; if it sinks, it is fresh. If it floats, throw it away.
6. Clean greasy pans with salt. Greasy iron pans are no match to salt; simply use a bit of the substance on the greasy surface then wipe with paper towels.
7. Remove coffee or tea stains on cups by rubbing them with salt.
8. Calm that rogue BBQ fire. Sprinkle some salt on flames from food dripping in barbecue grills to minimize the flames and smoke without cooling the coals. Also, throwing salt on a kitchen fire will extinguish it.
9. Remove pinfeathers easily from a chicken by rubbing the chicken skin with salt.
10. Prevent mold on cheese by wrapping it in a cloth dampened with saltwater before putting it in the fridge.
11. Keep milk fresh longer by adding a pinch of salt to milk. (Great if you don’t mind your milk a tad salty)
12. Make it easier to scale fish by soaking the fish in salt water first before descaling it.
13. Make non-stick pancakes by first rubbing salt on your pancake griddle.
14. Cut flowers can be kept fresh by adding a dash of salt to the water in the vase.
15. Kill weeds by spreading salt on the ground near the roots of the weeds. This is an easy and effective way to get rid of unwanted weeds on your rock garden, patios and driveways. However, be careful not to sprinkle too much salt because this substance in excess can ruin the soil.
16. Kill poison ivy by mixing 3 pounds of salt with a gallon of soapy water then spray the mixture to the leaves and stems.
17. Deodorize your canvas shoes by sprinkling it with a little salt occasionally. The salt will reduce moisture and remove bad odor.
18. Relieve bee stings by immediately wetting the stung area and covering it with salt.
19. Discourage ants from invading your home by sprinkling salt in places where ants can sneak in such as doorways and window sills.
20. Clean your teeth with salt. Mix 1 part fine salt with 2 parts baking soda, dip your toothbrush in the mixture and brush your teeth. The baking soda also helps whiten teeth.
21. Saltwater mouthwash will treat sore gums, canker sores and bad breath. Just add 1 teaspoon salt with 1 glass warm water and you have a very effective oral hygiene treatment.
22. Melt ice by sprinkling salt over it.
23. Salt removes soot. Loosen soot from the chimney by throwing a handful of salt on the flames in your fireplace. The salt also makes a bright yellow flame.
24. Soak pecans and walnuts to make them easier to shell.
25. Lessen the starch content of potatoes by soaking them in salt water before using them. Saltwater also keeps potatoes and apples white.
26. Freshen the air in your house by cutting an orange in half and sprinkling both halves with salt.
27. Fix small holes in plaster using salt and cornstarch paste. Mix up to 2 tablespoons of salt and cornstarch and add enough water to make a thick paste.
28. Brighten your curtains and rugs by pouring ½ cup of salt into your washing machine along with the curtains or rugs.
29. Keep windows from becoming frosty during the winter by rubbing a rag dampened with saltwater over them.
30. Dry clean your dog with salt. Sprinkling salt on your dog’s fur and then brushing the salt out will easily remove dirt and fleas.
31. Exfoliate your skin with salt. Add salt to some baby oil then gently rub on skin. Rinse well after.
32. Make an antiseptic saline solution to use both internally and externally on sores and minor lacerations. Dilute 1 teaspoon of salt diluted in one cup of warm water (best to use natural sea salts) and you have an excellent antiseptic solution.
33. Make salt soaks that can offer relief in times of duress and bodily pain. Salt soaks can be applied to cramped and aching hands and feet or used as a whole body bath.
34. Reduce boiling time (especially in high altitude) by adding a dash of salt to the water.
35. Sanitize sponges with salt. Sponges can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Remove some of the germs by sudsing up the sponges, rinsing them thoroughly and then soaking them in cold, heavily salted water for up to 2 hours.
- See more at: The 35 Reasons You Should Store Salt | GlobalResearchReport.com
 
Mineral oil doesn't turn rancid hence why its used in this process. Also float your eggs in water to test them. If they rise to the top they are bad. If not the rotting gases haven't formed inside yet.

Yes DR this is a tried and true method for checking!!
 
I've got a question for some of you egg experts. I have heard that when an egg goes bad, it floats in water. Is that a reliable test?

We love pickled eggs, BTW. I just put peeled hard boiled eggs in the pickle juice left after eating all the pickles in a pickle jar. But I keep them in the fridge and not for very long. (they tend to disappear rather quickly)

I have to disagree, floating eggs are not a tried and true method to determining if an egg is bad. Actually, the Forbes-Trinchera Ranch is fairly close to us and their chef buys eggs from us. Apparently Mrs. Forbes will ONLY eat the eggs that float! Kevin, chef, says she comes into his kitchen to assure he isn't trying to slip a non-floater in on her! I devil 2-3 dozen eggs a month, on average, and out of that many, 2 or 3 of them will be floaters. They all taste the same and we are none the worse for having eaten them.

Blessings,
Shenandoah
 
As the egg ages the air pocket gets larger. So the older the egg the more likely it'll float. It's not 100% but it's as close as you can get without opening it.
 
You can preserve eggs by making them into salted eggs (yummy with tomatoes and onions hehehe)
 
My wife is Chinese (from Taiwan not the PRC) and the Chinese have all sorts of ways to preserve eggs. The one we like is "Tea Eggs" where you hard boil the eggs, crack the shells, and then boil them again in tea. It leaves a marbled pattern on the egg where the cracks were. LOL!, Wikipedia says that 7-Eleven stores in Taiwan sell 40 million tea eggs a year. I believe it...

There are all sorts of variations using soy sauce, cinnamon, star anise, etc. in a final boil.

They have one called a "Thousand Year Egg" that is treated with clay, ash, salt, quicklime, and rice hulls. (I think that one is rather nasty)
 
My wife is Chinese (from Taiwan not the PRC) and the Chinese have all sorts of ways to preserve eggs. The one we like is "Tea Eggs" where you hard boil the eggs, crack the shells, and then boil them again in tea. It leaves a marbled pattern on the egg where the cracks were. LOL!, Wikipedia says that 7-Eleven stores in Taiwan sell 40 million tea eggs a year. I believe it...

There are all sorts of variations using soy sauce, cinnamon, star anise, etc. in a final boil.

They have one called a "Thousand Year Egg" that is treated with clay, ash, salt, quicklime, and rice hulls. (I think that one is rather nasty)

I love those Century Eggs. Put a little Hoisin Sauce, top it with Mahu (dried shredded port). All of these on top of a big block of tofu.... yummmmmm!

Tea Eggs need to be eaten within a short period of time. They are quite attractive to look at.
 
my sister pickles her own eggs..and if im correct.she's gone into bisness for her self.it's kinda like canning other foods.thier good and safe as long as the lid seals shut and stays that way.but once opened.i'd keep that jar in fridge untill all eggs are eaten just to be on the safe side..i have been in convenance stores and beer stores where they have a jar of them on the counter so ppl will buy how ever many they want to..but i dont know if thier left out on counter all night or not..
I've never been brave enough to try one of those sitting on the counter, but to each their own!
 
I work with a guy from Vietnam, we call him nam, as no one can pronounce his name. (His idea!). Anyways he loves bolute, not sure if that's the spelling though. It's a fertilized chicken or duck egg, close to hatching, you basically bury it and let it rot/ferment in the ground for 6 mo. Or so. They saw if you can get past the texture, smell and appearance it's pretty good. I only have one question, how hungry did that first person to try it have to be! Lol
 
There a number of foods in Asia that assault the nose of a Westerner. First they have the durian fruit, an extremely pungent fruit which looks like a football (American football) with spikes. People are routinely maimed and killed by walking under a durian tree at the wrong time. My wife is nuts over them...I can't even stand to be in the same room with one. She says I will love it once I get past the smell. People seem to get addicted to it.

Then there is Cho Dofu, literally tranlated Stinky Tofu. It smells exactly like an open sewer. Maybe because it is fermented (rotten) Tofu.

I was once served chitterlings in Taiwan that I swear still had digested food in them. When I asked my wife about it, she said "DON'T ASK! Just eat it." I passed.
 
There a number of foods in Asia that assault the nose of a Westerner. First they have the durian fruit, an extremely pungent fruit which looks like a football (American football) with spikes. People are routinely maimed and killed by walking under a durian tree at the wrong time. My wife is nuts over them...I can't even stand to be in the same room with one. She says I will love it once I get past the smell. People seem to get addicted to it.

Then there is Cho Dofu, literally tranlated Stinky Tofu. It smells exactly like an open sewer. Maybe because it is fermented (rotten) Tofu.

I was once served chitterlings in Taiwan that I swear still had digested food in them. When I asked my wife about it, she said "DON'T ASK! Just eat it." I passed.
Hey there doc, I've heard of the durian fruit smell before, but not getting knocked in the head with it! Andrew zimmern is on the travel channel,(bizarre foods with Andrew zimmern), Anyways this guy is my hero, he'll try anything. I saw where he had some stinky tofu, I think in Cambodia, and he couldn't swallow it! He tried but said his gag reflex just wouldn't let it go down. I'm pretty adventurous when it comes to food, but it had better not smell too bad for me to try it. I had a really stinky cheese once that smelled like old gym socks, well, it pretty much tasted like them too.
 
I work with a guy from Vietnam, we call him nam, as no one can pronounce his name. (His idea!). Anyways he loves bolute, not sure if that's the spelling though. It's a fertilized chicken or duck egg, close to hatching, you basically bury it and let it rot/ferment in the ground for 6 mo. Or so. They saw if you can get past the texture, smell and appearance it's pretty good. I only have one question, how hungry did that first person to try it have to be! Lol
I have heard of this, but honestly when we were tryin to hatch some eggs at one time, hunny accidently grabbed one that we were trying to hatch. I boiled it up for deviled eggs with the others. . . I felt so bad, as it would have been hatched in a few more days, but I did not eat it.
 
Mineral oil doesn't turn rancid hence why its used in this process. Also float your eggs in water to test them. If they rise to the top they are bad. If not the rotting gases haven't formed inside yet.

Yes DR this is a tried and true method for checking!!

I have to disagree my friend.....my girls layed 6 eggs today, two of them float!
They are as fresh as you can get and certainly are not bad.

Blessings,
Shenandoah
 
I process 10 to 15 eggs a day every day for going on 15 years and have never I repeat NEVER had a fresh healthy egg float in cold water. I've raised chickens most of my life. The only possibility is that some of your chickens may not be healthy. Eggs only float when there enough air or gas in them to do such. Also when I say float I mean bobbing at the top, not slightly hovering around I mean clearly floating at the top of cold water. Unhealthy chickens will lay half filled eggs, I have a Avian vet that told me to watch for this as it is a sign of the beginning of chicken Moniliasis. There is no other way to test eggs for freshness short of opening them. Offer another solution That works without opening the egg... There isn't one and this technique has kept me, my family and thousands of others safe for generations. Just my two cents...
 
So, it sounds like if it sinks it's good, but if it floats it may or may not be good.

I remember seeing some perfectly good eggs that had an unusually large air pocket, but didn't really think it had any significance at the time.
 
Hey there doc, I've heard of the durian fruit smell before, but not getting knocked in the head with it! Andrew zimmern is on the travel channel,(bizarre foods with Andrew zimmern), Anyways this guy is my hero, he'll try anything. I saw where he had some stinky tofu, I think in Cambodia, and he couldn't swallow it! He tried but said his gag reflex just wouldn't let it go down. I'm pretty adventurous when it comes to food, but it had better not smell too bad for me to try it. I had a really stinky cheese once that smelled like old gym socks, well, it pretty much tasted like them too.
May have been Lindbergh. . . Some people swear by it and often seek it out, but it is the most stingiest cheese that I know. I have tried many different cheeses but that is one that I have yet to do. I was told by one older man that he likes to slice green onions into it and eat it with crackers. He said the smell is bad but it sure did taste good. I'll take his word on it though. I have tried some blues and gorgonzolas that are smelly and really haven't liked any of them except for the Smokehaus Blue, that wasn't bad at all.
 
I work with a guy from Vietnam, we call him nam, as no one can pronounce his name. (His idea!). Anyways he loves bolute, not sure if that's the spelling though. It's a fertilized chicken or duck egg, close to hatching, you basically bury it and let it rot/ferment in the ground for 6 mo. Or so. They saw if you can get past the texture, smell and appearance it's pretty good. I only have one question, how hungry did that first person to try it have to be! Lol

Here in the Philippines, we call it "Balut". It is a duck egg. It is not fermented. Just aborted then boiled. very yummy indeed!

There is also what we call the Abnoy. It is a rotten duck egg (unfertilized). It can be eaten boiled then fried or mixed with flour and veggies then fried into an omelette... Another delicacy! yummmmy!

PS: I can imagine your faces cringing in distaste... but, I swear, it is really good stuff...

There a number of foods in Asia that assault the nose of a Westerner. First they have the durian fruit, an extremely pungent fruit which looks like a football (American football) with spikes. People are routinely maimed and killed by walking under a durian tree at the wrong time. My wife is nuts over them...I can't even stand to be in the same room with one. She says I will love it once I get past the smell. People seem to get addicted to it.

Then there is Cho Dofu, literally tranlated Stinky Tofu. It smells exactly like an open sewer. Maybe because it is fermented (rotten) Tofu.

I was once served chitterlings in Taiwan that I swear still had digested food in them. When I asked my wife about it, she said "DON'T ASK! Just eat it." I passed.

Durian is the Fruit of Heaven and Hell... Tastes like Heaven but smells like Hell LOL...

Tried Stinky Tofu when I was in China a few years ago... good stuff... like it deep fried then a sweet sauce spread on it.
 
I process 10 to 15 eggs a day every day for going on 15 years and have never I repeat NEVER had a fresh healthy egg float in cold water. I've raised chickens most of my life. The only possibility is that some of your chickens may not be healthy. Eggs only float when there enough air or gas in them to do such. Also when I say float I mean bobbing at the top, not slightly hovering around I mean clearly floating at the top of cold water. Unhealthy chickens will lay half filled eggs, I have a Avian vet that told me to watch for this as it is a sign of the beginning of chicken Moniliasis. There is no other way to test eggs for freshness short of opening them. Offer another solution That works without opening the egg... There isn't one and this technique has kept me, my family and thousands of others safe for generations. Just my two cents...

We will have to agree to disagree. We run 50+ hens and have for years. But at 8300' elevation we get down to 4-6 eggs a day this time of year. Hens are quite healthy, never lost even one to illness or disease. We often get the random floaters, never had a one of em be bad.

Blessings,
Shenandoah
 
Best way to keep eggs.....have chickens.
Second best.....powdered.

Simple as that really.
 
i have one queston for ya gazrok..if you have chickens..and you have more eggs then you need for a week or 2.what you gonna do with the extras?? have a egg fight? LOL
 
What do you guys thing about pickling eggs? I pickled eggs in the past with beet juice as a chef, but I kept it in the fridge due to health and liability issues. I am wondering how safe it would be to pickle them and leave them in a cool area.

Not sure if I can post in this section. But I can actually answer questions about pickled eggs. Besides not all guys are retarded, lol.

Anyways, pickled eggs easily last over 7 months in a cool space. I've seen them on the shelf in Wisconsin bars probably much longer than that, but 7 months is the longest I have been able to make mine last, lol.
 
Not sure if I can post in this section. But I can actually answer questions about pickled eggs. Besides not all guys are retarded, lol.

Anyways, pickled eggs easily last over 7 months in a cool space. I've seen them on the shelf in Wisconsin bars probably much longer than that, but 7 months is the longest I have been able to make mine last, lol.
Aslong as it is done correctly it will be fine the pickled eggs you buy at the grocery last for years if unopened even in the plastic jars.
id say standard canning would do the job.
 
Aslong as it is done correctly it will be fine the pickled eggs you buy at the grocery last for years if unopened even in the plastic jars.
id say standard canning would do the job.

Sorry, wasn't specific. Non sealed and/or opened just sitting out.

Ironically It was my saturday night phone call to my homesteader mom (the woman who taught me) and asked about this. She says non sealed pickled eggs can last up to a year out of the fridge. They may get a little cloudy, but actually it gives them better flavor, lol.

If planning on pickling though and not leave in the fridge don't use the normal 1/2 vinegar, 1/2 water solution. Pure vinegar, it does however make them a little rubbery.
 
anyways, sorry ladies I'll try to stay out. But when I saw that post on pickled eggs I just couldn't refuse. Once a year my local market has eggs for $1 a dozen. I then buy 20 dozen and scramble/freeze half and pickle the other half. So I figured I could answer that question.

Yes, I go through 10 dozen pickled eggs a year, but since I use them in my tuna salad and they make great snacks, they really don't last a whole year.
 
swen,if you look through this topic and the other topics in the ladys section.you'll see that other guys as well as me,post in at some of the diffrent topics here.so you in no trouble any more then we are.. :D
 
I agree, opening it and looking and smelling is the only way to be sure. I've also learned to break each egg in a cup, before adding it to my pan with others in it. I've dropped a bad one in before and had to throw them all out.
 
Here in the Philippines, we call it "Balut". It is a duck egg. It is not fermented. Just aborted then boiled. very yummy indeed!

There is also what we call the Abnoy. It is a rotten duck egg (unfertilized). It can be eaten boiled then fried or mixed with flour and veggies then fried into an omelette... Another delicacy! yummmmy!

PS: I can imagine your faces cringing in distaste... but, I swear, it is really good stuff...



Durian is the Fruit of Heaven and Hell... Tastes like Heaven but smells like Hell LOL...

Tried Stinky Tofu when I was in China a few years ago... good stuff... like it deep fried then a sweet sauce spread on it.
If I can ever get over there I promise I'll try any of the above, however I have to admit I'm cringing a little!
 

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