02/23/2024
Being close (er) to Spring (4 more weeks), day-length is getting longer and birds are starting to produce. As homesteaders and farmers here, preservation is very important and a good skill to have. If you are new to homesteaders or it’s your first season getting egg production, there are several methods to preserve eggs.
1. Refrigeration: This is the most common way to store eggs. Store eggs in the refrigerator to maintain freshness and extend their shelf life. Local eggs will remain fresher than grocery store eggs.
2. Coating with Mineral Oil: Applying a thin layer of mineral oil to the eggshell can help seal pores and prevent air and bacteria from entering, thus prolonging freshness.
3. Water Glassing: Submerging eggs in a solution of distilled water and pickling lime creates a protective coating that can keep eggs fresh for several months when stored in a cool place. We just opened up a sealed jar from June 2023 and ate the eggs! A little runny but great for scrambled eggs.
4. Pickling: Pickling eggs in a vinegar solution with spices can preserve them for several weeks in the refrigerator.
5. Freezing: Eggs can be cracked and beaten, then frozen in ice cube trays or containers for later use in cooking and baking. However, freezing affects the texture, so they may not be suitable for all recipes.
6. Salt Curing: Salt curing egg yolks is a method that preserves yolks by dehydrating them with salt. Store in the refrigerator and slice or grate over food for flavor.
With any method, make sure you are following instructions, keep things sanitary, and use seal tight containers to avoid contamination.
Have you tried any method to preserve your eggs or have a method not mentioned? I would love to learn more ways to preserve eggs 🙂 if you need eggs, let me know!
