It’s the classic kitchen debate – should eggs be stored in the fridge or cupboard? It prompted experts at Egg Info, part of British Lion eggs, to share the best place to keep your dairy to ensure they stay fresh.
One perplexed Reddit user posed the question: “Should I store my eggs in the fridge? So Googling this, I’ve had different results. They apparently last longer in the fridge (unsurprising) so is this best? Some people say don’t keep them in the fridge and some say keep them in the fridge.”
According to experts, it’s important to keep eggs under a constant cool temperature below 20C, advising against moving them around the kitchen too much as this will expose them to different temperatures. But where you live and the layout of your kitchen can also have an impact.
They added: “If you have a cool pantry that doesn’t heat up when the kitchen temperature rises, that’s fine for storing eggs but while a regular kitchen cupboard may seem a relatively constant environment, temperatures can still fluctuate when you’re cooking things that produce a lot of heat or steam.
“Best practice is to store eggs in the fridge; that way the temperature is always at a constant and your eggs will be fresher! When you do get around to using them, try to leave the eggs out of the fridge for around 30 minutes to bring them up to room temperature, otherwise cooking times could change depending on how you’re using them.”
Not only this but the experts say you should keep your eggs in their original packaging rather than transferring them to a spiral egg holder or the designated egg shelf in your fridge. They explained: “The truth is nothing can beat the original carton.
“Not only does the box protect the eggs, but it also shows the best before date which you can refer back to anytime you’re unsure. Perhaps the best reason to keep eggs in their carton is so they stay as fresh as can be. Why? Eggshells have tiny pores which bacteria from other foods and smells such as food odour and flavouring can seep through over time. Our tip – keep the carton!”
Commenting on this revelation, one Reddit user said: “I buy mine from the store and leave them out. I go through a dozen in a few days because I cook with eggs a lot. Same with butter. It lives on the counter. Fridge them if you are getting anxiety over which answer is right.”
Another added: “Depends where you live. I live in a hot humid country so keep mine in the fridge. When I lived in a draughty cottage in the UK I didn’t. If it’s warm enough to melt butter in your kitchen. Keep them in a fridge.” A third user said: “Yes, if you are in the USA. The eggs you buy in the store here, have there protective coat washed off.”
