When you open your refrigerator, you’ll often find an egg rack on the side door. This allows you to remove eggs from the carton and place them on the rack for refrigeration. However, this isn’t the right approach.

Why do room-temperature eggs need to be refrigerated?

The surface of an egg is covered with tiny holes called pores, approximately 10,000 in total. When the temperature fluctuates significantly, condensation is more likely to form on the eggs. The moisture produced by condensation covers these pores, making it easier for bacteria to attach to the eggs, and thus causing them to spoil.

Why aren’t eggs in supermarkets refrigerated?

Some egg products are sold at room temperature to prevent condensation.

Eggs sold at room temperature are generally kept at a constant temperature during transportation, with minimal temperature fluctuations, so condensation doesn’t form.

Furthermore, supermarket air conditioning doesn’t cause significant temperature fluctuations, making the eggs safe.

Do eggs not need to be refrigerated?

Does this mean that as long as the temperature is kept constant and condensation is prevented, eggs don’t need to be refrigerated after purchase and can simply be stored at room temperature?

The answer is no. Even if both conditions are met, eggs still won’t last very long at room temperature. Therefore, it’s recommended to store them in the refrigerator’s cooler, more consistent temperature compartment to prolong their freshness.

What’s the correct way to refrigerate eggs?

Since most refrigerators have egg racks, many people are accustomed to removing their room-temperature or refrigerated eggs from their cartons and placing them on these racks. This is actually the wrong way to store them.

Egg racks are usually located on the side door of the refrigerator. Opening and closing the door creates a significant temperature difference, which is detrimental to the preservation of eggs. As you’ve already learned from our discussion of condensation, egg quality is easily affected by large temperature fluctuations. Therefore, refrigerator door egg racks are not suitable for storing eggs.

So, what’s the correct way to refrigerate eggs? When refrigerating eggs, there’s no need to remove them from their original carton or place them on the refrigerator’s side door egg rack. Simply place the eggs, along with their carton, directly into the refrigerator’s refrigerator compartment.