How to Store Farm Fresh Eggs to Make Them Last
Last Updated on June 28, 2025
Do you buy fresh eggs from a local farm, or have your own backyard chickens? Come learn how to safely store fresh eggs to make them last and retain the best quality!
This guide will cover important frequently asked questions like: if fresh eggs need to be refrigerated or not, when and how to wash them, how long they’re good for, and how to test freshness with the “float test” – along with a little of the science behind it all. I used to work as a food safety health inspector after all, and have been raising backyard chickens for over 10 years!
NOTE: This post was originally published in July 2020 and recently updated.
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RELATED: Don’t miss our beginner’s guide on raising backyard chickens, including the top 18 chicken breeds for friendly birds and colorful eggs!
Farm fresh eggs are remarkably different from those you buy in the store. They’re more flavorful, colorful, nutrient-dense, and the chickens typically receive much better care! Also, they’re not processed in the same manner as commercial eggs, which means you should store and wash fresh eggs differently than store-bought eggs.
Can I Store Fresh Eggs at Room Temperature?
It depends. Unwashed fresh eggs from backyard chickens or a local farm that haven’t yet been refrigerated can safely be stored on the counter at room temperature for a couple weeks. On the other hand, washed eggs must be refrigerated. (See more info about shelf life below.)
If you purchase local eggs at a farmers market or farm stand, ask if they’ve been washed and/or need to be refrigerated. When in doubt, store them in the fridge!
We don’t wash our eggs until we use them, and love to admire our hen’s gorgeous eggs in a wire basket or handy egg skelter on the counter. When we have a lot, we rotate the older eggs into the fridge after a week and leave the freshest ones out.
The Bloom, Washing, and Pasteurization
Freshly-laid eggs have a natural protective coating on the outside of the shell called the cuticle. More commonly known as the “bloom”, the cuticle effectively seals the otherwise porous eggshell.
As the University of Edinburgh explains, “the cuticle prevents bacteria from entering the egg and forms its first line of defense against infection.” This is nature’s way of protecting developing chicks in fertilized eggs! The bloom also helps keep eggs fresh longer, preventing both the loss of moisture and the introduction of contamination.
As required by the USDA, commercial store-bought eggs are pasteurized (rapidly heated to a high temperature). The process kills pathogens present at the time of pasteurization but provides no long-term protection. Rather, both pasteurization and washing eggs removes the bloom, thus leaving eggs more susceptible to spoilage. This is why pasteurized and washed eggs must be refrigerated.
The Anatomy of an Egg, via MannaPro
How Long Do Fresh Eggs Last on the Counter?
Fresh unwashed eggs stay good for about 2 to 3 weeks when stored on the counter at room temperature. However, the recommendation doesn’t stem from food safety alone – but more so to maintain optimal eating quality.
As eggs age, their protein structure degrades. This causes older egg whites to become more runny, and the yolks to stand less round and tall or break more easily.
Even though it’s safe, eggs stored at room temperature will degrade much faster than those stored in the refrigerator. The warmer your home is, the more this is true! Therefore, I personally recommend storing eggs at room temperature for no longer than a week – and only a few days if it is very hot and humid.
Storing Eggs in the Refrigerator
Storing eggs in the fridge significantly increases their shelf life. Unwashed fresh eggs will stay good for 2 to 3 months in the refrigerator! Washed eggs will lose moisture and degrade in quality sooner, but may still be safe to consume within that same timeframe.
Because washed eggs are more porous, it’s best to store them in an enclosed container in the fridge to reduce moisture loss and also prevent the absorption of off-odors or bacteria. It’s best to dry washed eggs prior to storage too.
Once eggs are refrigerated even one time, they should be kept in the refrigerator thereafter, washed or not. According to the USDA, “a cold egg left out at room temperature can sweat, facilitating the movement of bacteria into the egg and increasing the growth of bacteria”. Therefore, refrigerated eggs should not be left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature before use.
When and How to Wash Fresh Eggs
In general, I recommend waiting to wash fresh eggs until right before you use them. That is, unless they are soiled with poop, mud, or otherwise in need of a good rinse. In that case, wash dirty eggs and then store them in the fridge.
Otherwise, storing eggs unwashed will keep them more “sealed” and thus extend their shelf life and freshness, whether you store them at room temperature or in the fridge! I know many backyard chicken keepers who don’t wash their eggs at all.
To wash our eggs, we simply rinse and rub them under warm water. There is no need for harsh soaps, vinegar or bleach. In fact, chemicals or odors could absorb through the shell! Use a soft sponge or cloth to gently wash away debris if needed, but avoid scrubbing with anything abrasive.
Allow washed eggs to air dry or dry them with a towel before putting them in an enclosed container in the fridge.
Other Tips for Storing Eggs
Did you know that it’s best to store eggs with their round end up, and pointy end facing down? That’s because there’s an air sac within the rounded end, and when it’s facing up, it acts like a little balloon of insulation that helps to reduce evaporation and additional moisture loss – thus keeping eggs fresh longer!
The Float Test: Assess Egg Freshness
Did your egg rotation get mixed up, or aren’t sure which eggs are the most fresh? Try the float test!
- Fill a glass or bowl with cool water, and gently place the eggs in question inside.
- The freshest eggs will lay on the bottom of the glass.
- Eggs that are a few weeks old will stay on the bottom but “stand up” slightly. Middle-age eggs may partially float but stay submerged.
- The higher the egg floats, the older it is. Full-blown floaters are considered bad to consume.
Moderately old eggs are still perfectly fine to use. In fact, I prefer to use slightly older eggs to hard boil because they’re much easier to peel than super fresh eggs!
How to Keep Backyard Chicken Eggs Clean
To prevent your eggs from getting dirtied up, do your best to keep the hen’s nesting boxes clean. Discourage sleeping (ahem… pooping) in the nesting boxes by providing suitable sleeping roosts above the height of the nest boxes. Their natural instinct is to sleep as high above the ground as possible.
Collect eggs daily, or even a few times per day depending on your schedule and flock size! Change out soiled nest box bedding material as needed. We use these nesting box pads that cushion the eggs and keep them extra clean.
If your chickens are prone to laying eggs in random places, help train them where to lay by placing wood dummy eggs inside the nest boxes. They want to lay where eggs already are! However, only use dummy eggs until they learn the lesson. Otherwise, leaving eggs (real or fake) in the nest boxes can make a hen go broody – which isn’t a good thing! Learn how to break a broody hen here.
Recap: Best Practices to Store Fresh Eggs
- Don’t wash the eggs until you use them, unless they’re soiled.
- Fresh unwashed eggs do not need to be refrigerated for several weeks, though one to two weeks is best for quality.
- Always refrigerate washed eggs, and store them in an enclosed container.
- Eggs will maintain a higher quality when stored in the refrigerator – washed or not. However, unwashed fresh eggs will stay good the longest.
- Once refrigerated, keep cold eggs in the fridge.
- Keep track of your eggs. Rotate room temperature eggs into the refrigerator once a week. Use old eggs first.
- Store eggs with their pointy end facing down.
Well, that was fun. Even I learned a few new things while putting together this article, so I hope you did too! Please feel free to ask questions, and help spread important food safety information by sharing this article. Enjoy those fresh eggs!
You may also enjoy:
- When Do Chickens Start Laying Eggs? 5 Telltale Signs It’s Soon!
- Chickens Not Laying Eggs? 6 Possible Reasons Why
- Top 18 Chicken Breeds for Your Backyard Flock (information about egg colors and laying habits included)
- Chickens Eating Eggs? 9 Ways to Prevent or Stop It
- Feeding Chickens Eggshells or Oyster Shells for Essential Calcium
Deanna Talerico
Deanna Talerico (aka DeannaCat) is a garden educator and writer with over 15 years experience in organic gardening. She is a retired Senior Environmental Health Specialist, and holds a M.A. in Environmental Studies and B.S. in Sustainability and Natural Resources.
65 Comments
Emily
I’ve been getting eggs from the neighbor and a farm stand, really appreciate this article super informative!
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
So great to hear Emily!
Silvia
Such an informative article, thank you so much!
Marilyn A Reid
I have learned so much from this article! I have a question though: Would lightly sandpapering dirty or messy spots on an egg take off the bloom? While it certainly improves the look of the eggs, it might not be such a good idea. What are your thoughts?
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
Hi Marilyn, yes, that would likely remove the bloom from the egg. If we have an egg or two that are a bit dirty, we just rinse them off with water and store them in the fridge. Hope that helps.
Greg
I am trying to get an answer for winter eggs. My chickens are laying eggs and the temperature is below 32 degrees outside. The eggs are very cold by the time I get to them. Since they are cold, should they now be kept in the fridge?
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
Hi Greg, you likely don’t need to refrigerate the eggs after bringing them indoors as long as the eggs protective bloom hasn’t been washed off with water. Hope that helps and good luck!
Darlene Southwick
This was an awesome article. I have been around chickens for most of my childhood. My Mother raised chickens for eggs and meat. She bartered with the neighbors. I have 4 ladies now, and they are a delight. There was one thing I never noticed growing up was to put the pointy end down in the cartons. I guess we are never too old to learn. Thank you.
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
Hi Darlene, great to hear you are able to have chickens in your life once again, they can be quite entertaining!
Jen
Have a question, I’m checking on a neighbors flock & they aren’t the best with routine (actually terrible!) so I’m not sure if these eggs are super old (neighbors have been gone for 3 days) or if these are fresh. In WI we’ve had upper 80s/low 90s for a few days so I don’t want to risk getting sick from eating if they have been baking in their nest.
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
Hi Jen, 3 days is no time at all for the eggs being in the nest boxes (even in the warmer weather you are experiencing), I would assume your neighbors cleaned out the nest boxes of eggs before they left, but even if they hadn’t, eggs being in the nest box for a week or longer should still be fine to consume. Hope that helps and good luck!
Jen
Yes! It does! I trade my not so perfect garden green leaves for some of their eggs & horse manure. I can see & taste a difference between theirs & the pasture raised eggs I buy in the store. The neighbors feed their chickens feed plaus they eat some of the overgrown weeks in their coop (pretty sure it’s not always organic feed unfortunately-trying to consider sharing the costs with them). We both have more than enough acres (8 acres each) & I wish they’d expand their run onto fresh grass. They also feed them alot of fruit scraps which makes their eggs sweeter (not really a fan).
Any recommendations on organic feed? They seem to go through about 40# of feed a month which seems rediculous for 5 or 6 chickens. But I have no idea. It’s cheaper to buy eggs at the store I’d think. I pay $8/18 in WI.
Right now we travel too much to consider getting chickens here.
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
Hi Jen, we feed our chickens Scratch and Peck Naturally Free Layer feed which is organic but the price on a 40# bag has gone up over the past 6 months or so and my guess is likely at least twice the price of your neighbors current feed. If you have a feed store nearby, they may carry it as well so it’s worth checking out, we like that the feed is mostly just whole grains and peas mixed with a few different meals compared to feed made of pellets which our chickens didn’t seem to enjoy nearly as much. Hope that helps and good luck!
Jimmy Baerncopf
How long after you wash eggs do they need to be put in the fridge? I washed some not knowing this but it has only been a day or two.
Thanks,
Jimmy
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
Hi Jimmy, the eggs are likely fine still but you have to be the judge of that. If you only did that to a few eggs, it may be better to just discard them. Hope that helps and good luck!
Angela
I wrote the date I collect the egg ON the egg with a pencil. Keeps me from guessing. It’s also helpful for anyone I sell my eggs to. They’ve always highly appreciated it.
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
That’s a great idea Angela, thanks for sharing!
cheryl
GOOD INFORMATION!!! the lemon tree looks awesome too. I have a meyers tree that I have had for at least 3 years on my back porch. She has gotten so big I think I need to plant it in the yard. Any tips you can offer? I live in zone 8 or 9. thank you 🙂
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
Hi Cheryl, glad to hear you have a beautiful lemon tree! I would look for a location that is south facing and somewhat protected from elements, well draining soil will also help maintain the health of your tree. Depending on how freezing the weather gets in your location, it may be best to wait until spring to plant the tree, that way it has most of the year to get acclimated to its new location. Hope that helps and good luck!
Donna Buehler
I want to thank you for your very informative article. I have 5 Rhode Island Reds and I am new to keeping chickens. The ladies lay eggs daily and I have been worried about cleaning and storing correctly. Your article has put my mind at ease. I give alot of eggs away and I don’t want to give anything “bad” to my family/neighbors. I even printed your recap and put in on my fridge as a reminder of how to do things properly. Other than my concerns about correct storage, I am having a blast with my chickens. I love them, they are so entertaining. Never had so much fun hanging around my backyard.
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
That’s great to hear Donna! Chickens are really fun and they each have their own personality, have fun and enjoy your space.
Patrick Vennebush
This was so helpful! I can’t tell you the number of sites that say not to wash fresh eggs… but none of them explain why not! I really appreciate the great explanation about the egg bloom. You’re a knowledgeable homesteader and a good writer… so glad I found this site!