In most countries, eggs are stored on an unrefrigerated shelf.
Although this can be jarring to North Americans, it isn't that far out. After all, hens do not lay in refrigerators.
So why do we keep eggs cool? It is one way to fight salmonella contamination.
In the U.S., egg producers must wash eggs to remove contaminants. This process also removes a natural coating on the egg, leaving it porous. So the washed eggs must be immediately refrigerated and stay that way. A washed egg, if left at room temperature, may sweat, allowing the growth of bacteria that could enter the egg through the shell, according to eggsafety.org.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.
