Are You a Good Egg or a Bad Egg?

CLUCK, CLUCK, CLUCK!!!

This photo shows what I was up to this evening. I washed 7 dozen eggs in my utility room. I did this for two reasons: 1.) The weekend is coming up and I need to sell some eggs. I have had several comments from friends and family about receiving eggs with poo on them (really, can't you just deal with it?) and 2.) I wanted pictures of pretty eggs for this post. (Actually, we have concluded that most of the brown stuff that is caked on our eggs is probably more mud than poo since all the monsoons have the steer lot a mud hole. Maybe Dan and I should start growing rice???)

Anyhoo, since I want to sell my eggs and get some Benjies, I figured I shouldn't sell poo/mud covered eggs. It could be bad for business. I couldn't help but cringe as I washed away that protective coating that keeps eggs non-perishable for up to 6 months! By the way, if anyone wants non-washed eggs, just let me know and I can arrange that.

I'm reading this book called Mi$erly Moms: Living on One Income in a Two Income Economy, (just preparing myself for what might happen in 6 months...) So far the book has talked a lot about how to save with your monthly food bill. I was excited when I came across the guidelines on how to tell if an egg is fresh or not. However, I would LOVE to hear from anyone who has actually come across a rotten egg! E-mail me at rebeccashawhan@yahoo.com to share your story.

Personally, I've never dealt with a rotten egg. I don't know why, but I always associate the smell of sulfur with what a rotten egg would smell like. Am I right? Does anyone know?

Here is what Mi$erly Moms has to say:

"To tell if an egg is fresh, place it in a pan of cold water.

• If the egg lies on its side, it is fresh.
• If it tilts, it is 3-4 days old.
• If it stands upright, it is probably 10 days old (use for baking).
• If the egg floats to the top, it is old and should not be used."

(McCoy, 34)

OF COURSE I had to try this with my eggs. (I will warn you, the results were not that impressive.)

This egg I've known I've had for awhile. I was captivated by the speckles so I haven't given it away or eaten it yet.

I figured if any egg would show results, this one would, so I placed it in cold water to see what it would do.

My best guess is that this egg has a tilt...maybe. I am almost 100% sure it's the oldest egg I have.

I placed a few more in the water and all the results were the same. They all laid on their side:

 

Part of me wanted all kinds of results...except for old nasty eggs you shouldn't use. But I guess I can be happy knowing I have fresh eggs. But I wonder if it was an unfair experiment. Did I get fresh results because I had just washed the eggs and they were still considered fresh because of the protective coating? Are my eggs just so darn awesome and good? I'll settle for the latter.

I would like to conduct this experiment with store bought eggs and purposely set some back for a month or two and try it then. However, I can't bring myself to spend money on something I get for free and also I can't stand to eat store bought eggs anymore. So maybe you readers can try it for me?

Hopefully it will be successful weekend of egg-selling. Or maybe it's a good thing I have 7 dozen...no wait...make that 8 dozen (Dan just brought in 14 from the girls today!!!) in my fridge, since the end of the world is tomorrow. If I make it, I'll have some food to eat!

                                                                                                        ...cluck... cluck... cluck...


McCoy, Jonni. Mi$erly Moms: Living on One Income in a Two Income Economy. Elkton: Full Quart Press. 1996.