Unwashed farm eggs keep for about two weeks on the counter and three to five months in the fridge. Washed eggs need refrigeration and last four to five weeks. The natural bloom, or cuticle, is what makes the difference.
The short answer
Store an unwashed farm egg on the counter and it stays good for roughly two weeks. Move it to the fridge and you get three to five months. Once you wash an egg, refrigerate it and use it within four to five weeks.
Why farm eggs last longer than store eggs
A hen lays every egg with a thin protective coating called the bloom. It seals the porous shell against bacteria and moisture loss. Grocery stores wash that coating off, which is why supermarket eggs must be refrigerated by law in the United States.
We wash our eggs only if they are visibly soiled. Most of what we sell has the bloom intact, which is why our customers ask us this question every single week.
How to test if an egg is still good
Fill a bowl with cold water and drop the egg in.
The float test works because eggs lose moisture through the shell over time. As the air cell inside grows, the egg becomes buoyant.
Storage best practices
Keep eggs pointed end down. The air cell sits at the wide end, and keeping it up helps the yolk stay centered. Do not store eggs in the door of your fridge. Temperature swings from opening and closing shorten their life. The main body of the fridge is more stable.
When in doubt, crack into a bowl first
Even with clean handling, one bad egg can ruin a recipe. Crack each egg into a separate bowl before adding to anything else. A fresh egg has a firm, high yolk and a tight white. An old egg looks watery and flat. A spoiled egg smells sulfurous the moment you break it.
Ready to try farm fresh eggs?
Our chicken eggs are laid, gathered, and picked up within days. Order online for pickup at the farm in Conway, PA.
