Eggs are a popular item to buy in a weekly grocery shop, perfect for delicious, quick lunches or the perfect poached egg breakfast, but customers are being urged to store them correctly to ensure they stay fresh for longer. Storing eggs the correct way not only prolongs their shelf life, but it can prevent bacteria from growing and stop you from getting foodpoisoning.
Eating eggs that are past their expiration date can increase your risk of foodborne illness, such as salmonella and E. coli. With this in mind, supermarket giant Morrisons has offered shoppers information on how to store eggs the correct way. In an effort to stop food waste and promote helpful storage solutions, Morrisons' food waste expert Fiona Sullivan has shared some useful tips, including the correct way to store eggs.
According to the expert, eggs last the longest when they are kept at a constant temperature.
"It's best to refrigerate after purchase and and take out the refrigerator only when needed," says the expert.
Fiona added: "You can check whether an egg is past its best by placing it in a bowl of water. If it stays on the bottom it's still fresh."
In the UK, eggs are marked with a best-before date that's legally required to be 28 days after the egg was laid. However, eggs can often be safely eaten two to three weeks after the best-before date if refrigerated.
And if you are looking for something to do with the leftover eggshell, they come in handy keeping pests away in the garden.
The expert added that you can still eat eggs past their best-before date as long as they're cooked, such as in baking.
"If you need to store for longer crack and whisk them before placing in an airtight container in the freezer," Fiona added.
According to British Lion, you should also refrain from keeping eggs in anything put the cardboard carton they come in. While it's tempting to keep them in a pretty hutch or holder, the original box protects the egg and shows the before date which you can refer back to anytime you're unsure.
The expertes stated: "Perhaps the best reason to keep eggs in their carton is so they stay as fresh as can be. Why? Eggshells have tiny pores which bacteria from other foods and smells such as food odour and flavouring can seep through over time. Our tip - keep the carton."
How to safely eat eggs past best-before date| Safety | Can be eaten if cooked thoroughly, but quality may have decreased |
| Quality | May have decreased in color, flavor, or texture |
| Cooking | Should be cooked thoroughly until both yolk and white are solid |
| Disposal | Throw away any eggs that smell rotten or bad upon cracking the shell |
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) says that salmonella contamination levels in UK-produced eggs are low, and salmonella is killed by thorough cooking. However, food may contain bacteria, and if stored for too long or at the wrong temperature can cause food poisoning.
Where should you store food in the fridge?Top shelf: Store ready-to-eat foods such as leftovers, cooked meals, and packaged dairy products. This reduces the risk of contamination from raw foods below.
Middle shelf: Suitable for dairy products like milk, cheese, yogurt, and eggs, as these require consistent cold temperatures.
Bottom shelf: This is the coldest area, ideal for raw meat, poultry, and fish. Always store these items in sealed, leak-proof containers to prevent raw juices from contaminating other foods.
Crisper drawers: Designed for fruits and vegetables. Keep fruits and vegetables in separate drawers to prevent ethylene gas emitted by fruits from speeding up vegetable spoilage.
Fridge door: The warmest area, suitable for condiments, sauces, and beverages.
