Would you have a generous neighbor who offers, or sells, lots of eggs? You may have built your own chicken coop recently, and find that you have an abundance of eggs on hand, but don’t know what to do with them all. Perhaps an abundance now, but in the winter time, eggs appear not to be as plentiful, as well as more costly. So, why not preserve what you can’t use now?
Overall, eggs don’t spoil terribly quickly. Nevertheless, the fresher the egg, the better it is for flavor, as well as optimal results for your cooking and baking needs.
So, how do you maintain the sudden surplus of eggs you have on hand now? Luckily it’s pretty easy! Use water glass, or sodium silicate, will help you store farm-fresh eggs and keep them fresh for months.
It was once thought you couldn’t save store-bought eggs, particularly those that were bleached, which by the way is most of them found in the stores. While it’s true that you won’t have the results you will have with eggs fresh out of your coop, it still can be done.
Related: Having Egg-laying Chickens
Why Do Eggs Need to Be Preserved for Long-term Storage?
Water enters the egg’s porous shell, which eventually spoils the egg. The inner shell is covered with a transparent fluid with a fresh egg, one that is 24 hours old or younger, which stops air from getting through.
The shell of the egg starts to dry out as it gets older, which results in it becoming more porous and gradually allowing air to pass in. Waterglass creates an airtight shield at the shell’s surface. So air cannot get in, and the egg stays fresh.
The Fresher, the Better
Be sure they are as fresh as possible when storing eggs, and have not been refrigerated.
Here’s a quick guide to how old your eggs may be, and how well they can be preserved:
- 24 hours old, or less, is best
- 2-3 days old – the eggs will most likely have a lumpy outer shell, and will be opaque
- 5-6 days old – the shell will start to develop slight and tiny gray spots, which are easy to see when holding the egg up to a light.
Eggs from the grocery store aren’t the best choice, because they are sometimes at least 3-4 days old before they even enter the supermarket. They were also refrigerated, which can reduce their freshness.
Related: 7 Survival Uses of eggshells
What Is Waterglass?
A sodium silicate solution is water glass, which may also be classified as “water glass” or “water-glass.” It comes in powder, solid, or liquid form, and can be sold online or in some specialty stores.
This has many applications other than protecting eggs, such as a glue for ceramics or as a sealant.
Water glass helps close the pores of the eggshells when preserving eggs. This stops air from entering the eggs and spoiling them sooner.
The Process of Preserving Your Eggs with Waterglass
I feel like I should reiterate that using the freshest available eggs is the safest way to.
Your best choice is eggs which are 24 hours old or less. Any need to wash them.
Currently, it’s recommended you don’t. To remove debris or dirt you can wipe them clean with a rag. But save the washing for when one day you pull them out of use.
- Mix 11 parts water to 1 part waterglass.
Place your eggs, small end down if possible, into an earthenware crock.- Pour the waterglass solution over the eggs.
- Make sure the eggs are covered with at least 2 inches of the solution covering them all.
- Place the lid on.
- Store in a cool and dark place.
- You can wash the eggs once you are ready to use them.
Place your eggs, small end down if possible, into an earthenware crock.Related: How to Make Powdered Eggs
There is no definite period of shelf life. Some will say the eggs will last forever, while others will use this strategy to get them through the winter months. If you have the space, persistence and a desire to find out, make a small crock with a few eggs and let them sit for a few years. If, at that stage, the eggs are still young, “indefinitely” might not be too much fetched.
Be careful not to spill any of the water glass or solution on things you don’t want to ruin. It’s a glue you won’t be able to remove from a surface until it dries out. However, be very cautious when working with water glass, because silicate sodium is an alkaline product. So avoid skin and eye contact by wearing gloves and safety goggles.
So, as you can see, preserving your fresh eggs is an extremely simple operation. All year round you will enjoy the fresh eggs!
