UK households are being advised not to cook eggs straight from the fridge. The warning comes as experts recommend taking eggs out 30 minutes before cooking to avoid potential problems.
Why the 30-Minute Rule?
Eggs are a staple of British diets, but there's often debate about whether to store them in the fridge or at room temperature. A letter writer to The Guardian recalled a microbiology lecturer who was "quite anti-egg refrigeration." The lecturer warned that if an egg was cracked into a frying pan straight from the fridge and cooked until it looked OK, the yolk would only be slightly warm, and since yolks were sometimes contaminated with salmonella, this could be harmful.
Another person commented on Reddit: "I don't know about whether they degenerate quicker in the fridge, but it does make them more difficult to cook." They added: "A three-minute egg, for example, is cooked for three minutes providing that the egg starts at room temperature. If it has been kept in the fridge, a three-minute egg would turn out to be far too runny."
UK vs USA Egg Storage
The situation in the UK differs from the USA. In the UK, hens are vaccinated against salmonella, and eggs with the British Lion mark come from vaccinated hens. This makes it safer to eat eggs in the UK, including soft-boiled or undercooked ones. It also means it's safe to store them outside the fridge if the kitchen is below 20C, which is why supermarkets sell them at room temperature.
However, experts still recommend storing eggs in the fridge at home, then taking them out 30 minutes before cooking. According to Lion Mark's Egg Info: "Store eggs at a constant temperature below 20C - this maintains freshness and quality. The fridge is the best place to keep them in domestic kitchens."
They add: "Take them out of the fridge half an hour before cooking for the best results, otherwise the sudden change in temperature could crack the shell or lower its binding qualities in baking." People in good health who are not vulnerable to infection are unlikely to experience food poisoning from UK hen eggs and can eat raw or soft-boiled eggs safely.
How to Store Eggs Properly
- Store eggs in a cool, dry place, ideally in the fridge.
- Keep eggs away from other foods, using the fridge's egg tray if available.
- Observe the best before date.
- Take eggs out of the fridge half an hour before cooking for best results.
- Store away from strong-smelling foods, as egg shells are porous.
- Store away from raw meat.
- Wash hands before and after handling eggs.
- Eat dishes containing eggs as soon as possible; if not, cool quickly and refrigerate, eating within two days.
