Should I throw out the eggs I accidently left out overnight?

[Love Bug]

I forgot about the carton of eggs under the loaves of bread. Left the whole bag on the kitchen counter last night. Do you think the eggs are still ok or should I toss and get a new carton? Yeah, I know it's only $1.09, but that would mean my third trip to the supermarket already this week!

[Warpy]

1. Some supermarkets have been busted leaving them out

at room temperature, even in displays on the floor. There was a scandal about that involving chain stores mostly in California some years ago.

Yes, those eggs can harbor salmonella and that salmonella can grow at room temperature. Proper cooking kills the bacteria, though, so forget the runny yolks and use them in baking or hard boiled. Low bacterial counts generally don't make healthy people sick. High bacterial counts will.

The other thing to do is check to see if an egg will float in water before you use it. If it floats, it means gas has built up inside the shell, and that gas is generally from bacterial growth.

Do NOT use them in homemade mayonnaise or Caesar salad dressing.

[Duer 157099]

2. Thanks for the info!

I knew about the egg floating test, but didn't know that the gas was a sign of bacterial contamination.

Which makes me wonder why the gas does not escape, since the cleaned shell is gas permeable ... ? Eggs in the US are cleaned and the protective coating is removed in the process. Fresh eggs that haven't been cleaned are OK to leave out at room temp, from what I understand.

[Warpy]

3. The shell is permeable

the lining is far less so.

[DemExpat]

6. Oh I re-read this message again carefully and see that US eggs are washed

while here they are not.

That explains it.

:hi:

DemEx

[Love Bug]

4. Thanks for the info. I've made up my mind.

They're only $1.09/dozen and with even the slight possibility of contamination (especially with a 9 and 3 year old in the house) it's just not worth the chance. I'm chucking them this evening.

[DemExpat]

5. I find this strange....here in Europe eggs are never refrigerated....

my and everybody else's eggs sit out on the counter all the time....and in stores and supermarkets all eggs are just stacked on shelves.

:shrug:

I am sure they have not been treated in any way.

DemEx

[bicentennial_baby]

8. It's because in the States,

eggs have to be washed by law, which makes the shell permeable and more susceptible to bacterial contamination. In Europe they don't have to do that, so y'all can leave em out...Lucky people :)

[Warpy]

10. Right, when I used to get my eggs from local farms

they'd be in the box with chicken doo, feathers, and all on the shell. It was great, because I knew I didn't have to rush home and put them into the fridge.

[Gregorian]

7. They come from chickens that way!

They hit the deck at way over room temp. And if a chicken lays it at midnight, it's there at least until the next day.

I always leave my eggs out overnight so they are room temp for the omelete.

[mike_c]

9. I leave eggs out all the time, sometimes for several days...

...and have never had any problems. I frequently take eggs unrefrigerated on camping trips, or at most barely cooled, often for days.