Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
The remedy? Simply refrigerate the eggs for a couple of weeks and the shell will
come off much more easily after boiling.
Or, if you have only fresh eggs and you've promised to bring your famous deviled
eggs to the family picnic tomorrow, add a teaspoon or so of vinegar to the water when
you boil the eggs. Then, always peel the eggs when they are still warm. A tablespoon
of salt added to the cooking water helps as well.
If you use the freshest eggs for today's cooking and baking and save the older ones
for hard-boiling, your peeling frustrations will disappear.
Always refrigerate the egg after washing.
If they are not washed immediately, then
the refrigeration doesn't have to take place for several days. But once you wash the egg,
it needs to be refrigerated. After that, eggs may be kept for several months in the refri-
gerator without much difficulty.
Selling Your Eggs
Before you decide to sell your eggs, check your state's regulations. Most states require
that you purchase or obtain at no charge an egg handler's or egg seller's license. This
usually means that the first time you decide to sell your eggs you must schedule a visit
from a state agricultural inspector, who will make sure that your egg washing and hand-
ling facilities are up to code.
Requirements for egg sales vary from state to state and as this topic is going to print,
federal guidelines are being established that will probably standardize at least minimal
state requirements. Currently, flocks of fewer than 3,000 birds have different require-
ments from those of large commercial facilities. But for businesses with the smaller
number of birds, cleanliness is key.
Most states mandate the following:
A refrigerated storage area with a visible thermometer and kept at less than 45°F
(7°C)
A clean processing area where eggs are washed and then dipped in a solution of
bleach (between 50 and 200 ppm)
After the bleach dip, rinsing the eggs in clean water that has a negative coliform
test on a yearly basis
A labeling system
A clean storage area for the cartons
Use of new cartons only, to avoid contamination from outside sources
