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For eggs right out of the chicken, that is correct. However, in the US almost all eggs sold commercially have been washed with a detergent solution to clean the

For eggs right out of the chicken, that is correct. However, in the US almost all eggs sold commercially have been washed with a detergent solution to clean them and make them more uniform and appealing. This washing process removes a natural coating on the outside of the egg that makes them more vulnerable to spoilage if they are not refrigerated. If you buy your eggs from a supplier that doesn't wash the eggs, then you can leave then in the counter for a long time. If you buy then at the supermarket, they have likely been cleaned in a way that makes it dangerous to leave them at room temperature for an extended amount of time. http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/09/11/336330502/why-the-u-s-chills-its-eggs-and-most-of-the-world-doesnt http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/09/11/336330502/why...

ars 10y ago
I read that article too, and it's just wrong [in that part]. They replace the coating with another one that works better than the original (the original needs to allow oxygen into the egg, the replacement does not). The worry about condensation is nothing - otherwise every person why buys eggs and leaves them in their car or kitchen for an hour would have a problem - but they don't. The natural coating is not magic, it's just some oil, it's not a big deal to wash it and replace it with something else. As I said, the only real worry is salmonella. > more vulnerable to spoilage if they are not refrigerated. I have left US store bought eggs unrefrigerated in VERY hot (90-110F) weather for 2 months without having a single spoiled egg. (I had a deal on some cases of eggs.) So no, it does not leave them vulnerable. It's amazing just how ingrained Americans are that eggs have to be refrigerated, every person I tell this to, first refuses to believe me, then they do a google search and find that same inaccurate article you found, then they [sometimes] try it, and then they believe. (I used to be one of them too :)

ars 10y ago

I read that article too, and it's just wrong [in that part]. They replace the coating with another one that works better than the original (the original needs to allow oxygen into the egg, the replacement does not). The worry about condensation is nothing - otherwise every person why buys eggs and leaves them in their car or kitchen for an hour would have a problem - but they don't. The natural coating is not magic, it's just some oil, it's not a big deal to wash it and replace it with something else. As I said, the only real worry is salmonella. > more vulnerable to spoilage if they are not refrigerated. I have left US store bought eggs unrefrigerated in VERY hot (90-110F) weather for 2 months without having a single spoiled egg. (I had a deal on some cases of eggs.) So no, it does not leave them vulnerable. It's amazing just how ingrained Americans are that eggs have to be refrigerated, every person I tell this to, first refuses to believe me, then they do a google search and find that same inaccurate article you found, then they [sometimes] try it, and then they believe. (I used to be one of them too :)