Eat or toss

[Elizabeth86]

I left 2 dozen eggs in our vehicle last night. It was in the 50s or 60s when we got home and dropped into the 40s overnight. Would you eat or toss?

[math teacher]

I would eat them. 

[barnwife]

Would  I eat them? Yes, most likely. I'd do the float test first though. DH would eat them. But I know my sister would not.

[Serenade]

I would eat them.  I still remember when grocery stores did not refrigerate eggs at all.  

[Tap]

Eat them. When freight is put away in stores, pallets of things like eggs are often left out all night as people are putting things away. Eggs from the US grocery stores are washed and don't last as long as unwashed eggs, but overnight in cool weather will be completely fine. 

[Annie G]

I would eat without hesitation.

[J-rap]

35 minutes ago, Serenade said:

I would eat them.  I still remember when grocery stores did not refrigerate eggs at all.  

I would probably eat them.  We've been to other countries where eggs are still never refrigerated, but there's a reason for that.  Eggs in the U.S. are treated for salmonella by washing/spraying them with a disinfectant.  That kills any salmonella on the shell, but also removes a thin layer on the shell that protects the egg from germs.  Then, it becomes even easier for germs to enter the egg unless it's refrigerated.  Most other countries don't use that wash/spray.

[Serenade]

10 minutes ago, J-rap said:

I would probably eat them.  We've been to other countries where eggs are still never refrigerated, but there's a reason for that.  Eggs in the U.S. are treated for salmonella by washing/spraying them with a disinfectant.  That kills any salmonella on the shell, but also removes a thin layer on the shell that protects the egg from germs.  Then, it becomes even easier for germs to enter the egg unless it's refrigerated.  Most other countries don't use that wash/spray.

This is so interesting!  I've been wondering why non-refrigerated eggs used to be considered safe. 

[cjzimmer1]

I would eat them.  

[Drama Llama]

.  . . 

Edited October 26, 2021 by BaseballandHockey

[MEmama]

Yes, with no hesitation at all. 

[Laura Corin]

1 hour ago, J-rap said:

I would probably eat them.  We've been to other countries where eggs are still never refrigerated, but there's a reason for that.  Eggs in the U.S. are treated for salmonella by washing/spraying them with a disinfectant.  That kills any salmonella on the shell, but also removes a thin layer on the shell that protects the egg from germs.  Then, it becomes even easier for germs to enter the egg unless it's refrigerated.  Most other countries don't use that wash/spray.

In the UK, most hens are vaccinated against salmonella but the eggs are not washed.

[Junie]

2 hours ago, barnwife said:

Would  I eat them? Yes, most likely. I'd do the float test first though. DH would eat them. But I know my sister would not.

I might be your sister. 😉

I would probably toss them.  I *might* float them first and I *might* decide to eat them, but probably not.

Right now, I can buy 5 dozen eggs for less than $3.  It wouldn't be worth the risk to me.

[Annie G]

3 minutes ago, Junie said:

I might be your sister. 😉

I would probably toss them.  I *might* float them first and I *might* decide to eat them, but probably not.

Right now, I can buy 5 dozen eggs for less than $3.  It wouldn't be worth the risk to me.

Wow- your egg prices are great! Ours are about $3.20 for an 18 count carton. Not organic or anything, just plain old eggs. 

[Jean in Newcastle]

Eat. 

[Catwoman]

1 hour ago, Junie said:

I might be your sister. 😉

I would probably toss them.  I *might* float them first and I *might* decide to eat them, but probably not.

Right now, I can buy 5 dozen eggs for less than $3.  It wouldn't be worth the risk to me.

I'm seconding your vote to toss them. Eggs aren't super cheap here, but it still wouldn't be worth the risk to me, either. 

[Bootsie]

I consider myself fairly conservative when it comes to food storage temperatures and safe-handling.  But, I would probablhy eat them cooked after that if temperatures dropped that low.  I would examine each egg and throw out any that I suspected had a small crack.  

[mellifera33]

I consider myself pretty paranoid about food safety, but I would eat them, well-cooked. 

[Terabith]

I am a "if in doubt, toss it out," ultra paranoid about food safety person, and I would not hesitate to eat those eggs.

[J-rap]

12 hours ago, Laura Corin said:

In the UK, most hens are vaccinated against salmonella but the eggs are not washed.

Interesting!  I wonder if US hens are vaccinated...  I've never heard of that!

[Tanaqui]

US hens typically aren't vaccinated, no. It's widespread throughout the UK and the EU, though - I think it may be mandatory in some parts of Europe...?

And listen, even in the dystopian hellscape of washed eggs from unvaxxed chickens, raw and uncracked eggs that have stayed out in below-70F weather overnight should be perfectly, 100% safe. Unless you have some serious immune problems, I'd eat them, no hesitation. Usually I say that whatever *I* would do, *you* should toss them because you're worried - but this is not something to be worried about.