In an Eggshell: Everything You Always Wondered About the Eggs You Eat

The cicadas are coming and I can't wait. It's such a magical event. 

But, I've been thinking about something else just as magical lately, something we take for granted: EGGS 

I've been getting fresh eggs from my very generous friend, and co-worker, who has chickens. We've had lots of interesting conversation about chickens, and eggs, and farm vs. store-bought. 

Not surprisingly, I have more questions, and want more details than one person can answer. 

You know the saying that if I'm thinking it, probably others are too (I'll just assume:)

So here are the answers to all my questions (looked up and cross-referenced on more than one site, all cited within).

Development: 

How long can you wait to get the egg from the nest before an embryo begins to form (in a fertilized egg)?

It's best to get it within a day, two at most. 

(Source: The Hip Chick.com)

What is the red dot you sometimes see in the yolk?

It's a blood vessel that ruptured during the formation of the egg, in a fertilized or unfertilized egg.

What are the tiny white blobs in the yolk?

Source: Community Chickens.com

The tiny white blobs are blastodiscs. Every egg has one, which includes the hen's genetic material. When an egg is fertilized, thousands of cells begin to develop even as it travels down the oviduct, and contains genetic material from the hen and the rooster. 

How long is incubation?

21 days to hatching, under the proper conditions.

If you want to see amazing (yet graphic) pictures of the development, visit: The Chicken Chick.com

How beautiful is this diagram?? It goes from looking like a shrimp (primeval!), to an alien, to a bird.

Egg production and consumption:

How long does it take from the chicken to the store?

Farmers have 30 days from laying to carton. Stores are allowed to sell eggs up to 30 days after being put in the carton. So your eggs could be up to 2 months old by the time you buy them. (Source:https://www.farmersalmanac.com/how-fresh-are-supermarket-eggs-25832)

Business Insider Tip: On each egg carton, there’s a number printed, from 1 to 365. That number represents the day of the year the carton was filled: 1 being January 1st and 365 being December 31st. Using the code, you can at least tell when the eggs were put in the carton.

How long can eggs be stored in the fridge?

About 50 days. (But remember, it takes a good while for them to go from the farm to the store.)

Why do some cultures not refrigerate eggs? 

In France, Italy, and England, I have found the eggs, not in the refrigerated aisle, but on the regular shelves. This is because, in Europe, it's illegal to wash eggs (therefore, the protective cuticle remains) and instead, farms vaccinate chickens against salmonella.

How long do they last "on the shelf"?

You can leave out fresh, unwashed eggs for a few weeks before they need to be refrigerated. 

If the bloom (that cuticle) protects a chick from bacteria for at least 21 days before it hatches, it’s safe to assume the bloom protects the inside of an egg for at least that long. I've written briefly about eggs before, and how unwashed eggs have a natural cuticle around them that protects bacteria from getting in. 

How are eggs pasteurized without getting cooked?

They are rapidly heated in a water bath at a minimum required temperature for a specified time. (Source with not many details: USDA.gov)

How safe are unpasteurized eggs?

Relatively safe, but it's important to handle fresh laid eggs with care and store them properly immediately. 

Nature is amazing!!