It’s probably something you’ve often wondered, and now you want a definitive answer: where’s the best place to store chicken eggs?
At Simple and Homely, we keep our eggs in the cupboard, Nan (the Crispi owner), stores hers in the fridge, and one friend stores hers in a weird mix of both, with eggs she’s planning to use that day in the fridge and the rest in the cupboard. But who’s correct? We research opinions from different UK chefs and bakers, as well as industry experts, to find out.
Should you store eggs in the fridge or the cupboard?
Mary Berry recommends storing your eggs in the fridge, whereas in an interview on ITV’s This Morning, James Martin revealed he was firmly team cupboard.
The British Egg Industry Council advises you should keep your eggs “at a steady temperature below 20C” and one way to avoid fluctuating kitchen temperatures is to store your eggs in the fridge. Currys, echoes the BEIC advice, adding that “optimal egg storage zone is typically the middle shelf” as this maintains a more consistent temperature than the forever opening and closing door.
Keeping your eggs at a cool, consistent temperature also helps to maintain their shelf life. No matter where you choose to store your eggs, always use before, or up to two days after, their best before date. This is sound advice for all types of eggs, not just chicken.
Steam from the kettle and pans of boiling water, heat from the oven, and hot weather, cause the temperature of your kitchen to rise and drop. Given eggshells are porous, changes in temperature can increase the levels of bacteria that seep in, as well as promoting bacterial growth; salmonella being a particular concern.
However, if your eggs are stored away from the oven and hob in a nice, cool pantry, then the constant temperature will make it a suitable place to keep your eggs.
Now, we know we haven’t really answered the question on where you should keep your eggs, but one thing’s for certain: keep your eggs at a constant temperature below 20C. For most people, that would be the middle shelf in your fridge.
