At the supermarket: It's safe for eggs to be displayed unrefrigerated because they're lightly washed and retain much of their natural coating and protective layer.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand's Response
The statement continues to say that refrigerating whole eggs is not required because: The Salmonella bacteria which can contaminate an egg while it's inside the bird isn't present in Australian eggs.
Supermarkets churn through stock quickly so, in theory, they don't need to refrigerate them and can rely on that natural protective coating for the short time that the eggs are on their shelves. That said, always check dates on shop-bought eggs and choose the freshest ones to ensure minimal time on shelf.
Refrigerated eggs should not be left out more than 2 hours. Any bacteria in or on an egg can multiply quickly at room temperature, and a cold egg left out at room temperature can sweat, increasing the potential movement and growth of bacteria.
Condensation can facilitate growth of bacteria and moulds on the shell and probable entry into the egg. By keeping the eggs at a constant ambient temperature at retail level, this condensation does not occur and the eggs are then refrigerated by the consumer in the home.
If you are purchasing your eggs from a grocery store, you should 100% be refrigerating them. Need a room-temperature egg to bake that perfect batch of chocolate chip cookies? Keep an eye on the time and be sure to use any eggs within two hours of removing them from the fridge.
To prevent problems with bacteria, we refrigerate our eggs after they are processed. But outside the U.S., most countries leave that protective cuticle intact. They also employ other methods to ward against salmonella, like vaccinating hens and packing and selling eggs near where they are laid.
Unrefrigerated eggs are good for only about 21 days.
In various parts of the world, particularly within European countries and Japan, eggs are often left unrefrigerated due to their unwashed state, which preserves the natural protective coating or cuticle. This coating acts as a barrier against bacteria, reducing the risk of salmonella contamination.
That's why American eggs have to be chilled from farm to fridge. Across the pond, washing eggs is illegal. British and European farms vaccinate hens against Salmonella and leave that natural coating intact, which means eggs can safely sit at room temperature.
Avoiding temperature fluctuation is critical to egg safety. "A cold egg left out at room temperature can sweat, facilitating the growth of bacteria that could contaminate the egg," according to Australian Eggs. Refrigerated eggs should not be left out for more than two hours before cooking.
If you have ever visited a farm where chickens are laying eggs, you may notice eggs that are sitting out safely. “Fresh eggs don't need to be refrigerated because they are not being washed—(a method that) removes the protective cuticle," Edwards says.
Salmonella is the principal microorganism of human health concern associated with eggs and egg products. While the frequency of Salmonella-contaminated eggs in Australia is very low, there is a potential risk of illness from consumption of raw or lightly-cooked eggs, or consumption of uncooked foods containing raw egg.
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Proper storage of eggs can affect both quality and safety.
Store eggs in their original carton and use them within 3 weeks for best quality. Use or eat hard-cooked eggs (in the shell or peeled) within 1 week after cooking. Use frozen eggs within 1 year. Eggs should not be frozen in their shells.
A general rule, unwashed eggs will last around two weeks unrefrigerated and about three months or more in your refrigerator. If you're experiencing an egg boom, it's smart to refrigerate any unwashed fresh eggs you aren't planning to eat immediately.
The rationale is that a chicken egg is coated with a thin, protective “cuticle,” or membrane, that prevents Salmonella and other bacteria from penetrating the shell. Some Europeans argue that makes refrigeration unnecessary and that washing the egg washes away the cuticle.
Salmonella can get on the shells of eggs. This can happen when birds lay the eggs and when eggs touch bird droppings (poop) after being laid. Touching eggs from the grocery store is not a major cause of illness because those eggs are washed before they reach stores. Salmonella can get inside eggs too.
The white, stringy strand in an egg is the chalaza, a natural, safe-to-eat protein that acts as a rope to hold the yolk in the center of the egg. It is not an umbilical cord, embryo, or a sign of a spoiled or fertilized egg. You do not need to remove it, but you can if you prefer, as it is harmless.