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Handling eggs |
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Also see this page for information about raising chickens
Management of egg producing hens from http://msucares.com/poultry/management/poultry_care.html
from Va Tech.
Small Flock Factsheet, Number 9, Posted October 1997
Phillip J. Clauer, Poultry Extension Specialist
Animal & Poultry Sciences Department
To insure egg quality in small flocks, egg producers must learn to properly handle the eggs they produce. This article will discuss how you can insure that your eggs will be of the highest quality and safe for consumption.
A. Layer house management: The condition of the egg that you collect is directly related to how well the flock is managed. Feeding a well balanced ration, supplementing calcium with oyster shell, water, flock age and health all can affect egg quality. However, since these factors are covered in other publications, this fact sheet will place emphasis on egg quality and handling after it is laid.
Keep the laying flock in a fenced area so
they cannot hide their eggs or nest anywhere they choose. If hens are
allowed to nest wherever they choose, you will not know how old eggs are or
with what they have been in contact, if you can find them at all.
Most flocks will lay a majority of their eggs by 10:00 am. It is best to collect the eggs as soon as possible after they are laid. The longer the egg is allowed to stay in the nest, the more likely the egg will get dirty, broken or will lose interior quality.
Collecting eggs at least twice daily is advisable, especially during
extreme weather temperatures.
B. Proper Egg Cleaning and Handling
If eggs are stored properly in their own carton or other stable environment they should hold a quality of Grade A for at least four weeks.
C. Sorting and Grading Eggs
It is best that you sort the eggs before you store, sell, or consume them. The easiest way to sort eggs is to candle them with a bright light. This process can help you eliminate cracked eggs or eggs with foreign matter inside like blood spots.
Hold the egg up to the candling light in a slanting position (see figure 1). You can see the air cell, the yolk, and the white. The air cell is almost always in the large end of the egg. Therefore, put the large end next to the candling light.
Hold the egg between your thumb and first two fingers. Then by turning your wrist quickly, you can cause the inside of the egg to whirl. This will tell you a great deal about the yolk and white. When you are learning to candle, you will find it helpful to break and observe any eggs you are in doubt about.
FIGURE 1.
Cracked eggs will appear to have a white line somewhere on the shell. These cracks will open if you apply slight pressure to the shell. Remove cracked eggs and consume them as soon as possible or discard.
Use the specifications given in the table below to determine the grade of an egg by candling. Consider air cell depth, yolk outline, and albumen quality.
Quality Factor | AA Quality | A Quality | B Quality | Inedible |
Air Cell | 1/8 inch or less in depth | 3/16 inch or less in depth | More than 3/16 inch | Doesn't apply |
White | Clear, Firm | Clean, May be reasonably firm | Clean, May be weak and watery | Doesn't apply |
Yolk | Outline slight defined | Outline may be fairly well-defined | Outline clearly visible | Doesn't apply |
Spots (blood or meat) | None | None | Blood or meat spots aggregating not more than 1/8" in diameter | Blood or meat spots aggregating more than 1/8" in diameter |
Air Cell Depth
The depth of the air cell is the distance from its top to its bottom when the egg is held with the air cell up (see figure 2 ). In a fresh egg, the air cell is small, not more than 1/8 inch deep. As the egg ages, evaporation takes place and the air cell becomes larger and the egg is downgraded.
FIGURE 2. Measuring Air Cell Depth
Yolk
The yolk of a fresh, high quality egg will be surrounded by a rather dense layer of albumen or white. Therefore, it moves only slightly away from the center of the egg when it is twirled before the candler. Because of this, yolk outline is only slightly defined in the highest quality eggs. As the albumen thins, the yolk tends to move more freely and closer to the shell. A more visible yolk when candled indicates a lower quality egg.
White or Albumen
The character and condition of the white or albumen is indicated largely by the behavior of the yolk of the egg when the egg is candled. If the yolk retains its position in the center when the egg is twirled, the white is usually firm and thick.
Eggs with blood or meat spots more than 1/8-inch in diameter are classified as inedible. Eggs with small spots collectively less than 1/-8 inch in diameter should be classified as Grade B. The chalaza is distinguished from a meat spot by a bright area of refracted light that accompanies its darker shadow. Blood spot eggs can be consumed without harm, however, most people find the appearance undesirable.
E. Sale of Eggs
There are no laws which prevent the sale of eggs from a home laying flock. However, you should take some basic steps to ensure that the eggs you sale have uniform quality.
Small - 18 oz.
Medium - 21 oz.
Large - 24 oz.
X-Large - 27 oz.
Jumbo - 30 oz.
Egg scales can be purchased at many farm supply stores.
Remember, prices will also be driven by supply and demand. If you do not have a lot of competition and have a good demand you usually can get a higher price for the eggs you sell. It is critical that you pay attention to quality and keep a constant year round supply for your customers. Be prepared to replace any eggs that are not satisfactory to a customer. Learn about and correct the dissatisfaction.
F. What Is the Proper Way to Cook and Handle Eggs Foods
Consumers should always keep eggs refrigerated until the eggs are used. Also, do not store eggs with other foods containing odors like onions, fish or applies. Eggs should not be eaten raw. Pasteurized eggs should be used in recipes that call for raw eggs which are not going to be cooked (i.e. eggnog, ice cream, etc.) Eggs should not be combined and left to stand at room temperature before cooking for more than 20 minutes. Eggs should be individually cracked and immediately cooked. The USDA recommends that hot food be kept above 140 degrees F and cold foods be kept below 40 degrees F.
The egg, as laid at 105 °F, normally has no air cell. As the egg cools, an
air cell forms usually in the large end of the egg and develops between the two
shell membranes. The air cell is formed as a result of the different rates of
contraction between the shell and its contents.
Over time, the white and yolk of an egg lose quality. The yolk absorbs water
from the white. Moisture and carbon dioxide in the white evaporate through the
pores, allowing more air to penetrate the shell, and the air cell becomes
larger. If broken open, the egg's contents would cover a wider area. The white
would be thinner, losing some of its thickening and leavening powers. The yolk
would be flatter, larger and more easily broken. The chalazae (kah-LAY-zuh), the
twisted cord-like strands of egg white that anchor the yolk in the center of the
white, would be less prominent and weaker, allowing the yolk to move off center.
Refrigeration slows the loss of quality over time.
Egg Storage Chart |
||
---|---|---|
Product | Refrigerator | Freezer |
Raw eggs in shell | 3 to 5 weeks | Do not freeze. |
Raw egg whites | 2 to 4 days | 12 months |
Raw egg yolks | 2 to 4 days | Yolks do not freeze well. |
Raw egg accidentally frozen in shell | Use immediately after thawing. | Keep frozen; then refrigerate to thaw. |
Hard-cooked eggs | 1 week | Do not freeze. |
Egg substitutes, liquid Unopened |
10 days | Do not freeze. |
Egg substitutes, liquid Opened |
3 days | Do not freeze. |
Egg substitutes, frozen Unopened |
After thawing, 7 days, or refer to "Use-By" date on carton. | 12 months |
Egg substitutes, frozen Opened |
After thawing, 3 days, or refer to "Use-By" date on carton. | Do not freeze. |
Casseroles made with eggs | 3 to 4 days | After baking, 2 to 3 months. |
Eggnog, commercial | 3 to 5 days | 6 months |
Eggnog, homemade | 2 to 4 days | Do not freeze. |
Pies, pumpkin or pecan | 3 to 4 days | After baking, 1 to 2 months. |
Pies, custard and chiffon | 3 to 4 days | Do not freeze. |
Quiche with any kind of filling | 3 to 4 days | After baking, 1 to 2 months. |
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Other great web sites: 1. Fitness and exercise information 3. Environment, health and safety Information 4. Where to find a pick-your-own farm 5. Find Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Hayrides and More 6. Find choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms, precut trees, etc. 8. Free resources to start your own website business. Chastain Park: Looking for Chastain Park Concert tickets or directions? Click here
All images and text ©
Copyright J Slemmer 2000 - 2019
email me
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Other great web sites: 1. Fitness and exercise information 3. Environment, health and safety Information 4. Where to find a pick-your-own farm 5. Find Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Hayrides and More 6. Find choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms, precut trees, etc. 8. Free resources to start your own website business. Chastain Park: Looking for Chastain Park Concert tickets or directions? Click here
All images and text ©
Copyright J Slemmer 2000 - 2019
email me
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Other great web sites: 1. Fitness and exercise information 3. Environment, health and safety Information 4. Where to find a pick-your-own farm 5. Find Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Hayrides and More 6. Find choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms, precut trees, etc. 8. Free resources to start your own website business. Chastain Park: Looking for Chastain Park Concert tickets or directions? Click here
All images and text ©
Copyright J Slemmer 2000 - 2019
email me
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Other great web sites: 1. Fitness and exercise information 3. Environment, health and safety Information 4. Where to find a pick-your-own farm 5. Find Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Hayrides and More 6. Find choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms, precut trees, etc. 8. Free resources to start your own website business. Chastain Park: Looking for Chastain Park Concert tickets or directions? Click here
All images and text ©
Copyright J Slemmer 2000 - 2019
email me
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Other great web sites: 1. Fitness and exercise information 3. Environment, health and safety Information 4. Where to find a pick-your-own farm 5. Find Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Hayrides and More 6. Find choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms, precut trees, etc. 8. Free resources to start your own website business. Chastain Park: Looking for Chastain Park Concert tickets or directions? Click here
All images and text ©
Copyright J Slemmer 2000 - 2019 Other great web sites: 1. Fitness and exercise information 3. Environment, health and safety Information 4. Where to find a pick-your-own farm 5. Find Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Hayrides and More 6. Find choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms, precut trees, etc. 8. Free resources to start your own website business. Chastain Park: Looking for Chastain Park Concert tickets or directions? Click here |