It is often debated if eggs should be stored the British or American way (Image: Getty)
Eggs have a long shelf life, but there is an ongoing debate between Britons and Americans about where to store them so that they stay fresh.
In Britain, it is more common to keep on the kitchen counter as they still have their bloom intact, and their natural barrier protects eggs from bacteria so they can be stored at room temperature.
Meanwhile, in the US, eggs are washed before they are sold. This process removes the bloom, so it is necessary to refrigerate them if you wish to keep them fresh.
However, one of Britain’s most famous cooks Nigella Lawson has shared that it is actually better to store eggs in the fridge as it will give them a longer shelf life due to temperature fluctuations in the home.
On her , Nigella wrote: “Eggs in their shells don’t necessarily need to be refrigerated, but they do need to be stored in cool, dry conditions.
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Eggs are fine to store on the countertop but will stay fresh for longer in the fridge (Image: Getty)
“As most houses now have central heating and very few have a cool larder, it tends to be most practical to store eggs in the fridge.”
It is absolutely fine if you are in the UK to keep eggs stored on the countertop, but they will stay fresh for much longer in the fridge.
Kitchens tend to be warm places in the home as there is usually lots of steam from cooking. Not to mention radiators being on all the time in winter will make homes much hotter.
This toasty environment will cause bacteria growth and make it much more likely for eggs to spoil, which is why storing them in the fridge is more efficient.
Nigella added: “If you do have a suitably cool room to store them in then they should be fine left out of the fridge. However, we would like to point out that the UK Food Standards Agency recommends that eggs should be stored in a ‘cool, dry place, ideally the fridge’, and the US FDA recommends that eggs for sale are stored in refrigerated units at below 45F and all eggs are ‘refrigerated promptly’ after purchase.”
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Do not store eggs inside the fridge door as the constant temperature change will encourage bacteria (Image: Getty)
Keeping eggs at a constant cool temperature is the key to keeping them fresh, and major temperature changes will encourage bacteria such as salmonella to begin growing.
If you store eggs on your countertop, keep them away from your stove, oven, or any other hot appliances, such as air fryers or microwaves.
However, if you decide to refrigerate eggs, do not store them in the fridge door, as it is opened frequently, and the warm air will change the temperature and cause bacteria growth.
To keep eggs fresh and safe to eat, store them in their original carton packaging on the middle or lower shelf of the fridge, where the temperature is more stable.
Eggs are best stored on the lower or middle shelf of the fridge (Image: Getty)
The carton has been designed to protect eggs from being broken and maintain their moisture levels so they stay fresher for longer.
If you keep your eggs in the fridge, make sure to leave them out at room temperature before cooking with them. This will make it easier to cook or bake with them.
Nigella said: “When using eggs for baking it is preferable to let the eggs come up to room temperature so you need to remove them from the fridge about an hour before using.
“Or you can take the refrigerator chill off them by submerging the eggs (in their shells) in a bowl of warm water for 15-20 minutes before using.”