If you’re anything like us, there’s nothing more satisfying than unpacking a carton of eggs into that nifty little egg tray that’s usually found on the inside door of your fridge.
It’s a convenient enough location for when you quickly need to grab some eggs for a dinner dish or for when you’re baking but unfortunately, this might not be doing us any favours when it comes to keeping our eggs fresh.
We know what you’re thinking – why would fridge manufacturers build something that we shouldn’t be using? The answer is pretty simple.
While eggs don’t necessarily need to be kept in the fridge for freshness, they do need to be kept at a constant temperature.
If you’re regularly nagging at your partner or grandkids to stop opening the fridge door (seriously, what are they looking for in there?) then you’ll understand where we’re going with this article.
The inside of the door probably provides the most inconsistent temperature of the entire fridge, given that it is always being open and shut.
Eggsafety.org states that the fluctuating temperatures can actually lead to bacterial growth.
In addition to making you ill, it can also increase the chances of the eggs going off well before their use-by date.
Given that eggs can survive up to five weeks after first being placed in the fridge, depending on their expiry, placing them elsewhere could actually save you in the long-run.
For the best results, it’s best to store your eggs on the middle shelf of your fridge, preferably near the back. This will ensure that they’re kept at the ideal, constant temperature.
It’s also a good idea to store them in their original cartons to prevent them from getting damaged. Eggs that are cracked or broken should never be eaten.
If this has left you wondering which items you can actually place inside your fridge door, we’ve got you covered.
Items such as tomato sauce, salad dressings and even salsas are typically high in salt and vinegar, meaning that they’ve already got their own preservatives. In simple terms, this means that the change in temperature isn’t going to affect them too much.
Long-life juices and milks, soft drinks and water will also be fine.