Question 1

Is it safe to preserve eggs in pickling lime?

Accepted Answer

YES! Pickling lime is a food-safe product! Be sure to follow all the guidelines to preserve farm-fresh eggs for long-term storage without refrigeration.

Question 2

Can I preserve any type of eggs?

Accepted Answer

Preserve only farm-fresh eggs that are clean, unrefrigerated, and have the bloom intact! NEVER try to preserve eggs purchased in the grocery store using this preservation method.

Question 3

What is the bloom of an egg?

Accepted Answer

The bloom is a natural coating that protects the egg from contamination. With the bloom intact, eggs can be stored at room temperature. Never wash or rinse eggs that you intend to preserve in lime water. I'm also cautious not to handle the eggs with wet hands, so as not to disturb the bloom in any way. It is safe to use a dry towel to brush any dirt off of the eggs.

Question 4

Can I use duck or turkey eggs?

Accepted Answer

Technically, YES, you can use any type of fresh eggs, as long as they are clean, fresh, unwashed, and unrefrigerated. However, in my experience, both duck eggs and turkey eggs don't tend to be as clean as chicken eggs.

Question 5

How do I preserve eggs without refrigeration?

Accepted Answer

Unwashed, farm-fresh eggs can be stored on the counter at room temperature for several weeks. To preserve farm-fresh eggs for up to two years, preserve the eggs in a lime solution using pickling lime and water.

Question 6

Does pickling lime, pickle the eggs?

Accepted Answer

No, pickling lime does not pickle eggs. Pickling lime commonly known as calcium hydroxide is a food-safe product used to preserve eggs in a lime-water solution.

Question 7

How long can eggs be preserved in lime solution using pickling lime?

Accepted Answer

Technically eggs preserved in the lime solution can be preserved for up to 2 years. However, after 9 months, I found the eggs no longer met my expectations for use as fresh eggs.

Question 8

Why is my egg floating in my lime water solution?

Accepted Answer

Eggs that are going bad will have gases build up inside of the shell causing the egg to float. In my experience, eggs that are preserved as fresh as possible do not float in lime water solution even after a year. I have found for best results, it's best to submerge the eggs in lime solution the day the eggs are laid. I only had problems with eggs floating when I preserved them a week or more after the eggs were laid. My motto: when in doubt, throw them out!

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preserving eggs

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