On the eve of the Holy Resurrection of Christ, believers color eggs. For this, various methods are used: special paints, stickers, etc. Often they turn out so beautiful that it’s even a pity to eat them. Therefore, the most beautiful products are left to be admired. But this raises the question of how to store Easter eggs.
Storing Easter eggs
For decoration, preference is given to the freshest products that have a whole shell. It is important to understand that even a minimal crack greatly reduces the shelf life of the Easter egg. Indeed, in such a situation, microflora multiplies very quickly in them.
The eggs must be hard-boiled, that is, the water must boil for at least 15 minutes. Then the product can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. For products purchased in a store, the period increases, since their surface is treated with a special protective agent.
Peculiarities
eggs in the refrigerator compartment in a container, glass or plastic, hermetically sealed .
You can also put them on the shelf in the cardboard container in which the products are sold in stores.
It is better if the storage is closed with a lid. This way the eggs will not absorb foreign odors that hang around in the refrigerator. This will also prevent unpleasant odors from spreading across the shelves if poultry products begin to spoil.
How long to store Easter eggs
Easter eggs prepared for consumption must be stored like regular boiled eggs. This is 12-24 hours at room temperature, and 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator. However, you need to understand that it is better to eat them in the first 4 days.
After all, dyes are usually worn to church, that is, they stay out of the refrigerator for some time. Colored eggs brought by guests should be eaten within 10-12 hours, this is especially true if it is warm outside. Eggs must be transported by first wrapping each one in a napkin and placing it in a basket made of natural material. You should not place them in plastic containers.
Eggs will last longer if, after boiling, they are coated with a thin layer of sunflower oil. Fat will clog the pores in the shell and block air access to the product. This egg can be kept warm for up to 4 days.
Which eggs last longer - raw or boiled?
During heat treatment, the thin white film, which plays a protective role, is destroyed. It ensures long-term preservation of the raw product. It is damaged along with cracks in the shells and becomes an entrance gate for microorganisms.
Many sources indicate that a boiled egg can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 15-20 days. It is not true. Even in the absence of the main signs of spoilage - smell, color, change in the consistency of boiled white or yolk, eating stale food is dangerous to health. Maximum storage period 2 weeks when using vacuum packaging.
A protective translucent film attached to the inside is a sought-after remedy in folk medicine. It has long been used by humans to treat cuts, stop bleeding, help cope with burns, and protect open wounds from germs.
How to store Easter eggs, useful tips
- It is necessary to purchase eggs for subsequent coloring no earlier than 14 days before the holiday. Wash them before cooking;
- due to temperature changes, the shell may crack;
- The shelf life of a soft-boiled egg is much shorter than that of a hard-boiled egg;
- eggs without a refrigerator can be stored in a dark, cool place for no more than five days, but only if they were purchased before;
- if there is even a small crack on the finished egg, then it should be eaten immediately;
- The method of decorating eggs also affects their storage period. Sealing with thermal film allows the product to be stored for only a few days.
Story
Under a thin but strong shell, the most complex processes of the formation of the body are hidden. Since ancient times, people have admired the grace of the appearance of life under the shell: many peoples even in ancient times considered eggs to be symbols of life. But where did the tradition of keeping them in the house for a year come from?
The first legend goes like this: one day Mary Magdalene visited the Roman Emperor Tiberius and presented her with the words “Christ is Risen!” He gets a white chicken egg as a gift. She told people about the miraculous resurrection of Christ in lands far from Palestine, but often encountered misunderstanding and disbelief. It happened this time too: the emperor laughed at her story and in amusement compared the miracle of resurrection with the impossible fact of an instant change in the color of an egg. Before Tiberius had time to calm down, the snow-white shell turned scarlet right in his hands.
The second legend tells us about a Jewish meal: one of them remembered Christ’s promise to resurrect three days after death. The dinner companion answered him that such a miracle is possible only after the chicken that was served on the table comes to life and the eggs turn red. And so it happened.
According to the Lutheran Church, the cross that Jesus carried to the place of his own execution under the fierce screams of the crowd and curses was very heavy. An egg seller, passing by and seeing the suffering of the convict, rushed to his aid, leaving a basket of goods on the side of the road. When the merchant returned, he saw scarlet eggs instead of white ones. He told people about the miracle that had happened and, instead of selling them, he distributed the eggs to friends and relatives, believing in Divine intervention.
Another story is known. The apostle and founder of the Christian church was Peter, who is one of Jesus' disciples on earth. After Christ's ascension into heaven, Peter and his brothers walked around Judea, talking about their faith. In one of the cities, evil people refused to accept their testimony and began throwing stones to kill the first Christians. And then a miracle happened: the flying objects turned into red eggs, without causing harm to Peter and his friends. The offenders converted to Christianity.
Then the tradition of giving eggs for Easter arose. Gradually, another one was introduced - to store illuminated symbols of life in the house for a year. But eggs are a fragile and perishable product, so they were replaced by wooden Easter eggs decorated with symbols and patterns. This gift could be kept for a lifetime. This was done in order to protect the house from harm.
The famous Fabrege Easter eggs continued the art of Christians, delighting people with their beauty to this day.
How to preserve dyes without refrigeration
If it so happens that Easter eggs cannot be stored in the refrigerator, then you can use the following methods to preserve food:
- You can wrap the eggs in paper and put them in a dark place.
- Easter eggs can be stored in a saline solution in a cool place for up to 30 days. It’s easy to prepare; just dilute a tablespoon of salt in water.
- It is allowed to grease the eggs with lard and immerse them in a container with oats.
- You can coat the shell with egg white and wrap it in paper. Should be stored in a dark place.
- Lubricate the shell with liquid paraffin, petroleum jelly or glycerin.
- If you wash the eggs with a solution of potassium permanganate, you can store them indoors for up to 3 weeks.
- Place the dyes in a mixture of coal and oat bran.
- The syrup contains equal amounts of sugar and water.
These methods are relevant for a dark, ventilated room.
Expiration dates
An egg is considered fresh within 4 weeks from the moment it is born. But if it is without packaging, it is impossible to determine the production date. You can understand how high quality a product is if you put it in a deep container of water. The fresh egg will remain at the bottom. And if it floats up, this will mean that an air cushion has already formed inside, and the product is far from fresh.
About storing Easter eggs through the mouths of others
The rector of St. Michael's Church believes that Easter eggs should not be stored. Because symbolizing an egg left in the house, it means a “ruined” life. And it can even provoke discord and illness among the living. It is better to leave dummies for storage.
The opinion of Hieromonk Victorin is absolutely opposite. He is convinced that blessed Easter cakes and eggs can be eaten at any time. And the remaining products can be thrown into the trash.
Thus, opinions differ. Therefore, if you want to store an egg consecrated in a church, you should be guided by the shelf life of the product and not eat it after it expires.
Symptoms of poisoning
Since it so happens that the eggs were consumed after a long period of storage outside the refrigerator, you should monitor your health to determine whether bacteria have entered the body or not.
Wrapping gifts: a simple trick with cling film and napkins
I washed myself with perfume, sacrificing lunch: the unknown life of the artist Mikhail Vrubel
Vasilisa Volodina named dates of birth that threaten excess weight in 2022
Symptoms of poisoning may include the following: vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, flu symptoms, and so on. At the first such manifestations, it is best to immediately consult a doctor.
Can it be frozen?
Frozen storage is not recommended, especially whole. However, you can freeze the yolks. Some housewives believe that after being in low temperature conditions, the yolk only becomes more tender. Protein, on the contrary, after freezing loses its taste and its consistency becomes rubbery. Eggs in their shell should also not be placed in the freezer - frost causes the shell to crack and crumble.
To properly freeze yolks, you need to prepare them correctly:
- Separate from proteins.
- Boil in an enamel bowl.
- After the water boils, turn off the heat and let stand for 15 minutes.
- Remove from the water and dry, you can chop if required.
- Once cooled, pack into special freezer bags.
Features of the frozen product:
- Frozen yolks can be stored for 1 year.
- You need to defrost gradually in the refrigerator. In the heat there is a risk that the workpiece will begin to deteriorate.
- You should not add unthawed yolk to prepared dishes.
Canned product
It would seem that what is so difficult about boiling eggs? But novice cooks and housewives consider this a whole science that can and should be studied. You already remember that it is advisable to store only hard-boiled eggs.
We transfer the fresh product into a pan of not too large a volume so that when boiling they do not hit the wall of the dish and crack. Next, fill the eggs with chilled filtered water so that the liquid barely covers the contents of the dish. Bring to a boil and add salt. One tablespoon will be enough. This way you can protect the shell from cracking.
From the moment the liquid boils, the cooking time begins. It can vary from 1 to 15 minutes. But on average, a hard-boiled egg takes about 13-15 minutes to cook.
After boiling, chicken eggs are always poured with chilled water and left to cool completely. This will make it easier to remove the shell later. If the shell does crack during cooking, then it is recommended to eat such eggs first. Do not forget that such eggs are not stored for too long - no more than 3-5 days.
Another factor that affects the taste and shelf life of boiled eggs is their freshness. It's quite easy to check this. Immerse the raw egg in a bowl of cold water. If the product is really fresh, it will end up at the bottom. Otherwise, you should avoid eating such eggs to avoid serious food intoxication.
GOST requirements
The provisions of the state standard of the Russian Federation and sanitary and epidemiological rules and regulations stipulate the duration of storage of poultry eggs.
The optimal temperature is from 0° C to 20° C. GOST indicates the humidity level is 85-88%. The standard also indicates the duration of preservation of poultry products that can be kept at the specified temperature - a maximum of 90 days.
Rules for storing egg products according to GOST R53155-2008, as amended
Special categories of products described have the following shelf life:
The table below shows the storage time of the product in the refrigeration unit:
| Type of preparation, production of product (eggs) | Storage duration (days), temperature (+° C) | |
| 2-5 | ≤ 5 | |
| Raw, homemade, without deformation | 90 | 30 |
| Hard-boiled, no deformation. | 20 | 5-7 |
| Raw, industrial, no changes | 30 | 14 |
| Hard-boiled, no deformation. | 10-14 | 4 |
| Beaten raw (all) | 1-2 | are not subject to |
| Cracked, hard-boiled (any) | 3-4 | 1-2 |
| Peeled, hard-boiled | 3 | 1 |
Poultry products that have been subjected to heat treatment - boiling and deshelled - are not subject to long-term storage. It should be consumed within the next 12 hours. Failure to comply with the rule will result in poisoning and other negative consequences for the health of the consumer.
