If you’ve got your own backyard flock or you’ve grabbed some beautiful farm fresh eggs from the local market, you’re probably wondering how long those golden-yolked beauties will last. As a chicken keeper myself, I’ve learned through trial and error (and yes, a few stinky mistakes) just how to maximize the freshness of my farm eggs
Let’s crack into everything you need to know about keeping your farm fresh eggs good for as long as possible!
The Shelf Life of Farm Fresh Eggs: Quick Reference
Here’s a handy table showing how long your farm fresh eggs will last in different storage conditions
| Storage Method | Unwashed Eggs | Washed Eggs |
|---|---|---|
| Room Temperature | 2-4 weeks | 2-48 hours (refrigerate ASAP!) |
| Refrigerated | 3-6 months | Up to 2 months |
| Frozen (cracked & mixed) | Up to 1 year | Up to 1 year |
| Hard-boiled | Up to 1 week refrigerated | Up to 1 week refrigerated |
The Magic of the Bloom: Nature’s Egg Preservative
Ever collected a freshly laid egg and noticed it has a slight matte coating? That’s called the bloom (or cuticle), and it’s your egg’s natural preservative!
The bloom is like a protective shield that seals the eggshell’s pores, preventing bacteria from entering and keeping moisture in. It’s literally Mother Nature’s food preservation system!
This is why unwashed eggs last waaaaay longer than washed ones. Once you wash an egg, you remove this protective coating, and the countdown timer speeds up dramatically.
Unwashed vs. Washed Farm Fresh Eggs
Unwashed Farm Fresh Eggs
If you’re collecting eggs from your own chickens, the best practice is to keep them unwashed until you’re ready to use them. Assuming your coop is reasonably clean and your nesting boxes get fresh bedding regularly, your eggs should be pretty clean anyway.
Unwashed eggs with their bloom intact can last:
- 2-4 weeks at room temperature (kept in a cool, dry place)
- 3-6 months in the refrigerator (at 40°F/4.4°C)
I’ve personally kept unwashed eggs in my fridge for 4 months and they were still perfectly good! The whites weren’t as firm as when fresh, but they were still safe and tasty.
Washed Farm Fresh Eggs
If your eggs are muddy, poopy, or just plain gross (it happens to the best of us!), you’ll need to wash them. But once washed, they MUST be refrigerated immediately, as they no longer have their protective bloom.
Washed eggs last:
- Only 2-48 hours at room temperature (not recommended!)
- Up to 2 months in the refrigerator
How to Properly Store Your Farm Fresh Eggs
Counter/Pantry Storage (Unwashed Eggs Only)
If you’re keeping unwashed eggs at room temperature:
- Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight
- Use an egg basket or carton that allows some airflow
- Keep away from strong-smelling foods (eggs can absorb odors!)
- Rotate your stock – use older eggs first
Refrigerator Storage
For both washed and unwashed eggs:
- Store in the main part of your fridge, not in the door (temperature fluctuates too much)
- Keep in a carton to prevent breakage and odor absorption
- Store with the pointy end facing down to keep the yolk centered
- Label with the collection date so you know how old they are
Pro tip: I use a pencil to write the date right on the eggshell if I’m storing them in a basket rather than a carton!
The Float Test: How to Check if Your Eggs Are Still Good
Not sure if those eggs at the back of your fridge are still edible? The float test is your friend!
- Fill a bowl with cool water
- Gently place your egg in the water
- Observe what happens:
- Egg sinks and lies flat on its side = Very fresh (1-2 weeks old)
- Egg sinks but stands upright = Still good but older (2-3 months old)
- Egg floats = Past its prime, best to discard
Why does this work? As eggs age, their air pocket gets larger as moisture evaporates through the shell. The larger the air pocket, the more buoyancy the egg has!
I’ve used this test countless times, and it hasn’t failed me yet. Though I once ate an egg that was standing upright and regretted it – not because it was unsafe, but because the flavor was definitely not as nice as a fresher egg.
Freezing Farm Fresh Eggs for Long-Term Storage
Got a massive egg surplus? Freezing is a fantastic option that’ll give you up to a year of storage time!
Here’s my simple method:
- Crack eggs into a large bowl
- Gently whisk to combine whites and yolks (don’t whip in air)
- Pour into ice cube trays, freezer containers, or mason jars
- Label with the date
- Freeze for up to 1 year
Each ice cube is about 1 tablespoon, which is roughly 1/4 of a large egg. Super convenient for baking!
You can also freeze yolks and whites separately if you prefer.
Myths vs. Facts About Farm Fresh Egg Storage
Let’s clear up some common misconceptions:
Myth: “Farm fresh eggs last indefinitely if not washed.”
Fact: While they last longer than store-bought, even unwashed farm eggs will eventually go bad.
Myth: “The float test tells you if eggs are safe to eat.”
Fact: The float test primarily indicates age, not safety. Always check for off smells or unusual appearance too.
Myth: “Refrigerating eggs ruins their flavor.”
Fact: While room-temperature eggs might be better for baking, refrigeration doesn’t significantly impact flavor but dramatically extends shelf life.
Why Farm Fresh Eggs Last Longer Than Store-Bought
Ever noticed that farm fresh eggs seem to outlast their supermarket counterparts? Here’s why:
-
Age at purchase: Store eggs can be up to 30 days old when they reach the shelf, and stores can sell them for another 30 days. Your farm fresh eggs start their “shelf life clock” the moment you collect them!
-
The bloom factor: In the US, commercial eggs are washed before sale, removing the protective bloom. Many backyard chicken keepers and small farms don’t wash eggs until use.
-
Feed quality: Well-fed, healthy chickens produce eggs with stronger shells, which helps them last longer.
Special Considerations for Different Seasons
Your eggs’ storage life can actually vary depending on the season:
Summer Eggs
- Heat can cause eggs to age faster
- Collect eggs more frequently (2-3 times daily)
- Refrigerate promptly, even if unwashed
- Expect a slightly shorter shelf life
Winter Eggs
- Naturally stay fresher longer in cooler temperatures
- May have stronger shells if your chickens get supplemental calcium
- Can sometimes be stored longer at room temperature (in cool houses)
My Personal Experience
Last summer, my 6 hens were laying like crazy, giving me about 40 eggs a week! There was no way my family could eat them all, so I experimented with different storage methods.
The eggs I kept unwashed in the fridge were still great for scrambling and baking after 4 months. The ones I kept on the counter (also unwashed) lasted about 3 weeks before the whites got runny.
I also froze a bunch and used them throughout winter when my girls took a break from laying. They worked perfectly in baking, though I wouldn’t recommend them for sunny-side-up eggs.
Final Thoughts: Getting the Most From Your Farm Fresh Eggs
Farm fresh eggs are one of the greatest joys of keeping chickens or knowing someone who does. With proper handling and storage, you can enjoy your egg bounty for months!
My top tips:
- Keep nesting boxes clean to minimize dirty eggs
- Collect eggs promptly (at least once daily)
- Store unwashed when possible
- Date everything
- Use the oldest eggs first
- When in doubt, do the float test!
Remember, proper egg storage isn’t just about making them last longer—it’s about preserving that amazing farm fresh flavor and nutritional quality that made you seek out farm eggs in the first place!
Do you have any egg storage hacks that have worked well for you? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below!
This post was updated on September 11, 2025, to include the latest information on egg storage methods.
Differences in farm fresh eggs and store-bought commercial eggs
Eggs from the store are often marked with a Julian date. The three digits start with January 1 being 001 and December 31 being 365. This is the date the carton of eggs were washed, graded, and packaged. Notice it’s not necessarily the date the eggs were collected or laid. According to the USDA, an egg handler has 30 days to collect and pack eggs from the facility where the eggs are laid.
See the farm, trust the producer! Often labels like “free range” or “cage-free” can be misleading. The producer may be meeting the minimum requirements for the labeling, but that doesn’t mean that the hens have the freedom to roam and forage like you might be imagining. If you are buying farm fresh eggs, hopefully, you can visit the farm or learn about their practices and feel good about how the hens are cared for! Don’t be shy about asking your local farmer what their practices are. Most take pride in the quality of their products!
Another difference is their nutrition quality. A good rule of thumb in general is that food loses nutritional qualities as they age. That goes for vegetables and also eggs! A freshly laid egg has a higher nutrition quality than an egg that is months old. Eggs straight from a farmer, or from your backyard chicken coop, is fresher than typical grocery store eggs and therefore have the highest nutritional qualities.
Farm fresh eggs also cook differently than those you buy at the grocery store. Have you ever noticed that your store-bought eggs are hard to cook over easy? This is because the egg yolks have already started to deteriorate and are not firm. Farm fresh eggs give you a better chance for the perfectly done over easy runny yolks! On the other hand, older eggs are easier to hard boil because the shell will come off easier when peeled. If you hard boil super fresh eggs you will have a hard time getting the peel off. This is because fresher eggs have a lower pH in their egg whites which makes them bond to the eggshell more. As the egg ages, the pH gets higher and is less likely to stick to the shell when boiled.
Storing eggs at room temperature
So, why do clean eggs and the bloom matter so much anyway? This actually can determine how you can store your eggs! Did you know that you can leave unwashed eggs (with the bloom) at room temperature? This is typically how you will find eggs in many European countries! Unwashed fresh eggs and eggs from backyard chickens can be stored right on your counter! This is a great method to store eggs without taking up too much space in your fridge.
How long do farm fresh EGGS last WITHOUT refrigeration?
FAQ
How long do farm eggs last?
Having an abundance of fresh farm eggs is a blessing, and you will certainly want to handle and store them correctly so that they keep for as long as possible. A carton of fresh eggs can last on the countertop or inside the pantry for two to four weeks.
How long do chicken eggs last?
If you do not wash your fresh chicken eggs, they will last between two weeks and six months, depending on how you store them. Frozen eggs keep even longer, but you can get a decent shelf life from unwashed, refrigerated eggs. Whether you have a small backyard coop or a large flock, you’ll likely eventually possess more eggs than you can eat.
How long should farm fresh eggs be refrigerated?
After three weeks your farm fresh eggs should be refrigerated and can be kept in this environment for around 3 months. Now you should know exactly how to store and clean your fresh backyard eggs.
How long do unwashed farm fresh eggs last?
Generally, unwashed farm fresh eggs can be safely stored for several weeks to a few months without refrigeration. It’s essential to note that these are general guidelines, and the actual shelf life of your unwashed farm fresh eggs may vary. If you’re unsure whether an egg is still good, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and discard it.
How long can you keep fresh eggs?
Cold storage consists of keeping your fresh eggs at a temperature of around 50°F. The area in which you store your eggs should be as dry as possible. This method allows for up to three months of storage. Freezer: Do you want to keep your eggs fresh past 3 months? Try a freezer.
How do you make farm fresh eggs last longer?
You can make farm fresh eggs last longer by storing them in the fridge. Don’t wash fresh eggs – let the cuticle help preserve their freshness. You can always clean the egg just before you use it. If you want to keep your eggs longer, crack them into clean containers, whisk them, and store them in the freezer for up to a year!
How long do fresh eggs from home chickens last?
A general rule, unwashed eggs will last around two weeks unrefrigerated and about three months or more in your refrigerator. If you’re experiencing an egg boom, it’s smart to refrigerate any unwashed fresh eggs you aren’t planning to eat immediately. This will help them last longer.
When to not eat backyard chicken eggs?
Eggs can remain safe to eat, if they are unwashed, for up to 4 weeks! You can test these by placing them in a glass of cold water. If the egg floats, it is bad. If it sinks, it is safe to eat. If it stands on one tip on the bottom of the vessel, it is safe to eat, but should be consumed within a few days.
Do farm eggs have an expiration date?
Eggs have a shelf life of four to five weeks from pack date. Crack eggs into bowl before using. Throw away if you see any defects.
How long can eggs sit on the counter?