{"id":2372,"date":"2026-02-19T09:26:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T09:26:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/?p=2372"},"modified":"2026-02-19T09:26:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T09:26:13","slug":"the-one-thing-you-should-never-do-with-store-bought-eggs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/?p=2372","title":{"rendered":"The One Thing You Should Never Do With Store-Bought Eggs"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Vigilantly washing or scrubbing fruits and vegetables on the Dirty Dozen list<\/a> is a common way to reduce pesticide residues between the store and your plate. Notoriously gritty or dirty produce, like leeks and mushrooms, are obvious candidates for a bath, while less conspicuous berries and greens may need more attention than they typically get. Some cooks follow U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendations and wash onions before cutting them to reduce the transfer of bacteria.\n<\/p>\n

But have you heard of washing eggs?\n<\/p>\n

Some people do, which is understandable\u2014there are, indeed, important steps to take to safely handle this perishable protein. Unbroken, clean, fresh shell eggs may contain Salmonella bacteria that can cause foodborne illness and they\u2019re perishable, just like raw meat, poultry and fish.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

To be safe, eggs must be safely handled, promptly refrigerated and thoroughly cooked. No washing required.\n<\/p>\n

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Why You Shouldn’t Wash Your Eggs <\/span> <\/h2>\n

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture<\/a>, washing store-bought eggs at home can actually increase contamination risk. Egg shells are porous, and when you wash eggs with water\u2014especially water that\u2019s cooler than the egg\u2014the water can be drawn into the egg through tiny pores in the shell. This can allow bacteria in the water to be \u201csucked in,\u201d increasing the risk of foodborne illness.\n<\/p>\n

Government regulations require egg processors to carefully wash and sanitize USDA-graded eggs using only compounds meeting FDA regulations. This process regulates temperatures to prevent wash water from being drawn into the egg.\n<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how to safely handle eggs, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)<\/a> and related U.S. government food-safety sources:\n<\/p>\n