Everything is more expensive now than a year ago, but especially eggs. Compared to January last year, the price of meat, poultry, fish and eggs increased by 8.1%, according to Consumer Price Index data.
The high price of this food has led some people to use unconventional methods to preserve it – like freezing their eggs.
And, who can blame them for finding new ways to save on food?
If you’re considering switching to frozen eggs, here are some tips on how to do it safely, from Donald Schaffner, professor of food science at Rutgers University.
Plus, advice on how to get the best bang for your buck from fresh eggs.
How to safely consume frozen eggs
Many people turn to frozen eggs as another way to get valuable protein in their diet.
So, “freeze dried egg” has more than 850 million views on TikTok. The video shows people using powdered and frozen eggs to make a scramble for breakfast.
While some people buy ready-made frozen eggs, others try the freeze-drying process themselves at home, raising concerns among health experts.
“It makes a difference whether it’s a commercially processed food or something you’re doing at home,” said Schaffner.
People are strongly advised to hatch eggs at 160 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid the risk of salmonella, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.
Some freeze-drying recipes circulating online recommend using a countertop food dehydrator, and not all of them can reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
“If frozen eggs are made from raw eggs and you haven’t cooked them before consuming them, you’re at risk of getting salmonella,” Schaffner said.
“I would say if you cook it to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, that gives you a high level of safety.”
However, your safest bet is to eat frozen eggs produced by a reputable company, rather than doing the entire process yourself at home, Schaffner says.
A spokesperson for the Food and Drug Administration told TODAY that they are “not aware of any validation process that consumers can use to safely dehydrate or freeze eggs at home.”
Food scientist tips for keeping eggs
If you are not sold on freeze-dried eggs, or feel too risky, there are several ways to preserve fresh eggs in the refrigerator, said Schaffner.
They recommend these two simple steps to keep your eggs fresh:
- Buy a thermometer for your refrigerator
- Keep the refrigerator at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or colder, but not cold enough to freeze eggs. “This will give a long shelf life to the eggs, and salmonella does not grow or multiply at 40 degrees Fahrenheit,” said Schaffner.
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