Yesterday afternoon I went to Costco and I left 2 dozen eggs on the front seat of my car. I discovered them this morning. It’s been chilly, prob high 50s tops yesterday and was 32 overnight. No direct sun.
I would eat them, but I'd crack them into a separate bowl, or float test them if you are hard boiling just to make sure. You'll know very quickly if they went bad when you open them.
I have bought farm stand eggs that sit in a shed for days on end. I know the washing process of supermarket eggs makes them more prone to bacteria when not refrigerated, so it doesn't hurt to check them as you use them.
I'm feeling pedantic this morning - USDA says no more than 2 hours outside of the fridge. We over sanitize everything here, so all the bloom is washed off the egg making it vulnerable to spoiling faster. Comparing store bought eggs to different countries or farm fresh eggs is comparing apples and oranges.
Agree with pixy-- we don't refrigerate our eggs but also don't wash them until we eat them. (We have our own chickens)
Store bought eggs are a different story. But I would still eat the car eggs. It was pretty chilly here last night. They will be fine. (I wouldn't let them linger for weeks on end, but assuming you'll use them in the next week or so, I think they are fine)
I would. But I've learned from these posts that I have much lower standards than a lot of this board.
I was thinking about this very concept the other day at work, where I totally smeared a bunch of very room temp cream cheese on a bagel at around 1:30 that had definitely been sitting on the office counter since the morning without refrigeration. It was delicious, lol. I think years foraging for free food in newsrooms and non profits has increased the beneficial bacteria in my digestive tract.
This. If it were a little bit cooler, I'd probably go with it, but high 50s for at least a few hours would have me concerned it was warmer in the car, even without direct sun. While they are fine at room temperature for a few hours, I'd be worried they were higher than room temperature for too long.
Agree that the comparison to farm eggs and eggs in other countries is not relevant to supermarket eggs in the U.S.
I'm feeling pedantic this morning - USDA says no more than 2 hours outside of the fridge. We over sanitize everything here, so all the bloom is washed off the egg making it vulnerable to spoiling faster. Comparing store bought eggs to different countries or farm fresh eggs is comparing apples and oranges.
That being said, I'd still eat them.
This. I read recently (don’t know if this is true) that on average eggs are 2 weeks old when they hit the supermarket. They’re not farm fresh.
Yup, in a lot of foreign countries eggs are not refrigerated. They're fine
Foreign countries sell unwashed eggs though, in the US they are washed which is what makes them require refrigeration.
The answer for me would depend how long it was in the high 50s. An hour or two, yes I would. 3+ hours probably not. I do think others suggestions to do the float test is a good one.
This. If it were a little bit cooler, I'd probably go with it, but high 50s for at least a few hours would have me concerned it was warmer in the car, even without direct sun. While they are fine at room temperature for a few hours, I'd be worried they were higher than room temperature for too long.
Agree that the comparison to farm eggs and eggs in other countries is not relevant to supermarket eggs in the U.S.
Agreed with this.
If I forgot them on the counter for a couple hours, no problem. But leaving them in the car overnight, nah I'm not gonna chance it.
But my risk tolerance for food poisoning is very, very low.
My sister ate left over Mac and cheese that had been left in a warm car for six hours and she was fine and laughed at me for saying she should throw it away. It’s hard to know what is actually risky.
Yup, in a lot of foreign countries eggs are not refrigerated. They're fine
But that's because in those countries eggs don't receive the same treatment that takes a protective layer off the shell before they reach stores. It's not just that we aren't refrigerating the same eggs that you guys keep cold!