Have you felt the pressures of increased food prices? Are you shocked as you go to the store and see that a dozen eggs that once cost five dollars now cost seven dollars or more? I am! Especially as a family of six, I need to be diligent in what we buy and try my best to stay within budget.
Last year, my husband and I started to feel the effects of inflation. I had always heard about water-glassing eggs for long-term preservation. Since we were already storing up for the long term, I decided to try this method. Now, we DON’T have chickens; though this would be a dream of mine, we do have local farmers we rely on to buy fresh farm eggs. I can get them fresh the same day, free of debris, and unwashed. Perfect for this method.
Below I hope to cover a few questions about water glassing eggs and show you how you, too can water-glass fresh farm eggs.
15 Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Water Glassing Eggs?
Water glassing eggs is a method of preserving eggs for long-term storage. This method involves submerging the eggs in a water and sodium silicate solution, also known as water glass. The solution creates an airtight seal around the eggshell, which prevents bacteria from entering and spoiling the egg. This process can preserve eggs for up to one year without refrigeration.
Water glassing eggs is an effective way to store your eggs for long-term use without having to worry about spoilage or waste due to expiration dates.
2. Why should you preserve eggs?
Preserving eggs with water glassing is a great way to ensure that you have access to fresh eggs for up to one year. It is an easy and cost-effective way to store your eggs for long-term use. In addition, these eggs can be cooked and used for baking needs.
3. Can you use tap water to water glass eggs?
Using tap water to water glass eggs is not recommended, as it can contain chlorine and fluoride. Chlorine and fluoride are added to tap water for disinfection purposes, but they can also hurt the preservation of eggs. If you are using well water, tap water should be fine for water glassing eggs.
However, if you are on city water with chlorine and fluoride, opting for a filter such as the Berkey Water Filter is best. This will remove any impurities from the tap water while preserving all the necessary minerals that are beneficial for the eggs.
4. Can you water glass store-bought eggs?
It is important to use only fresh eggs when it comes to water-glassing eggs. Store-bought eggs should not be used as they have been washed and pasteurized before reaching the shelf. This process destroys the egg’s bloom coating, a protective layer covering the egg’s tiny pores and preventing harmful bacteria from entering and causing rot.
Pasteurization of store-bought eggs is necessary for safety reasons, as it allows them to be stored for more extended periods of time while being shipped and refrigerated in coolers without risking bacterial contamination.
It is important to remember that when water glassing eggs, only fresh, whole, unwashed eggs should be used. These will still have their bloom coating intact, which helps keep out any bacteria that could cause spoilage or food poisoning. It also ensures that the eggshells are strong enough to withstand water glassing without cracking or breaking open.
Using store bought eggs can lead to a failed attempt at water glassing eggs due to their weakened shells caused by pasteurization.
5. What is hydrated lime?
Hydrated lime is a natural product made from a combination of oyster shells, bones, and limestone. The materials are burnt in a kiln and then hydrated with water to create the final product. That’s it! It’s a natural product, not synthetic, and is completely safe to use.
It is important to note that hydrated lime is not the same as agricultural lime found at local hardware stores. So make sure you are sourcing the correct product.
6. Are water glass eggs safe to eat?
Water-glassed eggs are a traditional method of preserving eggs for long-term storage, and as long as the process is done properly, water-glassed eggs are perfectly safe to eat.
Be sure to use clean jars or buckets and utensils, as well as clean unwashed eggs.
TIP: How do you know if you have clean fresh eggs? If an egg has gone bad, you will know by its smell, and if you are still insured you can do the float test. I have done this time and time again to be sure that my eggs are perfect for preservation.
To perform the float test, place the egg(s) in a bowl of cold water; if they float, they have gone bad and should be discarded.
7. When is the best time to preserve eggs?
You can use water glassing any time you have an abundance of eggs or when you can get an abundance of fresh eggs. I usually pick up about six or seven dozen eggs from our local farm and keep 3 dozen for the week in the fridge and water glass the rest.
8. Is it normal for the lime to settle on the bottom?
It is perfectly normal for lime to settle on the bottom. This setting is part of the process and should not be disturbed. If you attempt to stir it back up, you risk cracking the eggs and ruining the whole batch.
Rest assured that there is still plenty of lime in the water to preserve the eggs, so no need to worry.
The lime settles on the bottom due to its heavier weight compared to other components in the solution. The lime will act as a preservative and help keep your eggs fresh for longer periods of time. It’s important that you don’t disturb this settling process, as it can cause damage to your eggs if stirred too much. So just let it sit and enjoy your preserved eggs!
9. I don’t have chickens, can I still water glass eggs?
Absolutely! I don’t have chickens, though I look forward to the day we have space to have a small hobby farm with a dreamy jersey cow, dozens of chickens, soft spring lambs, and a beautiful garden, I digress.
You can still water glass eggs even if you don’t have chickens. You can purchase fresh, unwashed eggs from your local grocery store or farmers market. Just make sure to check the expiration date and that they are still in good condition before purchasing them. It’s also important to remember that store-bought
10. How Long Do Water Glassed Eggs Last?
When it comes to storing water glassed eggs, the general consensus is that they can last for up to a year in a cool dark place. This is due to the fact that the eggshells are sealed with a thin layer of sodium silicate, which helps preserve them and prevents bacteria from entering.
The eggs should be stored in an airtight container and kept away from direct sunlight or heat sources. It is also important to check on them periodically to make sure they are still safe to eat.
Some people have had success with storing water glassed eggs for much longer than a year. This is likely due to their careful storage methods and the fact that they are checking on them regularly. It is important to note, however, that there is no guarantee that these eggs will remain safe for consumption after such a long period of time.
I always used mine within the year to be safe, so I do not have personal experience with water glass eggs stored for longer than 12 months.
11. Do they taste different than farm fresh eggs?
Water glassed eggs are a great alternative to fresh eggs, as they have all the same flavor and nutritional value without the need for refrigeration.
The texture of water glassed eggs may be slightly different than fresh eggs due to the dehydration process involved in preserving them. However, this difference is minimal and does not affect the overall flavor or nutritional value of the egg. In fact, many people find that water glassed eggs are easier to cook with than fresh ones because they don’t require additional oil or butter to prevent sticking.
12. What do water glass eggs look like?
This was a question I first had when I pulled my 6-month-old stored eggs out to try. They were watery and did not have the same texture as a fresh egg. Upon research, this is normal and to be expected.
As noted on the web, water glassed eggs have a ‘runny’ texture, meaning its overall consistency is more liquid than a fresh one. In comparison, fresh egg yolks will not break easily, and the whole egg will stick together like jello when cracked open.
Color-wise, the fresh egg yolk has a brighter yellow than water glassed eggs.
I typically bake with them or make scrambled eggs.
14. Can I use water glassing to preserve quail or duck eggs?
Using chicken eggs is the best option for water glassing, as they are easier to clean and have a better chance of success. Other poultry eggs, such as quail eggs, duck eggs, or goose eggs, can be used but require extra care due to their dirtier environment. These gamier birds often nest in areas that are difficult to keep clean and trying to remove all the dirt before immersing them in your solution could damage the bloom.
It is possible to use other kinds of eggs for water glassing but it may be better suited for later projects when you’ve gotten the hang of it. You can lightly clean them and still follow the same steps as you would with chicken eggs. It is important to remember that these other types of poultry eggs may not have the same success rate as chicken eggs so it is important to take extra care when handling them.
15. What materials do I need for water-glassing eggs?
The first piece of equipment needed for pickling is an airtight food-grade bucket or half-gallon, gallon-sized glass jars. I buy all my buckets and jars from Azure Standard. It should be made from a material that won’t react with the pickling liquid, such as stainless steel or plastic. The lid should fit tightly to prevent any air from entering the container and spoiling the eggs.
A kitchen scale is also necessary for measuring out the correct amount of pickling lime. It’s important to measure it accurately, so having a kitchen scale on hand is essential. The scale should have a capacity of at least one pound and should be able to measure in ounces or grams. A digital scale is ideal, as it can provide more accurate measurements than an analog one.
A wooden spoon to stir the water and pickling lime. Try to avoid plastic or stainless steel.
And last, farm fresh, clean chicken eggs.
15. How To Water Glass Eggs
The process of water glassing farm fresh eggs begins with selecting the freshest possible eggs. These should be free from any cracks or damage, as this will allow the water glass to penetrate the eggshell more easily.
Once you have selected your farm fresh eggs, get your pickling lime and measure out one ounce of pickling lime to one quart of filtered water. The ratio of these two ingredients should be carefully monitored to ensure that the correct amount of preservative is present in the mixture.
Stir this mixture with a wooden spoon. Once this mixture is stirred you can begin to submerge clean eggs. Make sure to place the eggs gently to avoid cracked eggs in the container pointy side down.
After submerging the eggs, add an airtight lid to prevent oxygen from getting in, and prevent the water from evaporating.
Store water glassed eggs in a cool dark place.
How to Water Glassing Farm Fresh Eggs
Materials
- 1 Gallon Glass Jar
- 1 oz Pickling Lime
- 2 Quarts Filtered Water
- Clean unwashed farm fresh eggs ( Egss that have no debris such as poop or mud, that hsa the bloom still fully intact)
Instructions
- Measure out 2 ounces of pickling lime on your kitchen scale.Add the pickling lime to a clean gallon sized jar and fill it up halfway (2 quart) with filtered water.Stir the lime into the water until it was fully incorporated.Carefully add the eggs with pointy side down.Add an airtight lid to prevent oxygen from getting in, and prevent the water from evaporating.Store the water glassed eggs in a cool dark place.
UPDATE: 12month Water Glassed Eggs in Use
