Store your eggs in unusual place and they'll stay fresh for 12 months

Common knowledge dictates that eggs should be stored in the fridge to keep them fresh, rather than leaving them out at room temperature. And when kept in their carton in the fridge, eggs can stay fresh for around three weeks. Separated egg whites can last up to three weeks in a sealed container, while yolks can stay unspoiled for about three days when covered and refrigerated.

But if you're looking to extend the shelf life of your eggs, a simple food storage trick could help. The British Egg Industry Council has suggested that eggs can be safely stored for an incredible 12 months. This means you could always have eggs on hand to add to your breakfast or salad dishes.



The Council provides advice on freezing whole eggs, as well as yolks and whites separately, to reduce food waste. It points out that although eggs can be frozen for a year, it's best to use them within four months to ensure they remain at their freshest. The instructions are straightforward: "To freeze eggs whole, the white and yolk will need to be beaten together.

", reports the Express . "Pour the contents into a freezer-friendly container, label with the date, seal and freeze." According to the Council, freezing egg whites is a "simple procedure".

All you need to do is pour them into a container, mix them together, seal it tightly and freeze. To speed up the thawing process, it's advised to freeze them in smaller quantities. This advice is particularly useful when recipes require only egg yolks or whites, leaving you with leftovers that could otherwise be wasted.

However, freezing egg yolks requires a few more steps. Firstly, they need to be separated and placed into a container. Due to their thicker consistency, egg yolks will gel if left in their original form, making them unusable in recipes.

To avoid this, add half a teaspoon of salt, or one to one-and-a-half tablespoons of sugar for each 240ml of raw egg. Use salt for savoury recipes and sugar for sweet ones. It's vital to ensure your eggs are properly defrosted before eating.

Regardless of their form (egg whites, yolks or mixed), frozen eggs must be completely thawed and can only be eaten in thoroughly cooked dishes. They should never be cooked directly from frozen. To defrost, transfer the egg from the freezer to the fridge overnight to avoid exposure to bacteria.

For a quicker method, run cold water over the freezing container. Lastly, make sure to use the eggs as soon as they have thawed. Once you are confident they are unfrozen, eggs should be used as soon as possible after that.

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