A Half-Dozen Summer Egg Safety Tips
The Ohio egg-sperts are sharing a half-dozen egg safety tips to help consumers stay safe and healthy this summer while enjoying their favorite foods, including the incredible egg. Although Ohio egg farmers work hard every day to ensure the eggs they produce are safe and of the highest quality, eggs are perishable and need to be handled properly, especially when being served outdoors on hot, summer days.
Practice proper food safety during backyard cookouts this summer by following these tips:
- Pack moist towelettes or use soap and water to clean hands, utensils and surfaces before and after eating.
- Transport coolers in the backseat of an air-conditioned car rather than placing in a warm trunk to keep eggs and other foods at their optimum temperature.
- Ohio summers are hot, and eggs sweat too. Eggs should not be left out of the refrigerator or exposed at room temperature for more than two hours. Because cold temperatures prevent bacteria growth, keep eggs cool during outdoor cookouts by using ice or freezer packs in coolers.
- Egg dishes that are meant to be served cold should be packed in an insulated bag or cooler and kept at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or cooler. This can be achieved by keeping coolers in the shade and opened as infrequently as possible.
- Cooked egg dishes should be kept in thermal containers and kept at a temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
- If party-goers are bringing hard-boiled eggs, they should be left in their shells and kept cold in a cooler. Hard-boiled eggs are safe to eat when left in their shells for up to one week, but once peeled, they must be eaten that day.
Ohio egg farmers are proud to provide healthy, safe, affordable eggs to Ohioans and nationwide. As one of the largest egg farming states in the nation, Ohio produces about 9 billion eggs annually.
Try these delicious egg recipes for your next backyard cookout or picnic:
For more information and nutritious egg recipes, click here.
