Is it a myth that water removes an egg's bloom?

[aart]

and there's not much point in just dunking them in water.

Exactly.

 

[Perris]

Interesting.

I also found this...

https://www.petersime.com/hatchery-...-when-incubating-waterfowl-eggs-with-cuticle/

"Due to the increased degree of biological challenges experienced by the vulnerable embryo in its natural ‘wet’ environment, waterfowl eggs have a thicker ‘coating’ or cuticle compared to chicken eggs. This coating protects the eggs from contamination. In nature, the cuticle of waterfowl eggs gradually erodes during incubation due to the nest activity of the parent bird. This results in more exposed pores and, consequently, an increasing rate of gas exchange that provides the developing embryo with sufficient oxygen and creates an air cell big enough to facilitate hatching. To replicate the interaction between parent bird and incubating waterfowl eggs, two approaches are traditionally used. Some hatcheries actively remove the cuticle by washing the eggs before incubation. Others spray the eggs with water during incubation."

Waterfowl make an interesting comparison. The article I cited also refers to the gradual decomposition/erosion of the cuticle during incubation facilitating gas exchange for the embryo within, the need for which increases through the 3 weeks of course. And the cuticle contributes to the strength of the shell, which the chick needs to break, so it weakening over time has another benefit too.

 

[Mrs. K]

I find this interesting, and I have refrained from washing my eggs. Most of the time, I have very clean eggs, but sometimes not. In the future, I think I will give those a quick rinse.

 

[Jabroni]

If you dunked the eggs in water, then let them dry, then washed them again and scrubbed them with your hands, would you still feel the bloom?

I suppose, even if water doesn't remove the bloom, it's difficult to clean eggs without rubbing and scrubbing them, and there's not much point in just dunking them in water.

I just water glassed a bunch of eggs and I dunked them all in water immediately beforehand (float test). If anyone cares I'll let you know if my whole batch is ruined

 

[Jabroni]

I just water glassed a bunch of eggs and I dunked them all in water immediately beforehand (float test). If anyone cares I'll let you know if my whole batch is ruined

UPDATE: my previously float-tested/wet eggs are perfectly preserved. I just fried two of them - they are from October and perhaps earlier as I did another no-no and glassed older eggs.

Water does not wash off bloom at all is my conclusion.

 

[Old flock yet new]

What I am curious to know about washing eggs is this. Would putting olive oil on the egg and gently wiping off , would that hurt the bloom?

 

[Susan Skylark]

I would think putting oil or fat directly on the shell would clog those pores and adversely affect air and moisture exchange which might drop hatching rates. There is a ‘chick in a cup’ study that grows a chicken embryo to hatch in a cup with plastic wrap, they found supplemental oxygen was needed to get late term embryos to hatch, most asphyxiated otherwise. Can’t recommend oiling the exterior of an egg, it might be antibacterial but it does so by excluding water and oxygen, something the chick needs as well, especially in late incubation. I’d save the olive oil for cooking!

 

[FunClucks]

I would think putting oil or fat directly on the shell would clog those pores and adversely affect air and moisture exchange which might drop hatching rates. There is a ‘chick in a cup’ study that grows a chicken embryo to hatch in a cup with plastic wrap, they found supplemental oxygen was needed to get late term embryos to hatch, most asphyxiated otherwise. Can’t recommend oiling the exterior of an egg, it might be antibacterial but it does so by excluding water and oxygen, something the chick needs as well, especially in late incubation. I’d save the olive oil for cooking!

Check out "buttered eggs" and preserving processes for in-shell eggs. Also I think commercially they spray them with wax so they can get that 3m shelf life. All with the intent of closing up those pores so water can't get in and dehydrate the egg, for longer storage life. So exactly opposite what you'd want for hatching... Also my NurtureRight 360 is very emphatic about maintaining a minimum required air flow or eggs will not hatch. So it's totally a thing.

 

[Jabroni]

UPDATE: my previously float-tested/wet eggs are perfectly preserved. I just fried two of them - they are from October and perhaps earlier as I did another no-no and glassed older eggs.

Water does not wash off bloom at all is my conclusion.

UPDATE for anyone who cares: my glassed eggs are still fine. Yolks are not intact. I just used them to make the muffins and the pumpkin bread. They are over a year old at this point.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

[quackingdom]

UPDATE for anyone who cares: my glassed eggs are still fine. Yolks are not intact. I just used them to make the muffins and the pumpkin bread. They are over a year old at this point.

Happy Thanksgiving

Cool! Thanks for sharing