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Have you ever heard of Water Glassing Eggs? Water Glassing eggs is an old-fashioned way to store farm-fresh eggs for long term storage or winter months when hens lay less eggs. This was a popular way to store eggs prior to refrigeration and was a traditional way to store eggs until the 1930’s when refrigeration became common.
In this post I will cover:
- The importance of using the right kind of eggs
- Supplies and ingredients needed
- How to water glass eggs
- How long do water glassed eggs last?
- Why would I want to do this?
The Importance of Using the Right Kind of Eggs
First, it’s important to know that not just any eggs will do. You need farm-fresh eggs - eggs that have NOT been washed. Farm-fresh eggs are very different from store bought eggs. Unwashed eggs have bloom on them. The bloom is sometimes also called the cuticle. It is a foamy layer of protein that surrounds the egg, and is put on the egg before it is laid by the hen. This protective layer is needed for the preservation process. If you are buying farm-fresh eggs for this purpose, make sure they are NOT washed.
Second, you will need clean eggs. Wait. Didn’t I just say your eggs should be unwashed? And doesn’t that mean your eggs are dirty? By “clean eggs” I mean that they should remain unwashed, but visually clean. No debris, dirt, waste, broken egg yolks, whites, or shell pieces, etc. Save the visually “clean eggs” for water glassing, and wash and eat the “dirty eggs”. Sorting your eggs early will help in the process. Why do we need clean eggs? For starters, a dirty egg will make a dirty solution. If you have any eggs with loose debris on them, simply brush them off very gently with a towel or your fingers to get rid of the debris without damaging the bloom.
What if you’re getting more dirty eggs than clean eggs? Start by taking a look at where your hens are living and nesting. Cleaning their nesting boxes and the hen house is a great place to begin. If that’s not enough, try giving them an extra layer of hay to help keep them clean.
Supplies and Ingredients Needed
- Clean Eggs
- Pickling Lime (calcium hydroxide)
- Water
- Bucket or Jar with a lid
- Kitchen scale
- Liquid Measuring Cup
- Spoon to mix lime in water
Now that you have your clean farm-fresh eggs, it’s time to gather the rest of the supplies and ingredients. Let’s talk about pickling lime, also known as calcium hydroxide. This can be found in the canning section of your grocery store or on Amazon.
Water is important as the eggs will be sitting in it. Use the water you drink. If you drink filtered water, use filtered water. When in doubt, use distilled water.
The size of the container is also important. You will need to be able to store the container in a cool, dark area. Keep in mind, the container is going to be heavy when filled with water and eggs. Being able to easily move the container as needed will be helpful. Half gallon canning jars, gallon jars, crocks, and up to 5 gallon buckets have traditionally been used. The Cross Legacy now has etched gallon jars on our Kickstarter.
Here are some Pro Tips:
- If you use a larger container, the weight of the eggs gets heavy on the bottom eggs and can cause them to break.
- If you have a lot of eggs, it may be better to have multiple containers instead of one that is too big to manage
- Your container will need a lid or cover, it does not need to be airtight
You will need a kitchen scale to create the water glassing solution. It is important that this process is weighed and measured exactly to create the water glassing solution and properly preserve your eggs.
How to Water Glass Eggs
Now let's talk about the How To!
- Weigh out the 1 oz. of pickling lime to 1 qt. of water. Room temperature filtered or distilled water is fine. Remember: This needs to be exact to ensure your water glassing solution properly preserves your eggs. You will need enough solution to completely cover your eggs.
- In a separate container, mix the pickling lime in the water and stir. This will give you a milky white mixture, however, it will separate and settle.
- Place the eggs in your jar pointed side down. Expect the bottom layer to go whichever way they want. But concentrate on the second layer and on, layering with pointed side down.
- As you’re filling your container with eggs, stir the solution and pour into the container to cover the eggs. Continue to layer eggs and cover with lime water solution.
- Repeat Step 4 until the container is full, or as full as you’re comfortable with.
- Store the container with the lid on in a cool, dark place.
If you would like to see how this is done, you can watch the process here:
https://youtu.be/7oBN3QvGq7E
How Long Do Water Glass Eggs Last?
Water glassing eggs is for preserving eggs outside of a refrigerator for long-term storage. Eggs preserved this way can be stored for up to two (2) years in a cool, dark place. When you are ready to eat a water glass egg, best practice is to crack each egg in a separate bowl to check for quality. Often, the longer the eggs are stored, the thinner the shells become. The egg whites are not as elastic and tend to get “watery”. Sometimes, the color of the yolk will lighten and not be as bright. However, the eggs are great for cooking, baking, and to eat for breakfast. As with all food, if it smells or looks bad do not eat it.
Why Would I Want to Do This?
You may want to preserve your eggs for a variety of reasons. The first reason - you have a huge influx of eggs and are planning to preserve them for when your flock will lay less eggs. This is a step toward food security. When your hens lay less eggs, but you have eggs stored; you can continue to eat, bake and cook normally without having to go to the grocery store. As an urban homesteader with chickens, I have eggs in waves; sometimes more than I need, and other times I have a shortage.
Currently, there is an outbreak of the avian flu. This airborne virus cannot be prevented. This is one reason I am water glassing eggs. Another reason is to have eggs on hand for when my hens lay less eggs.
In short, preserving your extra eggs for a later time provides you another layer of food security. During these times, a little extra insurance can provide peace of mind for you and your family.
I learned this technique from Carolyn, a Homesteader I trust for safe food preservation practice. Check out her Egg Glassing Blog here.
Do you have chickens at home? Have you tried water glassing eggs? Do you want to try water glassing? If you want to try, but do not have your own chickens try reaching out to a local chicken farmer for farm-fresh eggs with the bloom intact to give water glassing a try.
Comment below and let us know your thoughts about water glassing eggs.
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