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Why you should never wash eggs before cooking

Last updated on - Mar 14, 2019, 08:00 IST

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Why washing eggs is a bad practice?

Washing raw food items before consumption is a good habit, but there are food items that when washed might turn harmful for the human body. Sounds bizarre? Well, it’s true and the best example is ‘Eggs’. You will be surprised to know that washing eggs before consumption makes them harmful for the body. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, eggs are actually washed before you buy them and are perfect for consumption. They are passed through a commercial egg washing process which makes them bacteria free. Read to know more:

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What is commercial egg washing?

According to USDA, it refers to a process where eggs produced in huge quantity at poultry are washed. The process removes a natural protective coating called a “bloom” or a “cuticle” from the outer surface of the egg. After washing the eggs, a film of edible mineral oil is applied to the outer surface to keep any bacteria from penetrating the shell contaminating the egg.

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What do nutritionists say?

According to health experts, you should never wash the eggs bought from the grocery store, as washing further removes the edible oil layer and increases the chances of dust or bacteria entering through the pores and contaminating the egg white and yolk.

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What about the farm–fresh eggs?

Experts suggest washing farm-fresh eggs with warm water to remove the dust particles, as they are not passed through the commercial egg washing process.

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Verdict

Now that you know the eggs are already washed, you can actually save time and concentrate on the dish. Having said that, farm-fresh eggs are meant to be washed, but only with warm water.

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