You’re Doing It All Wrong — Here’s the Right Way to Store Eggs

Eggs are one of the most versatile ingredients in the kitchen — perfect for baking, breakfast, or a quick dinner fix. But here’s the truth: most people are storing their eggs the wrong way. How you store your eggs can actually make a big difference in how long they last and how fresh they taste.

Let’s set the record straight once and for all.

🥚 The Common Mistake

Most of us grab our eggs from the fridge door — it’s convenient, right? But that’s actually the worst place to keep them. The door is the warmest part of the refrigerator because it’s constantly being opened and closed, which causes temperature fluctuations. Those changes can make your eggs spoil faster.

🧊 The Right Way to Store Eggs

If you want your eggs to stay fresh and safe for longer, here’s what you should do:

Keep them in the original carton.
The carton protects eggs from absorbing strong odors and flavors from other foods and helps prevent moisture loss. Plus, it displays the expiration or “best by” date — something easy to lose track of if you transfer them to a fancy egg tray.

Store them on a middle or lower shelf — not the door.
The temperature inside the fridge should stay consistently cold, ideally around 40°F (4°C) or below. The middle or bottom shelf keeps them stable and chilled.

Place them with the pointed end down.
This helps the yolk stay centered and prevents the air cell from moving, which keeps the egg fresher longer.

Avoid washing them (unless you must).
Commercially sold eggs in most countries are already washed and sanitized. Washing them again can remove the protective coating and increase the risk of bacteria getting inside. However, if you’re storing farm-fresh eggs that haven’t been washed, you can safely keep them at room temperature for about a week — as long as the natural “bloom” is intact.

⏳ How Long Do Eggs Last?

In the fridge: Up to 3–5 weeks after purchase.