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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW 1905 Furry House demolished ... Nike shares jump on plans for dividend boost, stock split ... Man was attacked for allegedly 'sexting' roommate's girlfriend ... 1905 Furry House demolished ... Nike shares jump on plans for dividend boost, stock split ... Man was attacked for allegedly 'sexting' roommate's girlfriend ... SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: Keep store-bought eggs in the 'fridge Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Nov. 20, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Nov. 20, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Eggs were bought Sunday, Nov. 15, with "Best By" date of Dec. 25. The eggs were left in the car until the 17th. Still safe to eat? RSVP, ASAP. — AELSch, by email AELSch, we got your request the same day we're writing this, so that's as ASAP as we can go. Here's what we found out: Your eggs are likely not safe to eat. While multiple sources say that you are generally safe leaving eggs unrefrigerated (but in a cool place) for up to a week or more, they quickly go on to note that's as long as two conditions are met: 1) you don't refrigerate them first and 2) you don't wash them. However, since the vast majority of U.S. eggs are purchased from stores, which are required to refrigerate them, your safe window may be only a couple of hours. When eggs are taken out of refrigeration, they begin to warm up and, just like a glass of cold water, will begin to sweat. That can release bacteria, so to be on the safe side, previously refrigerated eggs should not be left out for any length of time. You also don't want to wash the eggs ahead of time because their shells contain either natural protections if they are straight from a farm or added protections if they are purchased from a store. This is a surprisingly hot topic online. Many countries do not require eggs to be refrigerated — but in the United States they are required to be both washed and refrigerated. The washing removes a natural "cuticle" that protects the egg from contamination but is deemed necessary in the U.S. to prevent salmonella. U.S. eggs headed for retail outlets are recoated in an oil that provides similar protection. In England, all chickens are administered salmonella vaccines, so the refrigeration is not needed. However, the eggs will last far longer if they are refrigerated, staying good for a month or more as opposed to a week if they're sitting on the counter. Don't confuse this food safety issue with the "Best By" date. That's the date the producer says the food still remains at its freshest, not the date it becomes unsafe. A study by Harvard Law School’s Food Law and Policy Clinic estimates that Americans waste $165 billion in food annually by throwing it out too soon. Back to the eggs. One sure-fire way to tell a bad egg from a good one is to put it in a bowl of water. If it floats, that means gases have built up in the shell, and it's not safe to eat. And a final piece of advice from our dear old Mom: When in doubt, throw it out. In the case of your eggs, AELSch, there seems to be plenty of doubt, so we'd say give them the heave-ho. Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. To see a collection of columns, go to mailtribune.com/youasked . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Nov. 20, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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