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The Best Ways to Store Farm Eggs + Homesteading as a Family
Question of the day: If you could add one feature to your homestead, what would it be?
Cedie Omaña
November 24, 2024
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"The sun, with all those planets revolving around it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do.”
— Galileo Galilei
HOMESTEAD TIP OF THE DAY
Lay down wood chips or gravel on pathways to prevent them from becoming muddy or icy once the snow hits. It makes moving around the garden easier, even in harsh conditions.
If you could add one feature to your homestead, what would it be? |
IN TODAY'S EDITION
Homestead Tip 🌱
Poll Results From Last Thursday 📊
All Things Homestead: All About Keeping Your Farm-Fresh Eggs Fresh 🥚
Personal Development: Bringing Families Closer with Homesteading 👪
Today's Top Picks 🛍️
Let’s Keep It Reel 🤣
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
The Cold War's Best-Kept Nutritional Secret!
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Meet the Lost Superfood of the Cold War
It's made from stuff you probably already have in your kitchen. The army did a bunch of tests to make it perfect, and now you can learn how to whip it up too!
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POLL RESULTS FROM LAST THURSDAY
What motivates you most to stay committed to your homesteading lifestyle?
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ The health benefits of growing my own food
🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ The sense of independence and self-sufficiency
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Living more sustainably and reducing my carbon footprint
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Teaching valuable skills to my family
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 A desire to live a simpler, more meaningful life
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Others (Feel free to specify your answer after you've voted.)
via @beehiiv polls
Feel free to participate in fun polls in our next newsletters! 😉
ALL THINGS HOMESTEAD
All About Keeping Your Farm-Fresh Eggs Fresh 🥚
Have you ever found yourself scratching your head, wondering how long those fresh eggs from your backyard coop will last? Or what's the best way to store them so you can savor that farm-fresh taste for as long as possible?
You’re in good company. Knowing the ins and outs of egg storage is essential for any homesteader who doesn’t want to let a single egg go to waste.
How Long Can You Keep Those Eggs?
In the Fridge: Let's start with refrigeration. Farm-fresh eggs with their natural bloom still on them can last between 3 to 6 months in the fridge. If you wash the eggs, though, they’ll last about two months. Remember, once you bring them out of the fridge, use them within two hours to ensure they stay fresh.
At Room Temperature: If you prefer to keep eggs out of the fridge, and they’re unwashed, they'll stay good for about two weeks up to a month. Just make sure they are stored in a cool, shady spot away from any heat sources.
After Their “Sell-by” Date: The dates on egg cartons are more about peak quality than absolute safety. Properly stored eggs can still be good to eat 3 to 5 weeks past the date printed on the carton.
Storing Cooked Eggs: Got leftovers from breakfast? Cooked eggs should be eaten within 3 to 4 days if they're stored in the fridge. Hard-boiled eggs keep for about a week.
Freezing Eggs: Freezing eggs is a great trick for long-term storage. They can safely be frozen for up to a year but are best used within four months to keep their taste and texture. Just remember, don’t freeze them in their shells—crack them into a container first.
How to Properly Store Your Eggs
Room Temperature Storage: If you’re keeping your eggs at room temperature, leave them unwashed with the protective bloom still on. Store them in a breathable container like an egg basket in a cool part of your kitchen.
Refrigerator Storage: If you refrigerate your eggs, set your fridge to around 35°F to 40°F. Store the eggs in their carton to prevent them from absorbing odors and to protect them from cracking.
How to Tell If Your Eggs Are Still Good
The Float Test: Fill a bowl with water and gently place your egg in it. Fresh eggs will sink to the bottom and lay flat. If it floats, it’s time to toss it because it means the air cell inside the egg has grown as it ages, making it buoyant.
The Sniff Test: This one's easy—crack the egg open and take a whiff. Any bad smells? If it makes your nose wrinkle, into the trash it goes.
Check the Egg’s Structure: When you crack open a fresh egg, the yolk should be round and perky, and the whites should stay close by it, not spread all over the pan. If everything looks runny and flat, while it might still be safe to eat, it’s not at its freshest.
Why This All Matters
Knowing how to store your eggs not only helps you reduce waste, but it also means you’re always ready for whatever cooking adventure comes next, from baking a cake to whipping up a quick omelet. Plus, it’s all about getting the most out of what your homestead produces.
Quick Tips:
Store eggs in the fridge if you've washed them.
Keep unwashed eggs at room temperature if that's your preference.
Use the carton to protect eggs and keep them fresh longer.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Bringing Families Closer with Homesteading 👪
Homesteading does more than grow food; it grows family bonds. Here's how diving into the homestead life can strengthen your family ties and teach everyone valuable life lessons.
Why Homesteading is Awesome for Families
Teamwork on the Homestead: Working together on the land or with animals teaches everyone to cooperate and appreciate each other’s efforts. It’s all about working towards common goals, whether it’s building a chicken coop or planting a new vegetable garden.
Quality Time Away from Screens: Homesteading gives your family a reason to disconnect from gadgets and spend quality time together. It’s about being hands-on and present, whether you’re shucking corn or making a scarecrow.
Practical Skills for Everyone: From the youngest to the oldest, homesteading teaches useful, everyday skills. Kids learn where food comes from and the hard work involved in growing it, while adults refine their gardening or animal husbandry skills.
Values Learned Through Homesteading:
Nature is Our Friend: Regular chores like planting and composting help everyone appreciate the outdoors and understand the importance of taking care of our environment.
Hard Work Pays Off: Homesteading isn’t easy. It teaches everyone involved about persistence and the satisfaction that comes from seeing a job through, like when harvest time rolls around and you can enjoy the fruits (and vegetables) of your labor.
Living Sustainably: Homesteading is the ultimate lesson in sustainability. Everyone learns how small actions, like using leftover scraps to make compost, contribute to a healthier planet.
Getting Everyone Involved:
Jobs for Every Age:
Little Kids: They love simple tasks like watering flowers or picking berries.
Tweens: Can handle more responsibility, such as feeding animals or helping to cook meals with produce they helped grow.
Teens and Adults: Might take on bigger projects like designing a garden space or managing the family’s farmers market stand.
Sharing the Load: A chore rotation or family task chart can help distribute work evenly, making sure everyone does their part. Regular family meetings to pick chores or projects give everyone a say in what they’d like to do.
Making Memories with Homesteading:
Fun for Every Season: Each season brings its own special activities:
Spring is for starting seeds and maybe starting new traditions.
Summer might be about making jam or pickles together.
Fall is great for gathering leaves for mulch or getting the garden ready for colder weather.
Winter offers a chance to plan for next year or craft with materials like wool or wood.
Monthly Family Projects: Setting up regular projects, like making a herb garden or crafting with natural materials, keeps everyone engaged and learning new things.
Lifelong Lessons from the Land:
Seeing Life Cycles: Let kids see how things grow from start to finish, teaching them patience and care as they tend to plants or animals.
Eco-Friendly Living: Simple projects like collecting rainwater or setting up a compost pile teach kids about eco-friendly living.
Capture the Moments: Encourage everyone to take pictures or write in a family journal about their homestead adventures. This not only captures memories but shows how much everyone has grown.
Homesteading as Tradition:
Start a Family Tradition: Maybe it’s planting a garden together every spring or having a yearly harvest dinner. Traditions like these build lasting memories.
Keep a Homestead Journal: A journal where everyone writes their thoughts or what they’ve learned is a great way to reflect on the year's changes and growth.
THE STEADY HOME’S GIGGLE CHAMBER
Why don’t pumpkins do well in school?
They just can't concentrate.
LET’S KEEP IT REEL!
I've put together some fantastic farm videos that are sure to make you laugh. Take a look and enjoy the fun!
This video in a nutshell: “Whatever you're feeling, just get a plant!”
@thistrippyhippie took that last one seriously with my jungle room😌🌱plants genuinely bring me so much happiness, couldnt fit them all in this video🌿💚 #plant... See more
Just a goat who's had one too many hay snacks:
@rachelsam The Real World: Goat Herd Edition 🐐 #fyp #goats #goatsoftiktok #viral #funny #farmlife #austintx #goatherding #babygoat
If you haven't seen a goat and a pig having a blast together, you’re in for a treat! Check this out:
@animalsdoingthings Playtime #animals #goat #pig #comedy #justdancemoves
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