WaterGlassed Eggs

We’re at a point in our homesteading journey that we I’m thrilled to share we have an amazing SURPLUS of fresh eggs. It’s the best problem to have! We haven’t ventured into selling our eggs though. Rather, we’ve begun looking into ways of using our supply in a variety of ways – pickling, cooking, baked goods, and recently, using the Water Glass method. 

My father-in-law sent us a link about this egg preservation months a go. I’d never heard of water glassing but it piqued my interest. 

This method has been around for at least a century, likely longer. It’s a proven way to preserve fresh eggs in a solution for up to 1 year! 

Why Water Glass?

The obvious is preservation, but what’s so great about this method? During the winter months, chickens slow down their egg production. Shorter day light hours and cooler weather means you’ll likely see a dip in how frequently your birds are laying. Preserving some of your eggs during peak laying season means you’ll be able to still enjoy farm fresh eggs year round. 

How to Water Glass

Another added benefit to this method is the pure ease in which you can preserve your eggs! No fancy equipment is needed at all and it takes close to zero time to preserve your eggs in this way.

Items Needed to Water Glass:

1. Large air-tight container (glass jar or even a 5-gallon food-safe bucket)

2. Pickling Lime

3. Distilled Water (make sure there aren’t any harsh chemicals/additives like chlorine if you’re using city water)

4. Fresh Eggs

The Process:

1.  Collect your fresh eggs and only select the cleanest eggs of your batch (those that are naturally clear of any dirt or chicken poo – if you have to wipe the egg off in any way that could open the pores, don’t use that egg for water glassing). You also want to make sure there are no cracks at all. 

2. Use 1 ounce of pickling for 1 quart of water – this is the ratio you’ll use. Because the pickling lime solution I used is powdered, I weighed mine out. 

3. Mix your water and lime solution and pour into your food-grade container.

4. Gently place your eggs, pointy side down into the solution (this ensure the air sac stays at the top which helps reduce spoilage).

5. Add more eggs daily. When adding eggs, add extra water and lime solution to ensure eggs are fully submerged (you want at least an inch or two of solution covering all eggs).

6. Store in a cool and dark place. 

7. When ready to use, wash your egg and cook! 

Tips & Key Notes:

• Over time, the lime solution will settle towards the bottom of the jar. That is perfectly normal!

• Be mindful of the weight of the eggs and liquid as you layer them to reduce potential for eggs at the bottom to crack.  If just one egg crack, your entire solution will be contaminated and the eggs will need to be thrown away. 

• Move your container as little as possible to prevent eggs from cracking. I knew it would take a few days to fill up our 1-gallon jar so I left it in 1 spot for those few days. Once it was filled fully, I carefully put it in its final resting place for the next few months.

And that’s all there is to it! One of the simplest and most cost-effective ways in preserving your fresh eggs for the winter!