Step one, get a chicken.
Or forty. Be sure you have complete control of them.
Good luck with that.
You’ll need a big garden rake….
….to drag the eggs out from the very back-back-darkest-back of the dog house.
They’ll change to a new hiding place soon, so good luck with that, too.
Just be glad they’re laying.
To make the most of your own fresh eggs, freezing eggs is an alternative to eating omelets for breakfast, quiche for lunch, and custard for dinner every day of the week when they’re laying heavily. You can store them up to use when they’re not laying. It’s also a great way to stock up on eggs from the store even if you don’t have your own chickens. In either case, freezing eggs is easy!
By the way, that’s one big honkin’ egg there, isn’t it? I hope the chicken that laid that one is okay….
This is what it looked like inside–two yolks.
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How to Freeze Eggs:
Whole Eggs
Break eggs into a bowl then pour into a strainer and through to a second bowl.
This allows the whites and yolks to mix gently without adding air. This is the secret to freezing eggs. Use a colander with large holes. You can stir the eggs with a spoon very carefully–but not too much. No beating air into them! Scrape around on the bottom of the colander and gently on the inside to help the eggs strain out. (You do have to break the yolks–push down on them.) Pack in plastic freezer containers, leaving 1/4-inch headspace. Usage: Three tablespoons of egg mixture equals one whole egg.
Yolks Only
Break yolks into a bowl. Add either 1 teaspoon sugar or 1/2 teaspoon salt per every six yolks (to prevent coagulation). Prepare and pack as for whole eggs. Usage: One tablespoon of mixture equals one egg yolk.
Whites Only
Break whites into a bowl. Prepare and pack as for whole eggs. Usage: Two tablespoons equals one egg white.
Easy! Eggs can be frozen up to 12 months. Take out what you need and thaw it slightly before using in a recipe and you’re good to go. This is particularly nice when you have a recipe calling for egg whites or egg yolks, or some uneven number like two whole eggs and one egg yolk. (What are you gonna do with that one leftover egg white?) Storing whites and yolks separately along with whole eggs in batches in the freezer means no wasting!
The chickens love that. Chickens are very frugal.
I mean, you know what tightwads they are with their eggs!!!
See this post at Farm Bell Recipes and save it to your recipe box.
See All My Recipes
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Clare says:
I think I’m confused! Are you saying that the whole yolks will strain through the colander, along with the whites? Seems like that’s not possible. Maybe I need remedial egg straining help! =;)
On February 4, 2010 at 1:52 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
Connie, that would be a great idea re the ice cube trays!
Clare, you do have to break up the yolks but not by beating, just by pushing them down into the holes of the strainer. (I will go add a sentence to the post to clarify that! Thanks!)
On February 4, 2010 at 7:31 am
blossom says:
What a great way to deal with the feast or famine approach my girls have to laying, and much nicer than pickled eggs, yuk!
On February 4, 2010 at 6:13 am
Linda says:
When I was a kid, my Aunt Ruth had chickens. She left a little round light bulb in the nest when she took out an egg. That encourages the hen to lay in the same spot. The poor hen thinks the light bulb is her egg and returns to her nest to lay the next egg. I tried it a few years back when I had some hens, I used a ping pong ball instead since the hens nested in the sheep barn and I didn’t want glass in there. It worked for my hens,too. Now I don’t know what to suggest you put in a nest to make that double yolk hen return; maybe some ” :chicken: Preparation H” :sheepjump:
On February 4, 2010 at 6:20 am
Box Call says:
So that is how they make EggBeaters….
On February 4, 2010 at 6:32 am
Connie Trippett says:
Could the eggs be frozen in an ice cube tray to be more the size of one egg. That way I would not have a big bag and only need 2-3 eggs.
On February 4, 2010 at 6:55 am
Johanna says:
What a timely article — I just posted my own “so many eggs” story here: https://www.busysolitudefarm.com/2010/02/monsta-noodles.html. I’ll add a link back to yours now for another notion of what to do with them! Hard to believe that in not so many months they’ll slow way down.
On February 4, 2010 at 6:58 am
wkf says:
A friend of mine swears her grandmother used to freeze the whole egg, in the shell. Just stick the egg carton in the freezer. I have been to chicken :chicken: to try it.
On February 4, 2010 at 6:59 am
chickensohmyagain says:
Gee, thanks! I have actually been wondering if you could do that. With barnyard chickens, it is either feast or famine. I had so many eggs a few days ago, I looked for a good quiche recipe to use them up… when I had the first part of the quiche makings done and was ready to do the eggs… there were no eggs!!
Dh had noticed I had too many and kindly taken care of the matter by giving away eggs. Luckily the sausage, peppers, onions that were all fried up went well on egg NOODLES as well, with a little Campbell’s Cream of CHICKEN soup.
Aren’t farm eggs just beautiful? One of my banty girls is also laying greenish eggs, but I don’t know who it is yet.
Don’t you love the breed names? Have been trying to identify ours, since they came from many sources… latest named little guy is an Old English Gamecock Silver Duckwing, the smallest of the bantam breeds. He is black and white. But the hens are brownish and reddish! So they are a naturally sex-linked breed. He weighs about a pound and a half. My other favorite rooster is a Silver Pencil Wyandotte. I am going to make a photo gallery of these guys and gals.
On February 4, 2010 at 7:16 am
Cousin Sheryl says:
Maybe that large egg came from your duck!?! :yes:
(PS – We need a duck smiley.)
:heart:
On February 4, 2010 at 7:19 am
Susan at Charm of the Carolines says:
Amazing! I never knew it was possible to freeze eggs successfully. I wish I had known this when they were 49 cents a dozen at Aldi!
I’m off to the Blissdom Bloggers conference today. Looking forward to learning something new. I’ll share the good parts with you when I return.
Susan
On February 4, 2010 at 7:29 am
Debnfla3 says:
All the years of growing up with egg laying chickens and I never knew you could freeze eggs! Mama never did but then she sold eggs to have her “egg money”. Who would have “thunk” it!!! LOL
I swear, I learn something new here every single day.
Deb
On February 4, 2010 at 7:49 am
Cranberry says:
I adore chickens, they are so busy all the time, making cute sounds and giving yummy eggs… and whoever laid that big egg must have had a good breakfast!
On February 4, 2010 at 8:16 am
kerri says:
That’s good to know. There’ll be chickens around here this coming summer. I’m looking forward to them. Great chicken photos! :happyflower: :chicken:
On February 4, 2010 at 8:17 am
flutterby says:
Ooo, a week ago I made a recipe that called for 8 egg yolks. I saved the whites in the fridge but not the freezer and never did get around to making meringues or Creole kisses. Hmmm, now I know what to do. Will defrosted egg whites beat up properly if I finally decide to make those meringues?
On February 4, 2010 at 8:24 am
Michele Messier says:
That giant egg cracks me up! :hungry: :hungry: :hungry: :hungry:
On February 4, 2010 at 8:46 am
Auroraswood says:
Identical twin chicks, how cute would that be?
On February 4, 2010 at 8:47 am
LauraP says:
That’s a lot more trouble than I go to, and I’ve been freezing and using surplus eggs for years. Seriously, the thawed ones cook just fine in everything I’ve needed to make without the salt, sugar, or strainer routine. True, it’s extremely rare that I get no eggs at all, so if I need the fresh yolk texture for a pudding or whatever, I can just the fresh ones for that and thaw a frozen batch for breakfast, bread, etc.
On February 4, 2010 at 9:15 am
Karen Anne says:
LauraP, how do you freeze your eggs?
On February 4, 2010 at 9:22 am
Victoria says:
Suzanne,
Thanks so much for the instructions AND for sharing the pic of the double yoker! Neat! Your chicken stories “crack” me up! :heart:
On February 4, 2010 at 9:25 am
connie says:
In all my 53 years I never knew you could freeze eggs..Do they still taste the same..Connie
On February 4, 2010 at 9:27 am
Just Kris says:
I never thought about freezing eggs. I do know if you you leave them outside in the winter months overnight they will freeze and shells will crack – not good. We have been lucky enough to sell many of our surplus which helps with feed costs but there are times when we have too many and no buyers. I am going to try this “purposeful” freezing technique. Thanks Suzanne!
On February 4, 2010 at 9:31 am
Tonya says:
I didn’t know this. Thanks for the info. I love your site. Keep up the good work. The only thing, I would love to teach you how to drive on what you call the “scary” road conditions. :happyflower:
On February 4, 2010 at 9:43 am
Sandy says:
Back when I had chickens (250+, along with 29 ducks and 9 geese), I had a yogurt cup taped to the end of an old broom handle for getting eggs out of tight spots. I tried the rake at first, but my aim… not good. I kept breaking them. The yogurt cup was lighter and easier for me.
Also, we used “nest eggs”, just golf balls in our case. They looked vaguely egg-like in the nest, enough that the hens would put *most* of their eggs where we wanted them to.
On February 4, 2010 at 9:49 am
Beth says:
Love your pictures! “Guess what??? Chicken butt!!!” :chicken:
On February 4, 2010 at 10:07 am
joycee says:
I love Chickens In the Road for many reasons, but when you save me money…Will you be my Valentine?
On February 4, 2010 at 10:16 am
goatgirl says:
That is exactly how I gather eggs. This is a great tip. Thanks.
On February 4, 2010 at 10:23 am
Mickey says:
Freezing eggs! Who knew? When I get too many eggs I make homemade egg noodles. Then dry or freeze them. Yum! Love the Blog.
On February 4, 2010 at 10:50 am
M.J. says:
Suzanne–
Off the egg topic, but I want to report that I made grandmother bread for the first time yesterday. I just cannot get over its simplicity and its awesomely delicious awesomeness!
On February 4, 2010 at 10:52 am
LauraP says:
Karen Ann –
I freeze eggs in batches according to how I’ll use them. Remove from the shell, freeze in containers, and usually I pop them out of the container when frozen solid and store the frozen portions in big freezer bags. (Packs tighter in the freezer, and space usually is precious.) Ziplocs will do, but I prefer the poultry bags we use for freezing whole birds because they’re gusseted and accommodate the blocks of egg better.
No additives. They’re there for texture and making thawed eggs act like fresh eggs, but I’m fine with frozen eggs being like frozen eggs.
So, freezing – I use both whole eggs (w/o shell, of course) or scrambled in big batches in the mixer. 2 eggs in a yogurt cup for whatever, 5 duck eggs in a Gladware container works for the bread recipe or a family breakfast, a gladware container of scrambled eggs can be family breakfast or measured out for recipes. As Suzanne said, the yolks will coagulate w/o anything added, but that just means they take a bit longer to mix in. Otherwise, they work fine for everything but hollandaise-type uses where the yolk is an emulsifier — though honestly, they might work fine for that if you coaxed them gently in the mixing. I’ve never tried because I’m so mentally programmed to plan meals around what’s available seasonally or stored in the pantry instead of making the menu and then shopping for ingredients. So, no fresh eggs on hand means something besides pudding, hollandaise sauce, or whatever. No biggie.
On February 4, 2010 at 11:03 am
Nikki Lawson says:
My grandmother used to use ice trays to freeze them individually. So that you had single or multiple eggs on hand! Them she slide tem out of the trays into ziplock bags.
On February 4, 2010 at 11:12 am
Chic says:
Great idea! Love the pictures Suzanne. So far I haven’t had enough eggs to freeze as hubby takes the extra eggs to work to sell. He has the guys begging for eggs when we don’t have extras to sell! The chickens are just starting to lay again and this spring we’ll be getting a bunch of chicks (some for meat) so I will use your freezing instructions for sure! Thanks for all the great idea’s you bring to your blog…we appreciate it. :hungry2:
On February 4, 2010 at 11:18 am
Moi says:
I freeze eggs, too. I crack and put one egg in each ice cube tray spot. With each one, there’s usually a little excess white that oozes over into the next spot. By the time you’ve cracked 8-10 eggs, you have 2-4 cubes of whites only. Works out great for my cooking. Oh, don’t forget to poke/break each yolk with a fork or it can do crazy things in the freezer & upon thawing.
On February 4, 2010 at 11:44 am
Tea4too0 says:
Someone has already said this, “I learn something new from here almost every day. I really enjoy this site. My 6 girls are slackers. I am having a better chicken tractor built soon, so maybe then I can run a light for them. They all seemed pretty content this morning at feeding time. I would like for them to start laying so I can try to hatch some babies for this spring. Thanks Suzanne, for this site.
tea4too0
On February 4, 2010 at 11:54 am
catslady says:
Fascinating. I wonder if I didn’t think you could freeze them because you can’t freeze cooked eggs – the whites are like rubber. Thanks so much for the tip!!!
On February 4, 2010 at 12:07 pm
Shirley says:
Before plastic ice trays, my mother froze eggs in glass custart cups. They popped right out after they were frozen, then she put them in a larger container. I don’t know if we had plastic bags then, can’t remember. But after plastic ice trays came along, she used them.
On February 4, 2010 at 1:00 pm
BuckeyeGirl says:
I have egg basket envy Suzanne. I love your egg basket!
I use a gallon vinegar jug with a cut away front. I had an ordinary basket I -was- using, but they make those egg baskets with big mesh, and shaped that way deep and curved inward that way so eggs don’t roll OUT when you bend down to pick up something else..yeah, been there, done that! 😆
On February 4, 2010 at 1:12 pm
Nancy in Iowa says:
I have accidentally frozen eggs – had a fridge in my last apt. that wouldn’t cooperate temperature-wise. Had a whole carton (yeah, store-bought) that froze – eggs froze and shell was cracked. I didn’t dare try to use them – was afraid of bacteria – so tossed them.
I love those busy little chicken butts! :chicken: :chicken:
On February 4, 2010 at 1:44 pm
Donna says:
You are a fountain of practical information! It never dawned on me to freeze eggs.
On February 4, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Beth Brown says:
Good luck with the storm that is heading your way (and then mine). I think we are at the edge of the 12-18 inches of snow! Time will tell –
Keep warm and safe –
Beth aka oneoldgoat (onereally old goat)
On February 4, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Carol says:
Glad I stopped by…all this “egg info” is great. Last summer I was giving eggs to our local food bank but would like to be able to keep some in the freezer, too. Will visit again!
On February 4, 2010 at 9:54 pm
Becca says:
This is fantastic! I’m so glad I found your blog! My chickens have life a little easier but I don’t think my crazy Maui chickens know that! I have eight girls and they have a “I’ll lay when I feel like it” attitude! Hopefully someday I’ll get to try the freezing thing. Looking forward to learning more from you!
Smiles,
On February 5, 2010 at 12:28 am
Angela P says:
:yes: This is how I freeze my eggs….I break them first into a bowl to make sure I dont get any shell fragments, then I carefully pour them into a container with a screw on cap that pours….did you understand that???? DONT MIX/BEAT them.I can get about a dozen in one container.
Just the whole egg. Then freeze. Unthaw by letting them come to room temp or in fridge. Then just flip your cap, not your cap but the top of the container…. and pour them out. The yolk will stay with its white. Its almost unbelieveable but Im tellin ya, it works. Old camping trick! :yes:
On February 5, 2010 at 5:19 am
Judy@daily yarns says:
I did not know you could freeze eggs…Thanks for the tips. I do have a question tho…We have never had chickens before and our hens are just starting to lay. How do you get the junk off of the outside of the egg without washing them? I try a soft cloth but it just doesn’t get it all.
On February 5, 2010 at 7:52 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
Judy, I wash my eggs. You shouldn’t wash them if you intend to incubate them, and if you’re going to save them to use as fresh for a long time, don’t wash them until closer to the time you’re going to use them. Or just wash them and freeze the extras!
On February 5, 2010 at 8:05 am
Judy@daily yarns says:
Thanks Suzanne!
On February 5, 2010 at 8:27 am
debbie says:
This is what I mean about this blog. Practical advice and fluffy chicken butts. Ya can’t beat it with a stick!
On February 6, 2010 at 12:51 pm
threadartist says:
Question: When you freeze whole eggs, do you need to add any sugar or salt or is that only when you want to split them up?
On June 24, 2010 at 4:42 pm
Sheila says:
Suzanne do you need any more egg cartons? I’ve got 2 if you need them :).
On December 24, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Barbara says:
You can scramble eggs, put them on flour tortilla shells (the big ones), add meat of choice (ham, bacon, sausage) and top with cheese. I use about 1/3 cup per shell, wrap into a breakfast burrito, seal in foil, and put in the freezer. They can be heated in the microwave for a GREAT breakfast on the run for pennies (take the foil off and wrap in paper towel once frozen). My kids love them on school days- heat and take for walks to the bus stop.
On January 21, 2011 at 9:13 pm
Susan says:
Freeze eggs? Who knew? Love ALL of the great ideas, thinking with my limited space..maybe the ice cube tray approach will do the trick, do one tray of mixed eggs, one tray of just yolks and whites..viola..eggs for any occasion. This is EGGSACTLY the kind of info I love about CITR!
On February 12, 2011 at 7:59 am
cincyjojo says:
I dehydrated 1 dz eggs. First scramble in dry skillet (no milk or oil added)cook until dry; dehydrate until dry; process in blender to powder. For one egg use 2 Tbs powdered egg and 2 Tbs + 2 tsp water to rehydrate the eggs.
On August 15, 2011 at 7:01 am