Springtime on the homestead means more daylight, and happier chickens. Happier chickens make more eggs, and thus, we have an overabundance to deal with. In order to have plenty in the fall and winter months, water glassing eggs is the perfect solution.
What is Water glassing Eggs?
Water glassing eggs involves submerging clean, unwashed, eggs in a pickling lime and water solution to seal off the shell and preserve them for 12-18 months. The result is perfectly fresh, unspoiled eggs, just like they were the day the hen laid them. Sometimes properly water glassed eggs are still fresh even after two years. Homestead folks have been using this preservation method since the 1800s to capitalize on the springtime egg abundance year round.
There are a few different solutions that work for water glassing, such as sodium silicate and water, but today I am going to share a method for using hydrated lime, which is also known as pickling lime.
Tips:
You can fit approximately 16-18 eggs per half gallon jar.
Use your cleanest eggs for water glassing. I usually set aside the spotless ones and wait to water glass until I have enough of them. We wash the really dirty ones and store them in the refrigerator. If we keep up with cleaning the coop, and adding fresh straw or bedding, we have a lot more water glass candidates.
If you don’t have a water filter, and you only have access to chlorinated water, you can leave an open jar of water out on the counter for 24 hours. This will cause the chlorine to evaporate.
Use an airtight vessel. Oxygen is the enemy of nearly all food preservation methods, and water glassing is no exception!
Use 1 ounce of pickling lime per quart of water. You can do this in any quantity. So if you have 50 dozen eggs, get yourself some big old food grade buckets and whole lot of lime!
FAQ
Why should you preserve eggs?
We don’t usually think of eggs as a seasonal food, but they actually are. A hen’s ovulation coincides with the length of the day. In the winter, when the daylight hours are short, hens lay little to no eggs. Chickens reach their peak egg laying production when the daylight hours are longest. Heat can also affect ovulation, so springtime, between April and June, yields the highest egg volume here on our homestead. In order to avoid buying several dozen eggs a week in the middle of winter, it makes sense to preserve them when production is up.
Can you water glass store bought eggs?
Unfortunately, no, you cannot water glass store bought eggs. When hens lay eggs, they are covered with a protective “bloom” to keep the eggs fresher longer. This is the reason you can find a pile of eggs hidden somewhere on your homestead after a few weeks, and they are still perfectly fresh and edible. Eggs from the grocery store have been thoroughly cleaned and sanitized, so the bloom is no longer in tact. The lime solution in water glassing works with the bloom to preserve the eggs, so sanitized eggs are a definitee no-go for this method. Try freezing the eggs instead.
Can you use tap water to water glass eggs?
Avoid chlorinated and fluorinated water when water glassing eggs. Ideally you would have access to filtered water that still has all of the minerals intact. If you are on a well, tap water will work just fine. If you are on city water with chlorine and fluoride, opt for a filter, such as the Berkey Water Filter for water glassing eggs.
Can you boil water glass eggs?
You can hard boil eggs that have been water glassed, but it is important to note that you should first poke a small hole in the shell. The hydrated lime solution works by sealing off the egg, and filling all of the pores of the eggshell, so it could actually explode if you don’t first create a release for the pressure.
What is hydrated lime?
Hydrated lime aka calcium hydroxide is a dry and colorless white powder that is most commonly used in steel manufacturing. It is also known as pickling lime or slaked lime.
Can I use garden lime for water glassing eggs?
Garden lime is calcium carbonate, whereas pickling lime is calcium hydroxide. Since the hydroxide is more alkaline, pickling lime is recommended for water glassing.
Is it normal for the lime to settle on the bottom?
Yes, settling lime is a normal part of the process. You may be tempted to stir the solution back up, but don’t do it! You risk cracking the eggs and ruining the whole batch. There is still plenty of lime in the water to preserve the eggs, so no need to worry.
Are water glassed eggs safe to eat?
As long as the process was done properly, water glassed eggs are perfectly safe. Make sure to use clean jars and utensils and clean unwashed eggs. If an egg has gone bad, you will know. The smell will be way off. You can also use the float test to ensure the egg is still fresh.
Do they taste different than fresh eggs?
No! That is the best part about water glassed eggs. Freezing and dehydrating eggs changes the texture of the eggs, whereas water glassing keeps them exactly as they were the day the hen laid them.
When can I preserve farm fresh eggs?
Do you have an overabundance of eggs in the winter for some reason? No worries! You can use water glassing anytime. The eggs also don’t need to be harvested fresh that day. You can wait until you have enough clean ones saved up and do a big preserving day anytime!
Ingredients you will need:
1 ounce pickling lime
1 quart filtered water
Clean unwashed eggs (Eggs that have no poop or mud, and the “bloom” still fully intact)
Equipment:
Airtight Food grade bucket or half gallon glass jar
Kitchen scale (to weigh the pickling lime)
What types of eggs can you use:
Chicken Eggs
Quail Eggs
Duck Eggs
Any eggs can we water glassed!
How To Water Glass Eggs:
Measure out 1 ounce of pickling lime on your kitchen scale.
Add the pickling lime to a clean half gallon jar and fill it up halfway (one quart) with filtered water.
Whisk the lime into the water until it is fully incorporated.
Carefully add the eggs pointy side down.
Add an airtight lid to prevent oxygen from getting in, and prevent the water from evaporating.
Store the water glassed eggs in a cool dark place.
How Long Do They Last?
You can store water glassed eggs in a cool dark place for up to a year. Some people have had success for much longer.
Water Glassing Eggs
Ingredients
- 1 ounce pickling lime
- 1 quart filtered water
- Clean unwashed eggs Eggs that have no poop or mud, and the “bloom” still fully intact
Instructions
- Measure out 1 ounce of pickling lime on your kitchen scale.
- Add the pickling lime to a clean half gallon jar and fill it up halfway (one quart) with filtered water.
- Whisk the lime into the water until it was fully incorporated.
- Carefully add the eggs pointy side down.
- Add an airtight lid to prevent oxygen from getting in, and prevent the water from evaporating.
- Store the water glassed eggs in a cool dark place.
Notes
- You can store water glassed eggs in a cool dark place for up to a year. Some people have had success for much longer.
Deborah says
What if u do not have a cool dark place, if u can go dark but not cool how long will they last?
Michele says
U can place in vupboard, BUT, IT CAM NOT BE NEAR HEATER, OR HEAT SOURCE, OR WHERE SUNLIGHT MAY WARM THROUGHOUT THE DAY. Try a spare bedroom closet in the back ON THE FLOOR, (since heat rises), maybe in a cardboard box, so U don’t accidentally forget & break it! Our SAFE PRACTICE IS COOL, DARK PLACE.
I PLACE IN BASEMENT, ON SHELF, BACK IN THE COARDBOARD BOX THE JAR CAME IN. Mine have done well.
HOPE THIS HELPS.๐
Carla Fisher says
Try the bottom of an inner wall closet.
Kim Wilson says
MY hen’s do not leave clean eggs! So I wash them! Is that going to be a problem later on?
Rooster says
Everything I read about this says you cannot use washed eggs. Takes the bloom off and makes the shell porous allowing the lime to soak through the shell. Iโm starting my first batch today
Michelle Nunez says
I pour the pickling liquid into a bowl and gently wash off the straw and poop before placing eggs in the jar Iโve prepared. I date the top with a post it note and take from the oldest jars first. Works great and havenโt had any issues.
Michele says
I see no comments are getting answered but I thought I would try anyways, How do you seal a mason jar to make it air tight without getting the eggs hot? Also, like several people already asked, can you open the container and remove 1-2 eggs and reseal without it contaminating the whole process?
Kim says
This isnโt an answer but Iโd like to know this as well. Plus if I can keep adding eggs and covering them with more lime/water.
Yvonne says
Do I need to add more lime mixture as I add more eggs?
Lisa says
As long as the eggs are submerged completely in lime it should be fine. If you have more eggs them lime mixture than make another batch. Hope that helps.
Anonymous says
You can buy a canning pump that will suck all the air out of the mason jar and the lid will seal airtight.
Casey says
These don’t work via an airtight seal – the lime coating the eggs/bloom is all the seal they need. Air can’t get below the surface to contaminate the eggs, and that’s the reason for the extra fluid space above the eggs (generally 2 inches).
You can take eggs out just fine since it’s not airtight, and you can even add eggs, but it’s better to start a new jar so that you don’t mix old and new eggs. The lid is to stop physical contaminants like dust and bugs, but it need not be airtight (and honestly probably shouldn’t be because all that does is add a small risk of botulism)
Michele says
Hello, ๐ I am unsure of what U mean by “How do you seal a mason jar to make it air tight without getting the eggs hot?”
U R NOT ‘canning’ eggs once in jar with lime water…..there is no heat involved. U simply mix up the filtered water and pickeling lime well, add U R farm fresh, unrefrigerated, unwashed, with bloom intact, into the lime water solution, with the pointy part of the egg facing downward (best that U can, they do shift), then put lid on and store in a cool, dark place for 6 months to 1 year. Upon retrieving to use,withdraw the desired amount of eggs U wish to use at that time, (I use a clean spoon if only taking 4 out, as not to contaminate the lime Water with my hands)& reapply lid & place remaingback in cool dark storage spot. Or, if using entire jar, I extract ALL EGGS & place them in a bath cold water to check for any floaters (they R trash), & thoroughly rub under water, the lime residue off, place them to drip off on a towel. Then, I empty sink, Wash it down clean, rinse sink well, & refill and submerge those eggs in again and rub lime residue off again, then place on a clean towel to drip and get ready to place in frig in my bowel. Then, when ready to use from frig, I SINK TEST EVERY EGG I about to use at that
moment. If they sink, they R trash. These eggs in frig will keep fresh 2 wks fine for me & taste good. I keep repeating this process and so far, THANK GOD, I HAVE BEEN SAFE & REMAIN HEALTHY.
FYI, the pickeling lime can make U VERY SICK IF U DO NOT RUB & RINSE EGG SHELL WELL; so, I just do twice to ensure food safety.
ALSO, U R NOT TO EAT THESE WATER GLASSED EGGS RAW. In fact, ingesting RAW UNCOOKED EGGS of ANYKIND IS NOT RECOMMENDED.
ALSO, GO WATCH SOME U TUBE VIDEOS, or try this with someone who does it already; IT WILL BOOST U R CONFIDENCE THAT U R DOING IT CORRECTLY.
I pray this has helped U๐
Best of luck on U R endeavors.
Kim says
You stated, “if they sink , they are trash, ” its “if they float ,they are trash”
Anonymous says
This was very helpful, Michele.
Becky E. says
I am getting ready to use some of my water glassed eggs. My question is, can I get some of the eggs out, wash them and put them in the fridge for use? Or do I have to get out of the solution and use immediately? I would like to have some in the fridge so the family does not have to go into the bucket of eggs daily.
Lizz says
Iโm also wondering this
Linda A. says
I don’t see why not after they are washed. The main concern is not disturbing the bloom *before* waterglassing. Afterwards you treat it like you would any other egg.
Anonymous says
Wow! Am almost 74 and never heard of this age old process. Will surely try it!!
Michele says
Best to watch some U Tube videos 1st. Get some education 1st. AND do some small jars 1st as a test run (U can do a quart canning jar size to start off)…..this way, if it fails for whatever reason, U don’t have to throw out large batches of eggs. Best of luck, have fun & happy water glassing.๐
Debbie Mraz says
Can the lime solution be used again after using the eggs. ?
Jeanne Baker says
I started my first batch last July. I am finding that the white of the egg is a brownish tint. Is that normal?
Michele says
DID THE JAR SMELL FOUL WHEN U INITIALLY OPENED? IF SO, THEY R bad, toss the entire jar…… WHERE THEY STILL UNDER THE WATER LEVEL? If not, they may have gone rancid, then toss out the entire jar. R they in the edible time frame? 6 mon to 1 yr? I DO NOT KEEP LONGER THAN THIS.
I have NOT had this issue. DID U DO THE FLOAT TEST for eggs? If the sank & stayed on bottom, they SHOULD be good…..BUT, if U R unsure…..best to toss them all out. REMEMBER: eggs R not the most expensive items to eat, and it is ALWAYS BEST TO PRACTICE SAFE HEALTH PRACTICES. So, I always feel….WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT! It is NOT worth U R health.
Be safe.
Mei-Chang says
If the batch is not contaminated, can I safely re-use again? again?
When contaminated…how to dispose of?
Richard Mueller says
To save money, can Chemstar Type S Organic Hydrated Lime be used as a pickling lime? You can buy this at hardware stores. Thank you
Michele says
So, I have seen people use SLAKED LIME, it is SUPPOSIDLY the same chemical composition as pickeling lime, in the garden center & is cheaper & in bulk.
I AM NOT SURE of U R brand / type lime…..best do do U R research on U R brand. ….it should be food grade & read SLAKED lime.
But honestly, I like small bags of pickeling lime because it stays sealed and every so often I am using a fresh sealed bag….but that is just me๐
I think a safe rule is…..if UNSURE,….. DON’T USE IT.
HEALTH SAFETY ALWAYS COMES 1ST.๐
Glenda Stinchcomb says
Once you use the glasses eggs, can you then reuse the lime water to glass more eggs.