Along with milk and bread, eggs are one of the household items you probably want to have on hand at all times. Eggs are one of the most versatile foods around, so it’s no wonder so many kitchens would be lost without them. Whether you’re whipping up a quick omelet for dinner in a hurry, baking a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies, or making silky scrambled eggs, you’re going to need eggs.

We asked Kenneth Anderson, a professor in the Department of Poultry Science at North Carolina State University, about the do’s and don’ts of storing eggs for maximum freshness.

The best way to store eggs for maximum freshness

1. Store the eggs in the carton. Anderson says closed cartons are better than open containers – or your refrigerator’s special egg holder. “The carton stabilizes temperature fluctuations when you open and close the refrigerator door and protects the eggs from odorous foods,” says Anderson, who notes that “eggs can easily absorb flavors.”
2. Set the correct temperature. Anderson says 41 degrees Fahrenheit is best (most refrigerators are set at 38-40 degrees Fahrenheit), but the egg safety expert says humidity should also be considered. Relative humidity should be between 70 and 80%, a range Anderson says is “relatively easy to achieve” because cold air (like in your refrigerator) doesn’t hold much moisture and “as temperatures drop, humidity increases.” Anderson explains that humidity is higher in refrigerators because of their low temperature. “In an egg carton, the eggs create their own microenvironment of temperature and humidity,” he says.

Is it ever okay to leave eggs on the kitchen counter?

Generally speaking, no. Unless you’re following a recipe that calls for bringing eggs to room temperature before using, you shouldn’t really rely on your open kitchen to keep eggs fresh. Anderson says higher temperatures are bad for egg quality in the long run, so you shouldn’t leave eggs on the kitchen counter – unless it’s just for a short time.

This applies to regular eggs, organic eggs, duck eggs and chicken eggs.

How long does an egg carton last?

According to Anderson, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends eating eggs within 3 to 5 weeks after they are brought home and placed in the refrigerator.

What do the dates on egg cartons mean?

Eggs bought in the supermarket usually have two dates:

• The earlier date indicates when the eggs were placed in the carton.
• The second date (if there are two) is the sell-by date or sometimes the use-by date. Both are at the discretion of the retailer, according to Anderson.

What are the differences between the data

Best before date is 30 days after the packaging date, while Best before date is 45 days after the packing date, explains Anderson, adding that his research has shown that eggs that are 12 weeks past the packing date “are fine, as long as no bacteria have entered the egg.”

For eggs that have been separated for a recipe that calls for whites or yolks rather than the whole egg, you have less time to use up the remaining portion of the egg, about 7 days, Anderson explains.