How to Store Your Eggs in Lime Water: Preserve Eggs Easily

There is many reasons you may have a bunch of fresh, unwashed eggs which are too much to eat before they turn bad. To preserve them for a longer time, you’ll want to learn how to store eggs in lime water. 

How to store eggs in lime water:

  1. Choose a food safe container.
  2. Make the lime water by mixing 1 oz. of pickling lime per 1 qt. of water.
  3. Place the lime water and the unwashed eggs into the container.
  4. Cap the container.
  5. Store the container in a cool area up to 8 to 12 months.
  6. Carefully remove and rinse the eggs when ready to consume them.

The rest of the article will go into more detail on the steps listed above. You’ll also learn important tips which you won’t want to miss for the process to work properly.

I have researched and stored my fresh eggs using this process prior to and during writing this article. As a Certified Health Coach, a few of my online clients with unwashed eggs have asked me how to preserve eggs in lime.

How To Store Eggs In Lime Water

This storage process will not work with store bought eggs which have been cleaned and sanitized. Fresh layed eggs have a protective “bloom” which keeps them fresh longer. The combination of the bloom and lime is the secret to longer-term storage.

The following is needed:

  • A food safe container including one of the following:
    • 1/2 gallon mason ja (up to 18 eggs).
    • One gallon glass jar (up to 36 eggs).
    • Ceramic container.
    • A food-safe plastic bucket.
  • 1 ounce of pickling lime.
  • 1 quart of filtered water.
  • Unwashed eggs still containing their protective bloom.

The following video explains how to store the eggs in lime water.

Let’s examine each step of the egg storage process.

Disclaimer: Some links in this article are affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

1. Choose a Food Safe Container for Preserving Eggs.

The choice of the container is important. Four options include the following:

  • A half-gallon (1.89-liter) mason jar.
  • One-gallon (3.78-liter) glass jars.
  • Ceramic containers.
  • A food-safe plastic bucket.
Size Jar Quantity of Eggs
1/2 Gallon Up to 18 Eggs
1 Gallon Up to 36 Eggs

Up to 18 eggs can be stored in a half-gallon mason jar. A good option here is the wide-mouth Ball Half Gallon Jar from Amazon. It has a tight lid and doesn’t contain bisphenol A (BPAs). 

If you’re storing up to three dozen eggs, you can use a wide-mouth 1 gallon glass jar. Choose one airtight, leak-proof and toxin-free. If you have more than three dozen eggs, you can get as many of those jars as you need.

Another option is the more compact choice of using ceramic containers or food-safe plastic buckets. 

Ceramic containers can store up to 10 dozen eggs inside (depending on egg and container size).

2. Make The Lime Water.

To make your lime water you’ll need to get a pickling lime powder. Other types of lime powder may not work. A good option here is Mrs. Wages Pickling Lime from Amazon. It’s a brand that’s around for 70 years. Their lime powder comes in a bag you can reseal.

The ratio for the solution should be around one ounce or 28 grams (0.98 oz) of lime powder for each quart of filtered water. A good tip is to measure out a quart of the solution for each half-gallon jar ((Google Books: Lime-water for the Preservation of Eggs)).

1 ounce of Mrs. Wages pickling lime equals 4 level tablespoons.

The following video describes how to use Mrs. Wages pickling lime for eggs.

Avoid using chlorinated or fluorinated city water without filtering it first. Untreated well water should be okay to use. Distilled water is an option if the water cannot be filtered.

After pouring the lime powder into the water, shake the jar vigorously to get a saturated milky-white solution.

You’ll find some sources with different opinions on the approach to take with your measurements. However, your focus should be to ensure you get a properly saturated mix without wasting the lime powder. The recommended measurement meets this requirement.

3. Place The Fresh Eggs Into The Container.

Choose The Eggs.

Choosing the best fresh eggs to store in the solution will avoid ruining the solution. Only pick out fresh, clean, unwashed eggs collected from the nesting boxes within the last 24 hours. Avoid using any cracked or older ones.

After choosing the fresh eggs be sure not to wash them. Washing them removes the natural protection on the pores protecting them from bacteria. The protective layer also prevents them from absorbing the lime solution.

It’s important not to choose store-bought eggs for the lime water, as they are almost always already washed.

Put the Eggs in the Lime Solution.

It’s a good idea to wear gloves because the solution may dry sensitive skin.

Carefully add the fresh eggs into the solution with the pointy side (small end) down. There is an air pocket inside each fresh egg which is better to have on the larger end of the egg. This makes for a better quality egg.

Ensure the fresh eggs are completely submerged1. Mix some more solution if necessary until the eggs are fully covered.

4. Cap the Container and Keep It Airtight.

With the eggs fully submerged, it’s time to cover the container. The half-gallon and one-gallon jars I recommended above all come with tight-fitting lids. Others have rubber bands you can add to the tip of the jar before covering. 

Secure the cap and ensure the container is capped properly. Don’t shake it around too much while covering the jar to avoid cracks in the eggs.

If you’ve used a ceramic container, you’ll have to get creative with covering the egg mix. Those containers don’t come with ready-made covers. Therefore, most people fold a sheet of plastic over the mouth, holding it in place tightly with rubber bands.

This is essential to preserve your eggs.

5. Store the Glassed Eggs in a Cool, Dark Area Up To 8-12 Months.

After tightly sealing the container, move it to a cool, dark corner within your home. The cabinets and basement are two excellent locations. However, anywhere else with temperatures not too hot or cold will work fine. 

Locations where the container has to face direct or indirect sunlight, are not ideal. Avoid hot attics or an area with freezing temperatures like some garages.

How long will limed eggs last?

The recommended time for storing glassed eggs in lime water is up to 8-12 months. Many people have success keeping the eggs up to a year or longer but the chances of getting a bad egg are increased.

Writing the date on the container is a good idea, especially if you’re using more than one container at different times.

Over time it’s typical for some of the lime  to settle at the bottom of the jar. There is no need to mix up the solution again which may also crack the glassed eggs.

6. Carefully Remove and Rinse the Water Glassed Eggs With Water

When it’s time to use the glassed eggs, pour out the solution gently and take out them out from the container. If using only a few eggs, carefully remove the ones needed and reseal the container.

It’s a good idea to use gloves because the lime water can be irritating to the skin. Rinse them properly before cooking or cracking them to ensure the lime solution won’t get inside and change the flavor. 

Cooking the water glassed egg with the lime solution is not good. In addition, it can leave a coat on your pots and pans.

It’s a good idea to check each egg before cooking it. Make sure the white is clear and there is no bad smell2. The yolk might be a little less firm than a newer egg, that’s okay.

To preserve eggs, here’s another video explaining the storage process after 12 months.

If you have any questions to ask me about this article don’t hesitate to comment below or email us. You can find an email on our contact page.

Additional article resources34 ((K-State Research and Extension: Storing Eggs Safely)) ((USDA: How We Store Our Eggs-and Why)).

Read Next – More Food Storage & Eggs Articles!

Can You Store Eggs in Tupperware?

Organic Eggs Vs. Free Range Eggs

Organic Eggs Vs Pasture Eggs: A Comparison

Eggs vs Oatmeal – Which is Better? Let’s Compare

4 Delicious Ways To Cook Fried Eggs

  1. UFDC Home: The candling and preservation of eggs []
  2. USDA: Shell Eggs from Farm to Table []
  3. Utah State University: Preserving Eggs for the Home []
  4. ResearchGate: The effect of oil and lime water treatment on Haugh unit of shell quail eggs []

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *