Boiled Eggs

[sjones503]

OK I have this theory... Back in the day when we would die easter eggs, they sat out to days, sometimes a week. Then mom would make those same eggs into deviled eggs for Easter Dinner. Sooooo... wouldn't boiled eggs lasted a few days on the trail in a pack, if somewhat protected from crushing?

[Damn Yankee]

You can buy plastic containers to hold 6-12 eggs for camping. As for how long the eggs would last, IDK but to aid in helping them last, you can coat them with veg. oil.

[illabelle]

Boiled eggs will definitely last a few days. In cool weather, they will last about as long as they would in your refrigerator. In July, it might be better to eat them in a couple days. They're a nice treat to add to a meal, by the way!

[Feral Bill]

Fresh uncooked eggs last longer. Either will stink if they have gone bad.

[Old Grouse]

Unwashed eggs (i.e. straight from the coop) have a coating called a "bloom" which will preserve them for 10 - 12 days without refrigeration. The eggs you buy at the average grocery store are, washed, of course, and may be several weeks old.

[sjones503]

Unwashed eggs (i.e. straight from the coop) have a coating called a "bloom" which will preserve them for 10 - 12 days without refrigeration. The eggs you buy at the average grocery store are, washed, of course, and may be several weeks old.

Yeah I knew fresh eyes last for a while, hens will let them sit for a week or longer to get her cluster just right before deciding to sit on them.

[Old Grouse]

Yeah I knew fresh eyes last for a while, hens will let them sit for a week or longer to get her cluster just right before deciding to sit on them.

There you go. But heaven forbid that we should buy an egg with a bit of feather or worse stuck to it. Might remind us where our food actually comes from.

[FarmerChef]

Consider buying pickled eggs to extend the shelf life a bit. I haven't done a scientific survey (e.g. putting a non-pickled and pickled egg on the counter and waiting for the smell....) but as with most things pickling I would hazard a guess that you could extend the shelf life. Plus, the flavor is mmmm good.

[FlyPaper]

OK I have this theory... Back in the day when we would die easter eggs, they sat out to days, sometimes a week. Then mom would make those same eggs into deviled eggs for Easter Dinner. Sooooo... wouldn't boiled eggs lasted a few days on the trail in a pack, if somewhat protected from crushing?

I've taken a combination of boiled and uncooked eggs on my last 10 or so sections hikes.

I usually scramble eggs for breakfast on the first and/or second morning. No problems. REI sells a light weight mini spatula that does a lot better than a spoon for scrambling. I'd suggest picking one up if you're going to scramble eggs.

And boiled eggs for a mid day snack are great. I usually eat them all within 2 days, not because they go bad, but their calorie to weight ration is not great.

[ippon]

I always take 5-7 boiled eggs on my hikes and eat one each day. If the weather is really warm I'll consume them quicker. They don't need any protection if I keep them near the top of my pack.

[dmax]

A frozen hard boiled egg would be a tough way to start the morning. But once nights are warmer I love them.

[Venchka]

Fresh eggs, coated with an edible oil, butter, or even Vaseline, last for months on board small cruising sailboats. The theory being that applying an air tight coating to the shell preserves the contents inside. As told to me by folks who have, "Been there. Done that."

Wayne

[daddytwosticks]

Like some of the previous posters, I almost always start a section hike with a few boiled eggs. Even in June down south here, they are fine up to about three days unrefrigerated for me. I store them in my cook pot. :)

[Doc]

Every time I leave a town I hike out with at least 6 hard boiled eggs. Usually I buy them at a store but sometimes I get a meal at a diner and ask for "6 to go". Perfect breakfast for the next three mornings.

[kayak karl]

old thread on eggs http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?74927-How-long-will-eggs-keep-on-the-trail&highlight=eggs

[Namtrag]

Buy local farm raised ones, they have really thick tough shells....will take a lot more abuse on the trail. Take them uncooked and boil them as you go.

[Old Grouse]

Buy local farm raised ones, they have really thick tough shells....will take a lot more abuse on the trail. Take them uncooked and boil them as you go.
Stop by the house and I'll be glad to give you a dozen.

[moytoy]

Sodium Silicate (water glass) will seal fresh eggs and they can last for months if done properly. People used this method a lot before electricity was widely available. Don't boil without pricking the SS seal though. :) A boiled egg in warm weather will go bad pretty quickly. Like somebody said it will smell and you will know it. I ate a bad boiled egg and didn't think much about it. I thought it had been pickled cause it had that sour taste. :)

[Sarcasm the elf]

Buy local farm raised ones, they have really thick tough shells....will take a lot more abuse on the trail. Take them uncooked and boil them as you go.

This, my family had our own chickens growing up, you wouldn't believe how long fresh unwashed eggs that are laid by healthy chickens actually last.

[Namtrag]

I was amazed at the first batch we got from the lady...the eggs are so much heavier and bigger. It actually was difficult to get the shell to crack when I was trying to scramble some eggs.

[SoCal Mike]

You can buy plastic containers to hold 6-12 eggs for camping. As for how long the eggs would last, IDK but to aid in helping them last, you can coat them with veg. oil.

I use a 2-egg version of the plastic containers to hold fresh eggs. It works great. I steam cook the eggs. Not sure how low they will last raw or cooked, especially in extreme temps; so I always cook them on the first morning out, just to be on the safe side.

Michael

[Abner]

The first person to walk the entire AT from South to North, back in 1948, noted in his trail journals that he carried boiled eggs whenever possible. He found boiled eggs easy to pack, easy to prepare from fresh eggs, and full of great nutrition for his exertions. Somehow knowing Earl Shaffer was partial to eggs makes me want to take a few along with me on my hikes.

[Wise Old Owl]

Well we are here from all walks of life the glassing is old school and works.. sealing the pores of the shells reduces oxygen and prevents rotting. About just laid fresh eggs - they do not hard boil. About store eggs - they are NEVER fresh and they do hard boil. So hard boil what you have and seal with some vegetable oil if you are holding more than one week. If you are like me - I tape small straws of sea salt to 5 hard boil eggs and bagels with UL tubs of flavored cream cheese it all lasts more than five days.

[July]

Well we are here from all walks of life the glassing is old school and works.. sealing the pores of the shells reduces oxygen and prevents rotting. About just laid fresh eggs - they do not hard boil. About store eggs - they are NEVER fresh and they do hard boil. So hard boil what you have and seal with some vegetable oil if you are holding more than one week. If you are like me - I tape small straws of sea salt to 5 hard boil eggs and bagels with UL tubs of flavored cream cheese it all lasts more than five days.
Hey Owl, I concur, sir!

[Starchild]

About just laid fresh eggs - they do not hard boil.

They don't?
:confused:

[daddytwosticks]

^^^ I must have been doing something very wrong with my neighbor's fresh eggs. They boil up hard every time. :)

[pipsissewa]

Sodium Silicate (water glass) will seal fresh eggs and they can last for months if done properly. People used this method a lot before electricity was widely available. Don't boil without pricking the SS seal though. :) A boiled egg in warm weather will go bad pretty quickly. Like somebody said it will smell and you will know it. I ate a bad boiled egg and didn't think much about it. I thought it had been pickled cause it had that sour taste. :)

Thanks, Moytoy! I've learned something new today. Click HERE (https://www.lehmans.com/p-297-water-glass-liquid-sodium-silicate.aspx?show=all) to buy and read how the Amish use it to preserve eggs and do many other things.

[kayak karl]

They don't?
:confused: i hard boil fresh eggs all the time, but they can be hard to peel. i add baking soda to water when boiling. it helps. to add time to them you can smear them with a thin coat of Vaseline.

[squeezebox]

I've heard of people bringing a coop on wheels, for car camping trips,to fuel their addiction to fresh eggs.
Tough getting along with the dog folks though.

[daddytwosticks]

I've heard of people bringing a coop on wheels, for car camping trips,to fuel their addiction to fresh eggs.
Tough getting along with the dog folks though.

Wonder if you can train them to follow you carrying a small backpack? Think of the possibilities. :)

[Wise Old Owl]

They don't?
:confused:

fresh eggs do not hard boil and the shell wont separate correctly... its a fine mess.

[Farr Away]

I have heard that if you steam (instead of boil) fresh eggs, they will peel well. I haven't tried it yet though.

-FA

[Odd Man Out]

Eggs are certainly good, but they are mostly water so not high in calorie density (1.7 cal/g).

Another egg based food that some may be surprised to find is not perishable is mayonnaise. (i.e. does not require refrigeration).

As it is mostly oil, it has a very high in calorie density (7.2 cal/g). Take some to mix with your boiled eggs.

[Tedinski]

I had no idea that preserving eggs for the trail was possible!
It seems that water glass won't work. You have to keep the eggs submerged.
Some other ways seem promising.
Here's a study that was done on many eggs, with many methods:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/how-to-store-fresh-eggs-zmaz77ndzgoe.aspx?PageId=1#axzz3220UIlTY
I haven't tried any but it seems some methods will work for even a few weeks on the trail.

[zelph]

I love eggs big time. I eat them prepared any which way I can:D

I found a stainless steel condiment pan thingy that works awesomely well with the 10cm Imusa Mug. I put 2 holes in the pan to allow steam to enter to enhance/speed up the cooking time, whoooo, works awesome.;)

The pan also works well for baking. I use a mix called the 321 which is a mix for Microwaving a quick sweet treat. The mix consists of angle food and regular cake mixes.

Back to the eggs. I use a few drops of olive oil as a release medium to prevent sticking to the pan. I put in a half inch of water in the mug and start it to boiling. I put the pan of 3 eggs onto the top of mug when I see the little bubbles beginning to form. I then put the lid on and cook for 6 min. Remove from heat, add a little margarine, pepper and salt and best of all.....eat:)

3 eggs cooked in 6 min. Works for me:)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/Imusa%20Lids/Imusa%20Egg%20Cooker/ImusaBaking002_zpse9f3fc3c.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/obijiwa/media/Imusa%20Lids/Imusa%20Egg%20Cooker/ImusaBaking002_zpse9f3fc3c.jpg.html)http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/Imusa%20Lids/Imusa%20Egg%20Cooker/ImusaBaking001_zps4c71c97f.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/obijiwa/media/Imusa%20Lids/Imusa%20Egg%20Cooker/ImusaBaking001_zps4c71c97f.jpg.html)


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/Imusa%20Lids/Imusa%20Egg%20Cooker/ImusaMugeggcooker002_zpsae1ea185.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/obijiwa/media/Imusa%20Lids/Imusa%20Egg%20Cooker/ImusaMugeggcooker002_zpsae1ea185.jpg.html)http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/Imusa%20Lids/Imusa%20Egg%20Cooker/ImusaBaking004_zps5b35da2d.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/obijiwa/media/Imusa%20Lids/Imusa%20Egg%20Cooker/ImusaBaking004_zps5b35da2d.jpg.html)http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/Imusa%20Lids/Imusa%20Egg%20Cooker/ImusaMugeggcooker001_zps824aeb51.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/obijiwa/media/Imusa%20Lids/Imusa%20Egg%20Cooker/ImusaMugeggcooker001_zps824aeb51.jpg.html)http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/Imusa%20Lids/Imusa%20Egg%20Cooker/ImusaMugeggcooker003_zpsde212859.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/obijiwa/media/Imusa%20Lids/Imusa%20Egg%20Cooker/ImusaMugeggcooker003_zpsde212859.jpg.html)http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/obijiwa/Imusa%20Lids/Imusa%20Egg%20Cooker/ImusaMugeggcooker004_zpsf5e46570.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/obijiwa/media/Imusa%20Lids/Imusa%20Egg%20Cooker/ImusaMugeggcooker004_zpsf5e46570.jpg.html)

[zelph]

.

Edited to say: OOps, I think I should have started a new thread:o

[bamboo bob]

I am far too lazy for most of what I've read on this thread. I do take HB eggs that I buy from the regular grocery store in a four pack. I eat them too fast to know how long they would last.

[Wise Old Owl]

last trip out a pack of four lasted all week... with sea salt packets :)

A common question is how to tell if eggs are bad? Although not a perfect test, your senses are usually the most reliable instruments to tell if your eggs have gone bad. To tell if eggs are bad, look at the egg white. The freshest eggs have a cloudy white color to the “white” of the egg and as the egg ages the white becomes more of a clear color (the egg is still fresh). Alternatively, if the white of the egg has a pinkish or iridescent color and also if it has a slight rotten smell when cracked, then the egg has gone bad. If you open an egg and smell something rotten, be sure to throw that egg away. There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled eggs including the very dangerous Salmonella and E-Coli strains of bacteria (which cannot be seen), so remember to practice food safety and enjoy your eggs well cooked and prior to the eat by date suggested above.