TIP OF THE DAY: Use Pasteurized Eggs
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With the recent salmonella outbreak, many people are avoiding eggs. Those who were fearless and enjoyed eating soft boiled eggs, raw cookie dough, brownie batter, Caesar salad and steak tartare are making different choices. Salmonella enteritidis is a dangerous bacterium that causes a number of digestive system illnesses. It can be contracted through the ingestion of raw or undercooked eggs, including by inadvertent cross-contamination in the kitchen. But there are safe raw eggs you can rely on. They’re called pasteurized eggs. Davidson’s, a company in Lansing, Illinois, specializes in pasteurized eggs-in-the-shell, branded as Safest Choice™. Each pasteurized egg is stamped with a red “P.” Just as milk is pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria, the eggs go through a quick heating process that does not cook the egg, but leaves it looking and tasting like any raw egg, with the nutritional value intact. All bacteria and viruses are eliminated. You can prepare the eggs any way you like without fear of egg-related cross contamination in your kitchen. |
Enjoy eggs, raw or cooked, without fear. |
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Another plus of pasteurized eggs is the shelf life. With the bacteria removed, the eggs remain good for six to eight weeks after the sell-by date. Pasteurized eggs are more expensive, which is why they aren’t yet available in most grocery stores: Retailers feel that especially in these tough economic times, people won’t pay more for them (they’re about $5.00 a dozen). But the unfortunate salmonella outbreak has engendered more interest on the part of stores.
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