PRESERVING EGGS.

Southern Cross, Volume 7, Issue 34, 18 November 1899, Page 6

PRESERVING EGGS.

The results of a series of experiments on the preservation of eggs have been published in the ‘ Berliner Markthallen Zeitung.’ Fresh eggs were treated by twenty different methods in June, and after being allowed to remain eight nnnths were examined at the end of February. In only three of the methods employed did all the eggs remain sound. These were (2) preserving in lime water, and (8) preserving in a solution of silicate of potash. The treatment with vaseline, however, is a tedious business, submersion in lime-water induces a disagreeable flavour, and the use of silicate of potash renders the shell extremely brittle, so that it is expedient to pierce it with a needle •before putting it into boiling water for cooking. Whichever be the .method employed, it is desirable that only non-fertile eggs should be subjected to the process of preservation. Twenty per cent, of the eggs went bad that had been —(1) covered with lard, (2) preserved in wood ashes, (3) varnished with shellac, (4) put in a mixture of boric acid and silicate of potash, or (5) treated with permanganate of potash. Of eggs varnished with silicate of potash or with collodiura 40 per cent, turned bad ; of eggs that had been plunged for twelve or fifteen seconds in boiling water or immersed in a solution of alum or in a solution of salicylic acid 50 per cent, were found to be bad ; of eggs rubbed with salt, or preserved in bran, or covered with paraffin, or treated with a mixture of salicylic acid -and glycerine, 70 per cent, went bad ; of eggs wrapped in paper, 80 per cent.; and of eggs kept in salt water 100 per cent, were found to be bad.