How to Waterglass Eggs

Learn how to waterglass eggs for an easy way to preserve farm-fresh eggs for the winter months when hens lay fewer eggs. Save money with eggs that last for 12-18 months!

As homesteaders, we have learned (and accomplished) SO MUCH since we moved to our homestead.

Recently, I posted how to raise backyard chickens, sharing “all the things” about raising them: the pros and cons, cost breakdowns for budgeting, and happy hen care to ensure a supply of eggs for the whole family.

Have you ever noticed that eggs are actually seasonal? The hen’s cycles are dictated by the length of the day. In colder months, hens lay very few eggs because the daylight is so short at those times.

Chickens naturally reach their peak egg-laying time during the longest days of the year. Warm weather also affects the hens, so they are likely to lay more eggs as it warms up in your region. It’s a great idea to learn how to preserve eggs during times when the hens are at their peak production.

With this in mind, I immediately got to preserving the eggs our hens lay. I started out with freezing eggs, but I have limited freezer space.

So I ended up with a method that homesteaders have used for generations: learning how to waterglass eggs!

WHAT IS WATERGLASSING EGGS?

Waterglassing eggs means storing clean and unwashed eggs in jars of pickling lime and water so that the shell is sealed and perfectly preserved.

What you get are super fresh and delicious eggs – for 12 to 18 months!

Trust me, this method is SUPER fun and easy. Once you do it and reap the benefits of saving money and maintaining your ongoing supply of beautifully preserved raw eggs, you will want to create your own tradition of water glassing eggs for years to come!

INGREDIENTS AND SUPPLIES FOR WATER GLASSING EGGS

To waterglass eggs, you need a few ingredients and supplies.

• Food-Grade Pickling Lime. Also known as hydrated lime, you’ll use this to preserve the eggs.
• Filtered Water. To make the solution, plus fill up the additional space so that the eggs are fully submerged.
• Half-gallon Glass Jar. For storing the eggs. Some people use gallon buckets, but I prefer a smaller jar.
• Kitchen Scale. For weighing the pickling lime.
• Clean Unwashed Eggs. Clean, meaning fully intact with no poop, mud, or dirt debris on them. Wipe them with a dry cloth, if necessary, but don’t wash them. You can follow this egg glassing method with any type of egg – chicken eggs, duck, or quail.

HOW TO WATERGLASS EGGS

Step 1. Use your kitchen scale to measure 1 ounce of pickling lime.

Step 2. To a clean half-gallon glass jar, add the pickling lime and then fill it up halfway with filtered water. (If you have to use chlorinated water, let the water sit in the jar uncovered for 24 hours before using, so the chlorine has time to evaporate.)

Step 3. Thoroughly mix the lime into the water (using a whisk) until the solution is incorporated fully.

Step 4. Carefully add the eggs to the half-gallon jar. Be sure to place the pointy side down.

Step 5. Top off with additional filtered water if needed.

Step 6. Cover with an airtight lid. This prevents oxygen from getting in and also keeps the water from evaporating.

Step 7. Store your freshly water-glassed eggs in a dark and cool place. We keep ours in the basement.

That’s all there is to it!

Note: As you might notice from the pictures, I have also mixed the lime/water in a quart jar first, and then I’ve poured it over the eggs in the half-gallon jar. However, I prefer to just mix it right into the half-gallon jar and then add the eggs, as noted in the instructions above and in the recipe card.

TIPS FOR WATERGLASSING EGGS

• You can’t pour any lime solution down the sink drain, so go ahead and pour it into your garden or compost! It is very acidic and can dissolve the metals of the pipes and leach them into the drainage.
• Reduce dishes by using just the half-gallon jars, rather than measuring into a quart jar first.
• I prefer using half-gallon jars because gallon jars fit too many eggs – it becomes too heavy, and they could break if you move the jar. On the flip side, a quart jar is definitely too small.
• You will be able to fit about 16-18 eggs in one half-gallon jar. I think you should cap it at 18 eggs, so they are all fully submerged in the solution.
• Over time, the lime might settle in the jar. This is normal. Don’t be tempted to stir the solution back up – you’ll likely crack the eggs!

HOW TO USE WATER GLASS EGGS

To use water glass eggs for cooking or baking, you simply pull out the eggs you need and wash them before eating or using them in your favorite recipes.

While freezing eggs changes the texture, waterglass eggs act almost just like fresh eggs! If you’re really paying close attention to your plate of Scrambled Eggs, you might notice that the white is a little bit cloudy and the cooked eggs are slightly firmer. Most people will not notice the difference, especially in baked goods.

Any unused eggs that you pull from the solution should be kept in the fridge and used at your earliest convenience.

WATERGLASS EGGS FAQS

MORE FOOD PRESERVATION TIPS

• How to Freeze Eggs
• How to Blanch Greens
• DIY Canned Diced Tomatoes
• Strawberry Freezer Jam
• 45+ Ways to Use Whey (and 5 Ways to Make It!)
• Dehydrated Apples