What is Water Glassing?
The process of preserving eggs has been around for centuries. There were several methods used, and one of the more common ways was by Water Glassing them. When the hens laid an abundant number of eggs during the spring and summer. Our ancestors would collect the extra eggs and preserve them. This would allow them to continue to have enough eggs to eat through the cold winter season, when hens typically do not lay as much.
An egg that has been water glassed, has the same structure and properties as a freshly laid egg that has been cracked open. The water
solution does not change the egg whites, yolks, or the taste, and are just as fresh as the day they were laid.
When we first started our farm, we didn’t have enough customers to sell our eggs to. And of course, as the filled egg cartons started to pile up. We began to be overwhelmed with eggs (You can only eat so many eggs in a day.) and didn’t know what to do with them. So just for fun, we decided to try Water Glassing. I’ll admit, I wanted to try this as more of a decorative piece on the kitchen counter. Showcasing our colorful array of eggs, then anything else. It was a fun experiment, and I enjoyed looking at them. However, for those who do want to preserve eggs for future needs, I will write about how we did it and the process was quite simple.
First, you will need a container to hold the number of eggs you wish to preserve. I have seen people use food grade five (5) gallon buckets and on down to mason jars. It all depends on how many you wish to preserve, and if you are like me, it was about the presentation of the eggs while preserving them. I love antique and vintage styles, so I wanted something that was somewhat large and old looking to sit on the counter. I found some larger old style wired rim jars on Amazon.
They looked and worked great, they seal tight and have a silicone gasket, which both can be put in the dishwasher. (Bonus Points!)
Then you will need food-grade calcium hydroxide, or in other words, pickling lime. I found some at a hardware store in my area. However, you can also order it online. Especially if its canning season and supplies are limited, which was the case here in Maine, at that time.
(I spent more time going to several stores, where I thought I would most likely find it. I was at wits end, and I asked a cashier if she knew where I could possibly find some. She mentioned the hardware store down the road, and if I couldn’t find it there, I was going to give up!) Well, the hardware store had it, a one (1) pound bag of Mrs. Wages Pickling Lime. Which is plenty, since the recipe only requires a little amount of pickling lime, and it will last for quite some time.
For the actual process of Water Glassing Eggs, you will need to save up your eggs. Make sure they are clean, free of hay, shavings and any other debris and do not wash them! You do not want to wash away the protective layer of bloom on the eggs. Check them over carefully for cracks, holes or any imperfections in the shell that could cause them to spoil. (We did not candle our eggs when we did this and in hindsight, we should have.) Sometimes just by visually looking at eggs there are some imperfections that you can’t see, so I would suggest candling your eggs prior, just to ere on the side of caution. When you candle eggs, the light will show any hairline cracks that may be present in the shell.
How to Make Water Glass Eggs:
Fresh Eggs
Water
Take your clean container and gently start filling it with the eggs pointy side down. (This can be tricky and not all of ours ended up that way.)
Next in a separate bowl, mix water with the pickling lime. For every quart of water your container holds, you will need 1 tablespoon of pickling lime. Mix these 2 ingredients thoroughly.
Now take the lime water mixture and pour it into your egg container, filling it up enough to completely cover the eggs. Your eggs will shift, and if there appears to be more room to add a few more eggs, go ahead. However, it is important to make sure that they can be fully submerged in the Pickling Lime Water.
Continue to fill your container with the lime water to the very top. Then close the lid and make sure it is sealed tightly.
The water will be cloudy at first, but it will clear up so you can see your eggs. And it is completely normal to see the settlement of the pickling lime at the bottom of the jar. Do not try to shake or jiggle the jar to mix the solution further, this could cause your eggs to crack inside the jar. Which over time, the egg whites will seep into the solution, and render the egg inedible.
The eggs will remain fresh for up to 6 months to a year if the preservation was done correctly. And as always. Prior to cooking or baking with your eggs, be sure to thoroughly wash them before using.
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