Cold Storage

The practice of holding eggs in refrigerated warehouses. Commercial cold storage of eggs began in the U.S. in 1890. Because egg production was seasonal then, spring and summer eggs could be held in cold storage for release during periods of relative scarcity in autumn and winter. This practice helped avoid drastic price fluctuations.

Modern breeding and flock management have virtually eliminated seasonal differences in egg production so that cold storage is neither necessary nor practical. Thanks to rapid handling methods and efficient transportation, most eggs reach the supermarket warehouse within a few days of being laid.

– See Preservation, Storing