Eggs can be fresh or dried, the latter being only hens’ eggs without the shell and water. Dried egg should be stored in a cool, dry place – not in the fridge! Store eggs for a few days or a week in a cool place away from strong-smelling foods. An egg stand is ideal for this. If the eggs are dirty, wipe them clean – washing will remove the natural oils which help preserve the eggs.

Pickled Eggs: eggs laid in the Spring keep better than those laid in the other seasons. Eggs that will not clean-up, must be rejected. Waterglass or the special preparations should be used. If an egg floats to the surface, use it immediately. Try to maintain the ambient temperature between 2 and 8 C and they should keep for 6 to 9 months.

Preparing Eggs for Cooking: break each egg separately into a cup, before adding it to the other ingredients to ensure it is not ‘off’. If you wish to separate the white from the yolk, tip the contents back and forth between the two eggshell halves and the white (albumen) will run off. Beat eggs with a whisk or a fork in an appropriate bowl; whip egg whites with a knife on a dinner plate – a pinch of salt will help.

Raw eggs used to be prescribed for invalids as they are easily digestible, but, this not advisable these days due to the prevalence of salmonella. One method, presented here for the curious was to strain a beaten egg into a mug and slowly add a cup of hot milk (or tea, coffee or lemon water; add sugar to taste. Sherry was often added also.

Cooking Eggs: eggs should be cooked very slowly because the albumen cooks at a temperature which is lower than that of boiling water and becomes ‘tough’ at higher temperatures. By the same token, if you use raw egg to thicken a sauce and the liquid is allowed to boil, the sauce will ‘curdle’, i.e. the egg will solidify into small specks, spoiling its texture.

Coddling: produces easily digestible egg-whites, making it an ideal meal for invalids and children. Lower eggs into 3″ (75mm) boiling water; replace lid and turn off the heat. Let stand for: 7 mins for medium-, 5 mins for soft- and 20 mins for hard-boiled.

Boiling: lower fresh eggs gently into 3″ (75mm) boiling water with a large spoon. Replace the lid and boil gently for 3-4″ mins for soft-, 4-5 mins for medium- and 10 mins for hard-boiled eggs.

Place the eggs in eggcups: tap the shell to crack it, pemitting the steam to escape and so preventing further cooking. For sandwiches, salads etc: boil egg for 12 mins and plunge into cold water. This enables the shell to be easily removed and discourages a black ring around the yolk.

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