Extension Communications
Extension 4-H Youth Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3630
(515) 294-9915
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Extension Communications |
4/5/04
For immediate release
Contacts:
Dan Henroid, MS, RD, CFSP, ISUE Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management,
(515) 294-3527, dhenroid@iastate.edu
Sam Beattie, PhD, ISUE Food Science and Human Nutrition, (515) 294-3357,
beatties@iastate.edu
Diane Nelson, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-3178,
dinelson@iastate.edu
Safety Guidelines for Decorated Eggs
AMES, Iowa--Remembering a few simple tips will enhance your family's enjoyment of decorated Easter eggs. Dyed or decorated hard-cooked or raw eggs are perishable foods, reminds Sam Beattie, Iowa State University Extension food safety specialist. "If they will be eaten, they should not be out of refrigeration for longer than two hours."
When decorating eggs, be sure to use dyes that are approved for use with food products. Washing eggs in a mild detergent solution will remove the oil coating so that the dye adheres evenly. Rinsing with a mild bleach solution is recommended for blown eggs.
The safest way to empty eggs is to use a baster, Beattie said. "Use a pin or nut pick to make a small hole on the small end and a large hole on the large end of the egg. Hold the egg so the large hole is over a bowl, then use a baster to blow air through the small hole, expelling the contents into the bowl. Rinse the shell with cool running water and allow to dry. Cover and refrigerate the bowl containing the blown-out eggs and use within four days."
"Adequate cold storage and proper handling are important to preventing microbial growth on eggs and the resulting potential for illness," said Dan Henroid, Iowa State University hotel, restaurant, and institution management extension specialist. "Remembering these basic recommendations can help make Easter a safe and happy holiday."
Note: Additional food safety information is available at the Iowa State University Extension Food Safety Web site: www.extension.iastate.edu/foodsafety. Answers to food safety questions also can be found at the "Ask a Food Safety Expert" Web site at www.foodsafetyanswers.org.
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