It is often hotly debated whether eggs should be stored in the fridge like Americans or on the countertop like Britons, but the answer is a bit complicated. Clare, an expert from Saucy Dressings, has shared that the best way to store eggs is in the fridge, but it is more important to keep them at the same temperature. 

She said: “Eggs like a consistent temperature—the ideal is to keep them below 20C. Clare added: “If you have a shop or market, or you are lucky enough to have a separate larder, outside your kitchen, where the temperature is below 20C you can keep your eggs out of the fridge; but for most domestic use it’s easier to keep the eggs in the fridge.” The most important thing to remember when storing eggs is that they are vulnerable to bacteria, and if their temperature changes too quickly, condensation will occur. 

Moisture from the condensation can easily penetrate the eggshell, which will allow bacteria like salmonella to grow as they thrive in fluctuating temperatures

It is fine to keep eggs on your kitchen counter if you wish, but the key to keeping eggs safe to eat is to ensure they maintain the same temperature when you bring them home from the supermarket. 

This means you cannot put room-temperature eggs in the fridge or leave cold eggs out in your kitchen as it will cause them to spoil quickly. 

The best place to store countertop eggs is away from windows and hot appliances in the kitchen, where they will stay cool.

Ideally, keep countertop eggs somewhere dark, like a kitchen cupboard or a pantry, if you are lucky enough to have one in your kitchen. 

If you wish to keep eggs fresher for longer, it is better to refrigerate them as the consistently cold temperature slows down bacteria growth and the natural ageing process. 

However, be aware that if you do store eggs in the fridge, you cannot store them inside the fridge door, as this will do more harm than good. 

Clare explained, "Because eggs benefit from consistent temperature, it’s not a good idea to keep them in the fridge door, the part of the fridge that is warmest and most likely to see temperature changes. Ideally, keep your eggs at the back of the middle shelf of the fridge.” 

If you keep eggs at a steady and cool temperature, it is fine to store them in the fridge or on the countertop if you live in Britain. 

The reason the US puts eggs in the fridge is that they are washed before being sold in the supermarkets, which removes their natural protective coating, which prevents bacteria. 

The UK and most of Europe do not wash eggs, so this coating stays on the eggs to keep them safe to eat. You can store them however you please as long as you keep them stored at the same temperature.