I know my avatar needs to be smaller, will change that soon. Well I was just wondering what is the reasoning to curing eggs at room temperature? I do this just because everybody says so, but shouldn't eggs be kept cool so they are a better quality egg. My only guess for curing them at room temp is to make the eggs breath more which allows for the cure to get into the egg better. Kind of like skin, a warm cloth for example helps open pores. Does the room temp have the same effect on eggs? Am I close?

I might process my eggs at room temperature, but I cure them in the fridge for 4 days or so. To stop the curing process, I will freeze them.

Adding any form of heat will only speed up, and increase, the curing process. You can easily over-cure eggs.

My advice to anyone would be to cure the egss in the fridge, and not at room temperature.

That is how Stlhdr1 taught me to cure eggs, and I figure if anyone should know, it would be him and Perfect Drift.

Here's what I do:

Cute the skein of eggs completely in half (length wise). Cut the veins and push out any and all blood.

I run the skeins under running cold water and use my thumb to get in all the egg folds and clean the crap out of the eggs. All under running cold water. No, the eggs won't seal up on you, and no, you won't lose any more eggs than normal. You will, however, end up with some very clean, and blood-free, eggs. That is what you want. No blood, what so ever.

I put the skeins in a strainer and let the water drain off of them for about 10 minutes. I will cut the half-skeins in to 2-3 inch strips.

I put the strips (about a pint jars worth) in a tupperware bin (same one I use while fishing) and apply the cure to the eggs. I work that cure in my fingers.

When the eggs have enough cure on them (I just eye it) and I am happy, I start filling up the pint jars and put a lid on them.

I wash the jars and put them in the fridge. I will turn them over every 6-8 hours for 3-4 days. After 4 days, I label them and put them in the freezer.

They will easily last an entire year in the freezer.

To thaw, pull out a jar and keep in on the countertop for a day. Or, put them in the fridge for a couple of days. Whatever you do, do NOT run them under, or keep them in hot water. The skeins will break down and the eggs won't hold on the hook if you do this. I learned that one the hard way!

Hey Parker, are you running those under city water or well water. I have always heard not to run your eggs under tap water, does this matter when you cure? I usually use fresh eggs that are not cured over here in MI, but would like to learn some good cures for kings.

City water, but it won't matter.

The only thing the water is doing is getting rid of all the blood and gunk.

Mr. Parker's discription of egg preparation was perfect, however, I'll have to disagree with the refridgeration contingincy. No matter what cure you use (this is a topic of it's own), it's critical for eggs to go through the dehydration/rehydration process. I've cured them both in the fridge and at room temerature, and in my experience the cooler temps in the fridge inhibit this process.

Although I do not use his cure, Scott Amerman has one of the best step by step procedures I've come across for cureing eggs. I've included the link below. Good luck.

http://www.ifish.net/amercure1.html

Moisture content loss is easier to control at a constant temp and RH ie the fridge. Most people homes swing as much 20 degrees from day to night and the RH goes along with it . It remains fairly constant in the fridge unless you open and close it a bunch. So if you are looking for consistancy in your process you will be better of with the fridge method.

DOWNTIME, try both procedures and pick which one works best for you. That's what most of us have done.

I'll be sticking with the room temperature method. Here's my case in point.





2 trips, 17 steelhead hooked, and 10 landed.

Ya had to out do me, didn't ya.

Nice batch of fish by the way. Looks like a nice day on the Ol' Lewy. I guess the only thing we've proven is both methods for curing eggs work well if you know what you're doing.

Parker-
It turned out to be another stellar year. As sick as I am of catching summer steelhead I can't wait for next year..... As it's coming to a close now. But it's time to start slaying the fall fish. I can't wait for 1 more week. It will be exciting.
Keith