Effects of mineral oil coating on internal quality of chicken eggs under refrigerated storage

P>The selected internal qualities (weight loss, Haugh unit, yolk index, and albumen pH) of noncoated and mineral oil-coated chicken eggs during 15 weeks of storage at 4 degrees C and/or during 5 weeks of storage at 25 degrees C were evaluated. Results indicated that, without refrigeration, the noncoated and mineral oil-coated eggs rapidly changed from AA to C and B grades as measured by Haugh unit, respectively, after 5 weeks of storage. However, the AA quality of the noncoated eggs could be maintained under refrigerated storage (4 degrees C) for at least 5 weeks. The mineral oil coating and refrigerated storage (4 degrees C) synergistically minimised weight loss and preserved the albumen and yolk qualities of chicken eggs during a long-term storage. At 4 degrees C, the mineral oil-coated eggs preserved the initial AA grade for at least 15 weeks with l.19% weight loss.