Ginger Johnson Asks
Larry Finch Explains
Wax - Sarah Scott
Vaseline - Jeffrey Charles
Ginger Johnson Asks
I don't think POB mentions it, but can anyone explain how one preserves fresh eggs in isinglass? I've seen references to people keeping buckets of eggs that way but haven't a clue what's meant by it.
Larry Finch Explains
If you dip eggs in sodium silicate (waterglass) it seals the pores of the egg, allowing it to stay fresh much longer. This was a common practice before refrigeration. Anything that seals the shell should provide the same benefit.
Wax - Sarah Scott
You can do pretty much the same thing by dipping them in wax-- as long as you seal out the air, the egg can't really go stale and rot.
Eggs are remarkably flexible. Fresh eggs take a lot longer (weeks? days? -- depending on the weather) than you think to go bad, and if you can stop the air exchange through the shell, well! Bob's your uncle!
Vaseline - Jeffrey Charles
Or simply smear them with Vaseline. Handy for those longer sailing voyages.
Which it's the Patrick O'Brian list of the world!