Dark Eggs...Whats the Problem?

[Hottamale1]

I need to know why my newly cured eggs are turning dark after drying on the rack. Does anyone else have this problem? I used this relatively new "Wizard" cure with some sugar, let the eggs re-absorb the juice, laid them on the rack, and they got MUCH darker than I had hoped for. Any Cures to my problem? Scott

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

Hey Scott, I think the darker tone you were getting is from the sugar you put on the eggs. I have cured several batches up with several different methods and the ones I put sugar on received a darker tone. I have been fishing the darker toned eggs and they still milk fine to me, plus I am still getting hits. I won't fix something if it's not broken, but I guess it's all up to personal preference.

[Deleted User]

Actually sugar acts as a color stabilizer, as well as a flavor enhancer. I think drying eggs out in the air for a significant time can darken them a bit. Also, some eggs are just prone to turning darker than others. Be sure to get the blood out of the eggs before curing them by thorough paper towelling between the folds and using a spoon to gently push blood out of the veins into the paper towells. If they are really bloody/dark then follow up with a rinse in really cold (almost frozen) distilled water. This will rid most of the blood and should give you lighter brighter eggs. Another alternative for dark or very bloody eggs is to soak rinse them in a strong saltwater solution. Rinse off the saltwater and cure them up in a formula with a little less salt in it, or just use less of the cure so as not to have too salty of eggs. I noticed you used an OTC cure that has a lot of dye in it. Be careful to use a little less than the instructions call for so as not to overdye or over chem the eggs. Too much dye can also be a factor in darker eggs, as well as making them a bit costic to the fish.

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Know fish or no fish. - RT

[This message has been edited by RT (edited 10-16-2000).]