Videos on social media often show people washing eggs with soap and water before putting them into the refrigerator, making many wonder if they have been storing eggs incorrectly all along. Surprisingly, food safety experts say that washing store-bought eggs at home is unnecessary and may actually increase the risk of contamination instead of preventing it.

Eggshells contain thousands of tiny pores. Freshly laid eggs are naturally protected by a thin coating called the bloom, or cuticle, which seals those pores and helps keep bacteria out. In countries like the United States and Canada, commercial eggs are washed and sanitized before reaching stores, removing this protective layer. Because the bloom is gone, refrigeration becomes essential. But there is one important reason experts warn against washing them again after you bring them home.