Can You Kill Salmonella in Eggs Without Cooking Them? I Tried It

The FDA has reported multi-state salmonella bacteria outbreaks tied to jalapeños, granola, dog food, alfalfa sprouts (also featuring E. coli), and something most people probably have in their refrigerator at this very minute: eggs.

Though the eggs being recalled are only from one supplier, Midwest Poultry Services, they were sold under five brand names, including two distributed by one of the country’s largest grocery chains: Kroger and Simple Truth. While this July recall only concerned Kroger stores in Texas, why wait for the next one?

With the advice of two infectious disease experts, I tested what may be the easiest, most universally applicable way to ensure the eggs in your refrigerator are salmonella-free and safe to use—even in raw or near-raw preparations like Hollandaise and pasta carbonara. All it requires is an immersion circulator, a pot of water, and about an hour and a half of your day.