When we received our 4 Dozen we put them on the counter and left them there, as we used them...We did not wash any until used, fresh eggs unwashed have what is called a Bloom coating on them..It is a barrier to protect the eggs against bacteria..No need to refrigerate if you know they are fresh...We have less than 1 dozen left and love cooking with them..Their is not comparison..You are missing out. Fresh eggs are so much more flavorful than store bought. Among other issues, store bought eggs are, on average, 3-4 months old by the time they make it on the grocery shelf, so they have lost much of their flavor. Typically, they are not as rich flavored anyway because of the cheap feed and living conditions of factory chickens. Free range is really the way to go, but it's a pain in the butt finding all the eggs. Chickens will lay where ever they feel like it and actually try to hide their nests.