Raw eggs

Oh I'm sorry! Yes, dippy eggs are what my family's always called them. Sunny side up would be another way to label them. They white is fried but the yolk is left uncooked....so it's easy to "dip". My apologies!

The risk from store-bought dough and what you make at home is exactly the same. Those warnings are there to give the company a defense in the event of litigation, they're not an indication of any increased risk from the products. But it's a good thing for the public too, many of whom aren't aware of the risks or, because they didn't crack an egg themselves, need a reminder right before they put their children in harm's way by sneaking a piece before they're baked.

And, while I tend to "take a walk on the wild side" and eat (ahem, taste) my own raw cookie, cake, muffin dough/batter regularly, it is interesting to note that the premade cookie doughs that are in the grocery refrigerator case have BIG warnings about not eating raw. I understand a number of people have become very ill from eating the premade raw dough. Just another interesting "smile and file" note with regard to the difference in homemade versus store bought (and the cookie dough manufacturers' argued that they never expected anyone to eat the dough raw -- really??? -- and that it was not an approved use. Hmmm...)

I agree use quality eggs and you'll be fine. And I must be the only other person who knows what dippy eggs are. Must be a PA Dutch thing or east coast thing. But FYI dippy eggs are either sunny side up or very over light.

LOL glad I am not the only one who had no idea. IF it is a fried egg with the yolk still runny then the answer is yes, that egg is undercooked and still at risk for salmonella. Not that I worry about that risk, but that is my POV and adequately discussed above. :)

There's no such thing as a stupid question. So, in that light, what the heck is a dippy egg?

In the U.S., official estimates put the risk of a contaminated egg at 1 in 20,000. The risk is the same whether the egg is from a grocery store, certified organic farm or from your own chickens. Chickens aren't affected by salmonella bacteria so their health is not an indicator. We've come a long way in recent years but if there were an easy answer, the risk would be down to zero.

According to the experts, it's the yolk that's most often contaminated (pathway is through the chicken's reproductive system).

If the risk is too high, pasteurized eggs are available. I'm not sure about commercial cookie dough but I think I remember warnings about consuming it raw (check the label). Commercial mayo, and any mayo made properly*, is safe. The acid environment is inhospitable to bacteria.

There's been much discussion about the subject here lately. Down toward the bottom of this thread there's a link to official information:

http://www.food52.com/hotline/14393-poached-egg-substitute-pregnancy-food-restrictions



(*Discussion for another time)

Fresh mayonnaise contains raw eggs, and I've always eaten that (and cookie dough) with relish. Of course, I make it a point to use local, pastured eggs that I know are very fresh and safe. With supermarket eggs, I wouldn't feel so comfortable.
In general, though, I don't think there's a huge risk of getting sick, but youngsters, pregnant women, the elderly and immunocompromised should be wary of anything containing raw eggs.
Salmonella in eggs is a tricky business. It can originate in the handling process, after the eggs have been laid by the hens, in the transportation, in storage, or even within the hen itself. Healthy hens in a clean environment are not a risk (generally--accidents can happen in even the cleanest environments). Factory raised hens, however, are kept in horrible conditions and are fed things that chickens have not evolved to eat. No good.
My advice: find good eggs. I'm a member of an egg share. I pay a flat fee every month and get a dozen eggs a week. I supplement this with eggs from my tiny flock of chickens. Maximum accountability and freshness, bright orange, nutrient-rich yolks, and happy hens. The eggs also happen to taste way better. A win-win for sure.

What is a dippy egg?