Q: Where should eggs be stored?
A: For optimum freshness and food safety, eggs should be kept at a constant temperature below 20C. To avoid the typical temperature fluctuations in a domestic kitchen, we recommend that eggs are stored in their box in the fridge
Q: Why aren’t eggs kept in a fridge in supermarkets?
A: For optimum freshness and food safety, eggs should be kept at a constant temperature below 20C. Most modern supermarkets are kept below 20C so it is not necessary for retailers to store them in a fridge. This also prevents significant temperature fluctuations (for example eggs being moved from a fridge to a hot car after purchase).
Q: Why do some recipes say to use eggs at room temperature?
A: Some recipes call for eggs to be at a room temperature, this can be for a number of different reasons. For example, if you add a fridge-cold egg to boiling water, the shell may crack, as it expands too quickly in the heat and you lose some of the white before it sets. In baking, you may find a cold egg will not bind as well with other ingredients, so a batter can curdle, resulting in a flat cake. Room temperature eggs also whisk up more quickly, as the protein in the whites is less elastic when cold. The British Egg Information Service suggests removing eggs from the fridge 30 minutes before they are required.
Source:
The British Egg Industry Council
http://www.egginfo.co.uk/faqs