For the longest time, I thought that raw eggs took months to expire. I kept a dozen in my fridge for an entire quarter of college, making a scramble here and there when I had the rare energy to prepare myself breakfast before my 12 p.m. class. Luckily, I made it through college without getting food poisoning — shocking, considering that eggs from the grocery store only last three to five weeks in the refrigerator.
But in learning that eggs do, in fact, go bad eventually, I also learned something equally important: how to tell when they are bad. These four steps for checking egg freshness are surprisingly simple and can save you from, at best, an untasty breakfast, and at worst, salmonella.
OK, this might seem obvious, but the expiration date will always and forever be a key indicator as to whether or not an egg is safe to eat. Expiration dates are not always 100% accurate, so if it’s just a few days past the date marked on the carton, consider testing your eggs with one of the following methods. If you’re weeks past expiration, it’s safe to assume that your eggs are no longer edible.
To evaluate the freshness of a raw egg, all you need is a glass of water. Fill it about three-quarters of the way — not so full that adding an egg would make it overflow. Gently drop one egg into the glass, and observe where it settles. If the egg sinks to the bottom and lays on its side, it should be fresh and ready to eat. If it floats all the way to the top, the egg may be spoiled. Either avoid the risk and toss it in the garbage, or follow the following steps. Anything in between — it sinks but is standing upright, or it floats in the middle of the glass — means the egg is likely still safe to consume, but you should probably eat it within the next week or so. Maybe make a big batch of egg salad or a mushroom tortilla to make the most of your dozen.
3. Give it a smell
Although the float test is a solid method for checking the freshness of an egg, you should still rely on your handy-dandy five senses. Your nose, for instance, can often tell when an egg has gone bad. Crack it onto a plate or bowl, and give it a whiff. Fresh eggs should either smell fresh or like nothing at all, so if instead, your egg smells putrid, funky, sulfuric, or just plain off, the egg is rotten. Make sure to thoroughly clean and sanitize the plate or bowl to remove any dangerous bacteria.
4. Use your eyes
When an egg has spoiled, it often will find a way to tell you. Even when it’s in the shell, a spoiled egg might have small cracks or a cloudy, powdery coating. This can be a sign of mold or bacterial growth. When an egg is cracked, keep an eye out for discoloration — if the egg white has a pink hue or looks slightly iridescent, or if the yolk has completely flattened, it’s a bad egg. Throw it in the trash and have some cereal instead … just make sure to check the expiration date on your milk.
Crack the egg into a bowl and examine it for an off-odor or unusual appearance before deciding to use or discard it. A spoiled egg will have an unpleasant odor when you break open the shell, either when raw or cooked." If the egg sinks and stands up, then it's not very fresh but still safe to eat.
Crack the egg into a bowl and examine it for an off-odor or unusual appearance before deciding to use or discard it. A spoiled egg will have an unpleasant odor when you break open the shell, either when raw or cooked." If the egg sinks and stands up, then it's not very fresh but still safe to eat.
Can you eat an egg that floats in water? An egg that floats in water is no longer fresh but may still be safe to eat, according to the USDA.2 Crack the egg into a bowl and observe if it has an off-odor or looks discolored or out-of-the ordinary, in which case you should throw it out.
The theory is that, as an egg ages, the air pocket inside it grows larger, buoying an old egg to the surface. But, according to Dr. Schaffner, “there is no scientific basis for the egg float test.” So experimenting to see if your egg sinks or swims is not a reliable way to measure its quality.
On those egg cartons, if an expiration date appears, it can be no more than 30 days after the pack date. "As long as they're kept properly refrigerated at 40°F or lower, fresh eggs are safe to eat four to five weeks beyond the carton's Julian date," Maloberti says.
Look closely at the eggshell. If the shell has a slimy or powdery texture and is cracked, or discolored, it is best to throw it out, as these may be signs of bacteria growth.
Information. Eggs may be refrigerated three to five weeks from the day they are placed in the refrigerator. The "Sell-By" date will usually expire during that length of time, but the eggs will be perfectly safe to use. Always purchase eggs before the "Sell-By" or EXP (expiration) date on the carton.
Instructions. Old eggs or rotten eggs are acceptable in composting programs - including your home compost pile. Contact your local recycling coordinator to find out whether your local transfer station offers municipal composting. Or consider starting your own home compost bin for your organic materials!
To perform the float test, gently set your egg into a bowl or bucket of water. If the egg sinks, it is fresh. If it tilts upwards or even floats, it is old. This is because as an egg ages, the small air pocket inside it grows larger as water is released and replaced by air.
Very fresh eggs will sink to the bottom and lay on their sides. If an egg stays at the bottom but stands on its small end, it's still acceptable to eat; just not quite as fresh. These "more mature" eggs are no less nutritious than a fresher egg, and most people are unlikely to notice a difference in taste.
An egg that spreads or seems a little watery has a thinner white and is past its peak freshness. If the yolk is flat and breaks easily, the egg is old.
If the egg white is pink or iridescent this is an indication of spoilage due to Pseudomonas bacteria. Some of these bacteria can make us sick when eaten and they will produce a greenish, fluorescent, water-soluble color. Also, a spoiled egg (cooked or raw) will have an unpleasant odor once you crack it open.
Information. Eggs may be refrigerated three to five weeks from the day they are placed in the refrigerator. The "Sell-By" date will usually expire during that length of time, but the eggs will be perfectly safe to use. Always purchase eggs before the "Sell-By" or EXP (expiration) date on the carton.
Introduction: My name is Velia Krajcik, I am a handsome, clean, lucky, gleaming, magnificent, proud, glorious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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