How to Tell If Eggs Are Bad – 5 Simple Tests for Freshness

Everyone has eggs in their kitchen, but nothing can ruin a meal faster than finding you have just cracked open a rotten egg. Knowing how to tell if eggs bad is quite literally the opposite of a #yolk. Freshness makes a difference whether you’re baking, frying, or boiling eggs. For most of us, flip the carton over and look at the date on the bottom, but eggs can go bad before or long after the expiration date on the carton. Storage conditions (refrigerated versus at room temperature), for example, play a significant role. So, How can I check if eggs are still good without just going off the date?

Here, we’ll share five simple methods with you for checking packaged or freshly laid egg freshness, including the efloat test, smell test, and a good old visual check. We’ll also dispel common myths, explain how eggs should be stored and answer FAQs like “Can bad eggs make you sick? And “Do eggs go bad if refrigerated?”

By the end, you should have no doubt one way or another whether your eggs are safe to eat — and with no guesswork.

How Long Do Eggs Stay Fresh?

Eggs are not immortal, but egg shelf life should amount to more than one day. Refrigerated eggs are generally suitable for 4-5 weeks beyond the pack date, while those left at room temperature will spoil much sooner.

The carton’s egg expiration date is a good place to start, but it isn’t always truthful. According to the USDA, you should consume eggs within 3 weeks for the best quality, no matter what the data says.

A primary consideration is whether eggs are washed. In the U.S., commercial eggs are washed, which takes away their natural protection or bloom. This makes refrigeration necessary. (Washed eggs need to be refrigerated and are pricier as a result.) In some areas of the world, unwashed eggs can sit out for weeks at room temperature.

And if you don’t trust the date as the only benchmark for an egg’s freshness, give it a quick test. Next, we’ll get into how to tell if eggs bad bad.

5 Ways to Tell If Eggs Are Bad

1. The Egg Float Test (Most Reliable Method)

The egg float test is a straightforward, science-backed method for testing freshness. Here’s how it works:

• Fill a bowl with cold water.
• Gently place the egg inside.
• Observe:
• Fresh egg:  Sinks and stays on the bottom.
• Older, but still good egg: Sinks but also stands elegantly on end.
• Rotten egg: Floats to the top.

Why does this happen? As the eggs age, they lose water and absorb air through the shell which can seep into the developing embryo cutting off the flow of water. A floaty egg means a big air pocket spoilage alert.

It is such a practical test that chefs rely on it. If the egg floats, it is best to discard it.

2. The Smell Test (Quickest Check)

The sulfur smell in eggs means they’ve gone bad. Fresh eggs have little to no scent, while rotten eggs release a pungent, foul odour.

How to do the smell test:

• Crack an egg onto a plate (not into a bowl to mix).
• Take a quick sniff.
• If the shrimp smells funky (think anything sulfuric or rotten), it’s no good.

3. The Shake Test (Fast Alternative)

No water for a float test? Try the shake test:

• Place the egg very near to your ear.
• Shake it gently.
• Listen:
• No sound: Fresh egg.
• Sloshing sound: Old or perhaps bad.

Tell if eggs bad, the yolk and white become watery, with greater potential for movement. While it’s not as exacting as the float test, this does the trick in a pinch.

4. The Visual Inspection (Check Before Cracking)

Before you crack an egg, look at it:

• Shell: The risk of spoilage rises with cracks or leaks.
• Egg white (albumen): Whites of fresh eggs are thick and cloudy.
• Yolk A firm, round yolk is fresh, a flat, runny yolk, old.

Your egg looks odd (pink, green or iridescent), it likely has the presence of bacteria toss it

5. The Candling Method (Advanced Check)

Candling Candling a bright light passed through an egg to examine its contents:

• Fresh egg: Small air cell and explicit content.
• Older egg: Bigger air pocket, some movement.
• Farmers often use this.

Common Myths About Egg Freshness

Myth 1: “Washing Eggs Extends Their Shelf Life”.

False! Washing removes the natural protective coating that an egg develops so refrigeration becomes necessary.

Myth 2 “Eggs Last Forever in the Fridge”

Even refrigerated, eggs eventually spoil. For best quality, use within 4-5 weeks.

Myth:# 3) Brown Eggs are fresher than White Eggs

Shell color has nothing to do with freshness; storage conditions do.

How to Store Eggs Properly

To maintain freshness: 

• Refrigerate eggs (below 40°F). You should keep them in the main refrigerator section. 
• (not the door, where temperatures are prone to variation).
• Keep eggs in their original carton (it helps prevent moisture loss and absorption of odours). Never wash the pan or put it into the dishwasher UM2009 flattener Spatulas Big Easy Egg Extractor end Egg carton egg.
• Correct storage also means fewer rotten eggs and extends the shelf life.

Conclusion

Now you know how to determine whether eggs are rotten by doing simple things like the egg float test, sniff test, and visual examination. 

When in doubt, throw it out. With these tips, you’ll never have to face the disappointment of a spoiled egg again and will enjoy fresh, flavorful dishes every time.