Eggs are a precious commodity these days. With prices at a record high, you want to make them last as long as you possibly can. After all, you don't want a single yolk going to waste. But even if you store them properly, sometimes things can go awry, and you can wind up with a bad egg. Luckily, it's not too hard to tell when that happens.
Here are the steps to take to determine if you can still crack open that egg:
1. Check The Expiration Or "Julian" Date
I know, I know, this is like asking someone with computer troubles if they’ve tried restarting. Even though expiration dates are more like estimations rather than rules, they can be good indicators if an egg has gone bad. Generally speaking, eggs should be used within three to five weeks of purchase, but figuring out the expiration date can be tricky. If you don’t see a specific date on your carton, there should be a three-digit number (called the “Julian date”) indicating what day of the year your eggs were packed. Eggs stored in the refrigerator can last about four to five weeks beyond the pack date, per the American Egg Board.
2. Give ‘Em A Sniff
The nose knows! Like most other fresh foods, bad eggs will have an unmistakable rotten smell. First, smell the shell. If you’re uncertain, crack your egg into a bowl and give it another sniff. You know how they say “no news is good news?” The same applies for smelly eggs. No smell = good eggs. If your eggs are giving off any sort of stench, they gotta be trashed.
3. If You're Still Not Sure, Do The Float Test
This old-school freshness test really works. Fill a large bowl with cool water at least 4 inches deep. Drop in your egg, and see how it settles in the water. If it sinks and lays flat, it’s super fresh. That’s because egg shells are porous, therefore they let in air over time. If your egg sinks and stands straight up, it's pretty fresh. If it floats, it’s OLD. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad, but refer to Step 2 to make sure it passes the smell test. If it does, get back to making that omelet!
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