How to Tell if Your Eggs Are Fresh

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Eggs are a delicious ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes. Before you cook eggs, it's important to know whether they are fresh or not. Rotten eggs can lead to food poisoning. To test your eggs for freshness, you can use the float test or smell and examine a cracked egg. If the egg is fresh, you can use it however you want. If you find the egg is rotten, you should throw it away.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Using the Float Test

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ee\/Tell-if-Your-Eggs-Are-Fresh-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-Your-Eggs-Are-Fresh-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ee\/Tell-if-Your-Eggs-Are-Fresh-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid31048-v4-728px-Tell-if-Your-Eggs-Are-Fresh-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":410,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The bowl or glass should be large enough so that it can hold the entire egg. Fill the container up 3/4 of the way, or enough so that the entire egg will be submerged once you put it in the container. [1]
    • If you don’t have a bowl or glass big enough, you can use a bucket or any container that’s large enough to hold the egg.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Tell if Your Eggs Are Fresh
    Carefully lower the egg in the water so that it doesn’t crack if it hits the bottom of the container. If you're testing more than one egg, test each egg individually so that you can determine which ones are good and which ones are rotten. [2]
    Advertisement
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Tell if Your Eggs Are Fresh
    If the egg sinks to the bottom, then it’s still fresh and can be used for whatever cooking purposes that you had in mind. If the egg sinks but stands upright on the bottom of the container, the egg is still fresh but should be eaten or hard-boiled as soon as possible because it is near its expiration.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Tell if Your Eggs Are Fresh
    If the egg floats, it means that air is trapped inside of the egg and it is rotten. Eating rotten eggs can lead to food poisoning and should be avoided. [3]
    • You can compost the egg or dump the inside of the egg in the garbage disposal.
    • Do not put egg shells down the garbage disposal.
    5. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Trying Other Techniques

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/55\/Tell-if-Your-Eggs-Are-Fresh-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-Your-Eggs-Are-Fresh-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/55\/Tell-if-Your-Eggs-Are-Fresh-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/aid31048-v4-728px-Tell-if-Your-Eggs-Are-Fresh-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":410,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Eggs can usually last up to 3 weeks if stored in the refrigerator. The sell by date on the carton is usually a good indication of whether the eggs are still fresh. [4]
    • All raw eggs should be maintained in a temperature of 40 °F (4 °C) or less.
    • The sell-by date won’t tell you whether your eggs are rotten, but will give you an idea of how old your eggs are.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Tell if Your Eggs Are Fresh
    If you crack the egg open and a white ooze comes out, there’s a good chance that it is rotten. Fresh eggs will have milky or clear whites and a perky bright yellow or orange yolk. If the egg is rotten, the whites will be thin and watery or may look pink and the yolk will flatten out. [5]
    • The appearance of small red or brown spots, known as blood spots, does not mean the egg is rotten. This is normal and actually means that the egg is most likely very fresh.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0e\/Tell-if-Your-Eggs-Are-Fresh-Step-7-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-Your-Eggs-Are-Fresh-Step-7-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0e\/Tell-if-Your-Eggs-Are-Fresh-Step-7-Version-2.jpg\/aid31048-v4-728px-Tell-if-Your-Eggs-Are-Fresh-Step-7-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":410,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Uncooked fresh eggs should have a neutral scent and should not smell sulfuric or sour. If the egg smells bad before or after you crack it, there’s a very high likelihood that it is rotten. [6]
    • Typically rotten eggs will smell bad even before you crack them.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Tell if Your Eggs Are Fresh
    If you hear the inside of the egg sloshing around, it means the egg is rotten. If you can’t hear or feel the contents of the egg move, it means it’s fresh and you can eat it. [7]
    • This is a less accurate method than examining or smelling the egg. If you’re unsure, try the other methods as well.
    5. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    If my eggs haven't expired yet, but give off a foul odor, are they safe to eat?
    Community Answer
    They are probably not safe to eat. You could try cracking one over a bowl. If the contents smell like sulfur, you have a rotten egg on your hands.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 17
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      • Lightly beaten eggs can be kept covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. [8]
        Thanks
      • Always cook meat and poultry, including eggs, to the proper temperature to prevent food poisoning. [9]
        Thanks
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Things You'll Need

      • Eggs
      • Bowl or cup
      • Water

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Tell if Milk is Bad
      How to
      Store Mangoes
      Is Your Mango Ready to Eat? Easy Ways to Test Ripeness
      How to
      Buy a Good Avocado
      How to
      Use Dry Ice in a Cooler
      How to
      Store Fresh Turmeric
      How to
      Store Watermelon
      How to
      Tell if a Passion Fruit Is Ripe
      How to
      Identify Food Grade Buckets
      How to
      Ferment Fruit
      How to
      Store Papaya
      Picking the Best Pineapple & Knowing When It’s Ready to Eat
      How to
      Store Bananas
      How to
      Ripen a Plum
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/NbR7Vd6uzrA?t=6s
      2. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-test-eggs-for-freshness-how-to-find-out-tips-from-the-kitchn-46368
      3. ↑ https://countrysidenetwork.com/daily/poultry/eggs-meat/do-eggs-go-bad-egg-freshness-test/
      4. ↑ https://www.eggs.ca/eggs101/view/39/egg-storage-freshness-and-food-safety
      5. ↑ https://countrysidenetwork.com/daily/poultry/eggs-meat/do-eggs-go-bad-egg-freshness-test/
      6. ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/dairy/eggs/how-to-tell-if-an-egg-has-gone-bad
      7. ↑ https://thetakeout.com/how-to-tell-if-your-egg-is-fresh-1798259428
      8. ↑ https://www.incredibleegg.org/cooking-school/tips-tricks/egg-storage/
      9. ↑ https://www.eggs.ca/eggs101/view/39/egg-storage-freshness-and-food-safety

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you’re not sure how to tell if your eggs are fresh, fill a large glass or bowl with enough water to completely submerge an egg. Carefully lower the egg into the water and watch to see whether it sinks or floats. If the egg sinks to the bottom of the bowl, it’s still fresh and you can use it for whatever you like. If the egg floats, however, it is no good and you should throw it out. Never eat spoiled eggs, as you can get seriously ill. Keep reading to learn how to tell whether an egg is fresh after you’ve cracked it!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 119,961 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Anonymous

        Jan 27

        "I get farm eggs and need to be sure they are fresh. Thanks for the info."
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement