How to Tell if Eggs Are Bad
| 4 min read
If several weeks have passed since you bought that carton of eggs sitting in your refrigerator, you may be close to chucking it. But the date stamped on that carton may not mean they’ve gone “bad.”
The next time you think your eggs might be spoiling, consider a few factors first, including how to perform an egg float test, the differences between date labels and how to tell if eggs are bad.
What is the difference between “sell-by” and “use-by” dates?
One of the reasons it’s tricky to tell whether eggs have gone bad is because the date attached to the carton doesn’t always tell the whole story.
There are no uniform or universally accepted descriptions used on food labels for open dating in the United States, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Here is a list of food product dates and what they mean:
- "Best if used by/Before" dates let the buyer know when products are at their peak freshness and flavor. They are not purchase or safety dates.
- Sell-by dates are purchase dates. Also known as “pack dates,” they tell manufacturers and retail workers how long to display a product for sale for inventory management. For example, dairy products are good for one week after their sell-by date. These are also not safety dates.
- Use-by dates are the last dates recommended for the use of a product while at peak quality. Federal regulations require a "use-by" date on the product label of infant formula under inspection of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Using formula by this date ensures that it contains each nutrient in the quantity listed on the label. Formula must maintain an acceptable quality to pass through an ordinary bottle nipple.
- "Freeze-by" dates indicate when a product should be frozen to maintain peak quality. These are also not purchase or safety dates.
- Expiration dates use phrases like “expires on” or “do not use after” for products, according to the USDA. Expiration dates are used on food products like:
- Infant formula
- Baby food
- Vitamins
- Over-the-counter medications
- Cake mix
- Baking powder
- Pectin
It is not federally mandated to use "sell-by" or expiration dates, but they may be required, as defined by the egg laws in the state in which the eggs are marketed. Some state egg laws do not allow the use of a "sell-by" date.
How long do eggs last in the fridge?
The USDA states eggs may be refrigerated three to five weeks from the day you buy them and bring them home. Their sell-by date will usually expire during that time, according to the USDA, but the eggs are still perfectly safe to cook and eat.
You should always purchase eggs before the sell-by or expiration date on the carton. To ensure safety, take them straight home and store them immediately in the refrigerator set at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or slightly below. The USDA recommends leaving them in their carton and placing them in the coldest part of the refrigerator, not in the door. Hard-boiled eggs can safely be stored a week in the refrigerator.
Do egg float tests work?
Egg float tests consist of setting an uncooked egg in a bowl of water and determining whether it sinks or floats. As the theory goes, if it floats, it’s bad or rotten. If it sinks in the water, it’s good.
Eggs lose moisture as they age, when the air cells inside them grow larger and larger, acting as buoyant forces that make the eggs less dense and thus, cause them to float. The validity of the egg float test is highly disputed, however, with some experts saying there is no scientific test to determine whether eggs are safe to eat.
How to tell if eggs are good or bad
When all else fails, your nostrils usually don’t. To determine if an egg is buoyant but still usable, the Egg Safety Center recommends cracking it into a bowl and examining it for a foul odor, discoloration or any other signs of an unusual appearance before deciding to use or discard it. A spoiled egg will have an unpleasant, sulfur-like smell when you break open the shell, either when raw or cooked.
Additionally, if the egg white isn’t clear or cloudy white, it may be bad, per the USDA. And if it has a green or iridescent look, it may have harmful bacteria and may not be safe to eat. If the smell and the appearance both seem off, err on the side of caution and toss the eggs. They may be expensive, but they are not worth getting food poisoning over.
More from AHM:
- High Protein Breakfast Ideas without Meat
- Is it a Dairy Allergy or Lactose Intolerance?
- The Pressure of Social Media on Young Men
Photo credit: Getty Images
