How to Tell If Eggs Are Still Good
Eggs stay safe well past the date printed on the carton, but the only way to know for sure is to check them individually since one bad egg in a carton doesn't mean the rest are spoiled.
Steps
- 1Fill a bowl or glass with enough cold water to submerge an egg completely.
- 2Gently lower the egg into the water and watch how it settles.
- 3If the egg sinks and lies flat on its side at the bottom, it's very fresh.
- 4If it sinks but stands upright or tilts at an angle on the bottom, it's still good but older, use it soon.
- 5If it floats to the surface or bobs near the top, discard it.
- 6Crack any egg that passes the float test into a separate bowl before cooking and check the smell.
- 7Look at the color and consistency: a pink, green, or iridescent tint, or a watery gray white, means it should be thrown out even if it doesn't smell bad yet.
- 8Discard immediately if there's any sulfur or rotten smell, regardless of how the egg looked in the water.
Common mistakes
- Trusting the sell-by date alone: eggs are often safe for 3-5 weeks past that date if refrigerated, the float and smell tests matter more than the printed date.
- Cracking straight into a pan or batter: cracking into a separate bowl first means one bad egg doesn't ruin a whole dish or batch of batter.
- Assuming a floating egg is dangerous: a floating egg usually just means it's lost enough moisture through the shell to be past its best, not necessarily unsafe, but it's not worth the risk.
- Judging freshness by the shell color or size: shell color depends on the hen's breed and has nothing to do with freshness or safety.
Equipment
- Bowl or glass tall enough to submerge an egg
- Cold water
- Small separate bowl for cracking
FAQ
Why does a bad egg float in water?
An eggshell is porous and loses moisture over time, and the air pocket inside grows larger. A bigger air pocket makes the egg buoyant enough to float or stand upright in water.
Is it safe to eat an egg that floats but doesn't smell bad?
Not recommended. Floating means the egg has aged significantly and may already have bacterial growth that hasn't produced a smell yet, so it's safer to discard it.
How long do eggs actually last in the fridge?
Raw eggs in the shell typically stay good for 3-5 weeks past their pack date when kept refrigerated at or below 40°F (4°C), not just a few days past the printed date.
Can I use the float test on hard-boiled eggs?
No, the float test is only reliable for raw eggs still in the shell. Hard-boiled eggs should be dated when cooked and used within a week regardless of how they behave in water.
Does washing eggs before storing them keep them fresh longer?
No, washing removes the natural protective coating (the bloom) on the shell, which can let bacteria in faster and shorten how long the egg stays good.
Need exact temperatures or timing? Check our Time & Temperature Guide →