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Why It’s Important to Check If Eggs Are Bad

Before we dive into methods, let’s understand why you should always check your eggs:

• Spoiled eggs can carry harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella.
• Eating bad eggs may cause food poisoning symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.
• Cooking with bad eggs can ruin the taste and safety of your dish.

Even if an egg looks fine on the outside, that doesn’t mean it’s still good inside. That’s why it’s important to know these tell-tale signs of egg spoilage.

1. Check the Expiration Date

The first and easiest step is to look at the packaging:

• Sell-by date: Stores use this to know how long they can sell the eggs. Eggs may still be good for a few weeks beyond this.
• Best-by or Expiration date: Use this as a general guide. However, eggs can remain safe 2–3 weeks after this date if stored properly in the fridge.

But don’t rely only on dates — eggs can spoil sooner or stay fresh longer depending on how they’re handled.

2. The Water Float Test

One of the most reliable home tests is the water test. Here’s how to do it:

Step-by-step:

1. Fill a bowl or glass with cold water.
2. Gently place the egg into the water.

Results:

• Sinks and lays flat on the bottom – Very fresh.
• Sinks but stands upright – A bit older, but still safe to eat.
• Floats to the top – Spoiled. Do not eat it.

Why it works:

As eggs age, air builds up inside the shell, causing them to float.

3. Sniff Test – Trust Your Nose

Smelling is one of the most accurate indicators of a bad egg.

• Crack the egg into a bowl.
• If it smells foul, sulfur-like, or rotten, it’s bad. Discard it immediately.
• If it smells neutral or fresh, it’s probably safe to use.

Important: Always crack eggs into a separate bowl before adding them to your food. This way, you won’t ruin your dish if the egg turns out to be bad.

4. Visual Inspection – Look Closely

Inspect both the shell and the egg contents after cracking:

Shell:

• Cracks or powdery spots? These could indicate mold or bacteria.
• Slimy texture? Could be bacterial growth.
• Discoloration? Unusual stains or greenish patches are warning signs.

Inside the egg:

• Cloudy egg white is normal and actually a sign of freshness.
• Clear, watery whites suggest the egg is aging.
• Pink, green, or iridescent yolks or whites mean bacterial contamination. Discard immediately.

5. Shake Test – Listen Closely

Hold the egg up to your ear and gently shake it.

• If you hear a sloshing sound, the egg is likely old. As eggs age, the yolk and white thin out and move around more.
• Fresh eggs don’t make much noise when shaken.

This method is less reliable than others but can be useful when combined with other checks.

6. Candling (Advanced Method)

This method is often used by egg producers and farmers but can be done at home using a flashlight:

• Go into a dark room.
• Shine the flashlight through the large end of the egg.
• You can observe the air cell, yolk, and white. A larger air pocket or discolored contents means the egg is old or bad.

It takes practice, but it’s a cool way to examine egg quality.

How to Store Eggs Properly to Keep Them Fresh

Knowing how to tell if eggs are bad is great, but preventing them from going bad is even better. Here are some tips:

• Keep eggs refrigerated at or below 40°F (4°C).
• Store in the original carton to protect from odors and moisture loss.
• Don’t wash eggs before storing unless necessary; the shell has a protective coating.
• Use older eggs first (First In, First Out method).
• Keep eggs on a middle shelf, not in the fridge door (which fluctuates in temperature).

What to Do With Eggs That Are Close to Expiring?

If your eggs are still safe but close to the end of their life:

• Hard boil them – They last longer in the fridge.
• Bake a cake or muffins.
• Make egg salad or scrambled eggs.
• Freeze them – Crack into a container and freeze for future cooking or baking.