Tropical Weight Loss
Photo by Mikhail Nilov Pexels Logo Photo: Mikhail Nilov

How do you know if an egg is bad?

Simply fill a bowl with cold tap water and place your eggs in it. If they sink to the bottom and lay flat on one side, they are fresh and good to eat. A bad egg will float because of the large air cell that forms at its base. Any floating eggs should be thrown out.

australianeggs.org.au - How to Tell If Eggs Are Off
Which cold drink has the least sugar?
Which cold drink has the least sugar?

Here are 8 low or no sugar companions for your favourite soft drinks: Coca-Cola Classic. Coca‑Cola Classic has been enjoyed since 1886 and is the...

Read More »
Does sleeping with a pillow give you a double chin?
Does sleeping with a pillow give you a double chin?

3. Sleep on a Thin Pillow: High pillows are the worst enemy of double chin people because they stretch your skin that causes double chin to...

Read More »

How many times have you cracked an egg into a bowl of other ingredients, only to question whether the egg has gone bad or not? Unfortunately, eggs are not the easiest ingredient to determine the freshness of as the protective opaque shell hides the condition of the white and yolk. But there are a few easy ways to tell if an egg is fresh and there are plenty of things you can do to prevent your eggs from going bad in the first place.

How to Tell If Eggs Are Bad

All egg cartons and trays sold in Australia must be marked with a best before date and this is the easiest and most reliable way to check whether eggs are still ok to eat. The best before date signifies the end of the period in which eggs are safe to eat and is calculated as six weeks from the day the egg is packed into the carton. But what if you’ve stored your eggs without the carton? Well, in short, you should always store eggs inside the carton you bought them in, inside the fridge. Egg shells are porous and the carton helps protect the eggs from any potential contamination. If you don’t have the best before date, it’s sometimes possible to determine a bad egg simply by smelling it. Good eggs don’t smell at all but off eggs will emit a slight sulfuric smell that warns you something isn’t right. If you’re unsure, crack the egg onto a clean plate to smell it properly. If there’s any pungency, throw away the egg and wash the plate thoroughly. A cleaner and undoubtedly more fun method is to conduct the egg floating test. This is not a myth; fresh eggs sink while bad eggs float to the top. Simply fill a bowl with cold tap water and place your eggs in it. If they sink to the bottom and lay flat on one side, they are fresh and good to eat. A bad egg will float because of the large air cell that forms at its base. Any floating eggs should be thrown out.

What About Storing Hard-Boiled Eggs?

It’s a different story when it comes to hard-boiled eggs as they have a far shorter shelf life than raw shell eggs. This is because the process of boiling an egg removes the protective outer coating of the shell, which makes it more porous and more vulnerable to bacteria and other contaminants. Hard-boiled eggs can last for up to one week in the refrigerator if they remain in the shell or about five days if peeled. Just make sure you refrigerate the eggs within two hours of cooking. It’s hard to tell if an egg is off just by looking at the shell. It could have cracks or discolouration on it but generally, an egg needs to be cracked to determine its freshness.

What foods burn fat the quickest?
What foods burn fat the quickest?

Top 10 Foods To Burn Fat Fast Beans and legumes. Packed with protein and fiber, beans and legumes help you build muscle and burn fat. ... Eggs....

Read More »
What illnesses are vegans prone to?
What illnesses are vegans prone to?

Vegans are at higher risk of the deficiency in vitamin B12. Deficiency in vitamin B12 can lead to certain irreversible side effects. Vegans are...

Read More »

To check the state of an egg, crack it onto a plate and look carefully at the colour and thickness of the white and yolk. A fresh egg should have a bright yellow or orange yolk and a thickish white that doesn’t spread too far. If it’s off, the yolk will be flatter and discoloured and the egg white will be far runnier. As we’ve already described, rotten eggs will also have a sulfuric smell to them.

How to Prevent Eggs from Going Bad

There are plenty of things you can do to keep your eggs fresh as long as possible. Below are just a few of the best methods to make sure you don’t end up consuming a bad egg: Check the eggs inside the carton before buying them and avoid eggs that have cracks or dirt. Get the eggs home as quickly as possible and don’t leave them in a hot car. Refrigerate your eggs in the carton they come in to prevent breakages, odour absorption, and water loss. Keep eggs in the coldest part of the fridge - usually a middle or lower shelf - rather than in the door where the temperature fluctuates more. Don’t leave refrigerated eggs out at room temperature for more than two hours. The eggs will sweat and that creates an environment conducive to bacterial growth. Keep refrigerated eggs for up to six weeks but always follow the best before date on the carton. For more information, check out this article on how to safely handle and store eggs.

What Happens If You Eat a Bad Egg?

If you eat a bad egg, you are at higher risk of exposure to bacteria that can cause food poisoning, such as Salmonella and E. coli. Food poisoning symptoms may include:

Diarrhoea

Abdominal cramps

Fever

Vomiting

Symptoms will typically develop between six and 48 hours after eating a contaminated egg and can last between four and seven days. In most cases, the symptoms go away on their own.

Learn More About Cooking with Eggs

Australian Eggs is dedicated to bringing you valuable resources to help you get the most out of your eggs. Learn more important facts and tips about cooking with eggs at home, including egg handling and storage information.

australianeggs.org.au - How to Tell If Eggs Are Off
What can turmeric cure?
What can turmeric cure?

Turmeric has been used as a medicine for centuries to treat wounds, infections, colds, and liver disease. Studies have shown that curcumin, a...

Read More »
Why you shouldn't put fat down the drain?
Why you shouldn't put fat down the drain?

Grease and cooking oil can cause extensive damage to your drainage system, garbage system and even sewer system by contributing to blockages. The...

Read More »
Is Saxenda a daily shot?
Is Saxenda a daily shot?

How to take Saxenda. Saxenda® is a once-daily injectable medicine available in a prefilled pen. It's the first and only FDA-approved weight-loss...

Read More »
What should I weigh by age?
What should I weigh by age?

Battle of the sexes: Weight based on your age and gender Age (years) Lower percentile weight (lbs) “Average” percentile weight (lbs) 14–15 85–95 or...

Read More »