Many professional and home cooks believe this method is more reliable than the best-before date on the carton. This is because all eggs have a sac of air in them and the older they are, the more this expands, making it rise to the top of the water.
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What do different stages of sinking/floating indicate?
If the egg… sinks to the bottom and lays flat on its side, it’s very fresh.
If the egg… stands on one end at the bottom of the bowl, it’s less fresh but still edible (just be sure to consume within a few days).
If the egg…floats to the surface, it’s no longer fresh enough to eat.
Note: eggs that stand upright are perfect for hard-boiling as the extra air helps the shell peel off more easily. Fresh eggs, on the other hand, are best poached, fried or scrambled.
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If an egg ‘fails’ this test, can it still be eaten?
There are instances that an egg may fail the water test but still be usable. To determine if your egg is spoiled, crack it into a bowl and examine it for an unpleasant odour or unusual appearance. Rotten eggs, both raw and cooked, will smell of sulphur and may have spotty whites or yolk which could potentially make you sick if consumed.
If eggs have been stored in the fridge/at room temperature, will it change the result of the experiment?
While temperature generally won’t affect the results of the experiment, it will dictate how long the egg will stay good. A carton of eggs stored at room temperature typically lasts 45 days, although if refrigerated, it can last for up to 90 days.
Are there any other ways to test if an egg is fresh?
If you don’t have a glass of water on hand, don’t stress – you can still check for freshness. Simply hold the egg to your ear and shake it. It shouldn’t make sound, but if rotten, you’ll hear a slight sloshing noise due to the air pocket rattling around.
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How to tell if eggs are off or fresh? The egg float test
It only takes seconds.
- by
Lottie Dalziel
How do you know if eggs are off? While eggs are an extremely versatile ingredient and a pantry staple, it can be difficult to check how fresh they are just by giving them a sniff. Thankfully, there’s a very straight-forward test that will tell you once and for all: place the egg in cold water and add two tablespoons of salt. If it sinks it’s good to eat, if it floats it’s gone bad.