Buying fresh eggs ensures protection from health risks, but equally important is getting the best quality. Follow through the comprehensive guide on how to identify a bad egg before buying and six effective ways of checking their freshness.
1. Check the Expiration Date
First, always check the expiration or “best by” date on the egg carton. Eggs will normally last several weeks past that date, provided you’ve stored them properly, but this is your first indicator of freshness.
You may also read: Best and Easy Classi Deviled Eggs Recipe: Practices Makes the Man Perfect
2. Examine the Shell
Check the eggshell for any cracks, sliminess, and powdery appearance. Cracks can introduce bacteria in the egg, and a slimy or powdery coating may stand for mold or growth of bacteria.
3. Smell Test
Fresh eggs will have no kind of smell at all. If, when opening up a carton, you detect any sulfurous or sour smell, that would be an indication that the eggs are bad.
4. Shake Test
Shake the egg gently near your ear. If it is fresh, there will be no sound, if it’s a bad egg, it will slosh because the liquid in the egg becomes watery over time.
5. Candling
Candling is when holding an egg up in front of a light source to look at the contents. Although this method is usually practiced by professionals, it may still be done at home with a sharp flashlight in a dark room. A fresh egg will cause the yolk and white to be visibly clear, but if it is a bad egg, it will manifest as separation or even air cells floating.
6. Float Test
You can’t do this test when shopping, but you should know how to do it when you get home. Place egg in enough water to cover it. Fresh eggs will sink and lie flat on their sides. Slightly older eggs will stand upright and bob. Spoiled eggs will float in the water.
FAQs
How do you know if an egg is bad?
Spoiled eggs are identified by their date, looking for visible cracks or mold on the shell, sniffing that nasty sulfurous smell, and performing the float test where the bad ones will just float in water.
Is it okay to eat a Rotten eggs?
No, you should not eat rotten eggs because they may cause food poisoning.
What happens to eggs that have gone bad?
Spoiled eggs gives horrible smell. The whites and yolks loose consistence, and can even house some dangerous bacteria.
What should I do if i ate rotten eggs?
In case you have recently consumed a spoiled egg, look out for the symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and if the symptom persists, visit a doctor.
What are the eggy food poisoning symptoms?
Eggy food poisoning symptoms range from nausea to vomiting to diarrhea to stomach cramps to chills, fever, bloody poops, and an outcry to death by all means.
Can I identify spoiled eggs before buying?
While some methods, like checking the expiration date and examining the shell, can be done prior to purchase, other techniques, like the float test, are only possible after an egg has been purchased.
At the end, with these guidelines and being able to identify danger signs, you will be able to ensure the eggs you buy and consume are fresh and safe.
