If you’re only going by the sell-by date, you may be tossing out perfectly good eggs.

Here’s the thing: The dates on egg cartons are less than discernible.

In some states, egg packagers are required to list sell-by dates.

In others, they must stamp use-by dates.

And neither date tells the whole story when it comes toegg freshness.

Do Eggs Go Bad?

Egg cartons for sale in the United States are typically printed with a “sell-by” or expiration date.

Additionally,eggs with the USDA-graded stampare required to display the pack date on the egg carton.

Regardless of the stamp, the eggs may still be safe to use and consume after that date.

Method 1: Float Test

Even when an egg floats, it isn’t necessarily bad.

Why Old Eggs Float

Egg shellsare porous.

As eggs sit and age, air moves into the egg as water evaporates.

The older an egg is, the more air makes its way inside the shell.

As the air pocket grows, the egg’s likelihood to float increases.

Eggs that are no longer good or safe to use produce a strong, distinct smell.

Bottom line: If it smells like a rotten egg, it probably is one.

An egg’s quality does decline as it sits.

The egg white, or albumen, gets thinner and more watery.

Yolks lose some of their buoyancy.

A fresh egg’s yolk and white sit up taller, while the older egg is flatter.

The eggshell can surprisingly say a lot about its lifespan.

Be sure to use the egg within two days.

Well, not quite.

How to Properly Store Eggs

Storing your eggs in the refrigeratoris key to preventing bacteria growth.

(The samegoes for milk.)

In a fridge door, they’re more likely to crack with all the movement.

Plus, temperatures on a fridge door are not consistent.

You invite bacteria growth if you let your eggs warm and cool repeatedly.

Each egg has a small air pocket on the broadest end of the egg.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

Shell Eggs from Farm to Table.https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/eggs/shell-eggs-farm-table

USDA.

Is the appearance of eggs related to food safety?

Published March 21, 2023.https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/Is-the-appearance-of-eggs-related-to-food-safety