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Have you ever cracked an egg into a bowl only to wonder if it’s still good? Since the shell hides the condition of the yolk and white, it can be tricky to judge freshness. But don’t worry—there are easy ways to tell if an egg is fresh or rotten before you use it.
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Food waste is a major issue—in France alone, nearly 10 million tons of food are thrown away each year. Many people toss out food as soon as it passes its expiration date, even if it’s still safe to eat. In the UK, for example, around 720 million eggs are wasted annually, largely because 77% of people aren’t sure how to check their freshness after the “best by” date.
If you’re unsure whether your eggs are still good (maybe they’ve been sitting in the fridge for a while), here are five reliable methods to test them:
1. Check the Expiration Date
Egg cartons usually have a “best before” or use-by date printed on them. In France, supermarkets are required to stop selling eggs 7 days before this date to ensure freshness. While this date isn’t an absolute deadline, it’s a good starting point.
2. The Float Test (Best Method!)
Fill a bowl with cold water and gently place the egg inside:
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Fresh egg: Sinks and lies flat on the bottom.
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Slightly old but still safe: Stands upright at the bottom.
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Bad egg: Floats to the top (discard it!).
This happens because as eggs age, moisture evaporates, and the air pocket inside grows larger, making them buoyant.
3. Shake Test
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