Are Your Eggs Still Good? 4 Quick Ways to Find Out

Egg-spired? Here's How to Tell Without Regret

We’ve all played refrigerator roulette with a carton of eggs we swore we just bought. Then you spot the faded sell-by date and suddenly question every breakfast decision you've ever made. Are they still good? Should I risk it? Will I regret everything?

Good news: you don’t have to be a food scientist to figure it out. In fact, checking if your eggs are still fresh is way easier than you think. Here’s your no-nonsense guide to cracking the code (pun totally intended) on egg freshness — and avoiding that unfortunate “why does this omelet taste weird?” moment.

1. Start With the Date, But Don’t Panic

The date stamped on the carton is your first clue. If it's a few days past the expiration or sell-by date, don’t toss them just yet — eggs can actually last about 3 to 5 weeks in the fridge. But if it’s been weeks since that date? Yeah... time to let go.

2. Float Test = Your New Party Trick

Grab a glass, fill it with water, and gently place an egg inside.

• Sinks + lays flat = fresh and ready to rock.

• Sinks but stands upright = still safe, but use it soon.

• Floats = nope. That egg is filled with air (and possibly regret). Toss it.

3. Smell Check (a.k.a. Your Nose Knows)

Crack the egg into a bowl. If it smells like nothing, you’re golden.If it smells like sulfur, funk, or something died in your fridge, abort mission immediately. Then clean that bowl — bad eggs can carry bacteria like salmonella.

4. Look for Visual Red Flags

Still not sure? Take a closer look.

• Shells with cracks, powdery residue, or weird cloudiness = trouble.

• Inside the shell: pink-tinged whites, oddly flat yolks, or any iridescent shine? That egg’s gone bad. Time for cereal (and double-check the milk, please).

Expiration dates are helpful, but not gospel. Trust the float test, your nose, and your eyes. Because let’s be honest — no brunch is worth a side of food poisoning.

Now go forth and make that breakfast sandwich with confidence!