4 simple ways to determine the freshness of eggs at home

How to check eggs for freshness at home? How can you tell if an egg has gone bad? - questions that are unlikely to be asked during the purchase of a product or during long-term storage. But in vain, since buying eggs is a real lottery where the contents are not visible. Finding a spoiled product at home is very disappointing, but there are ways you can check the quality in a store or at home before cooking. Next, we’ll talk about some tricks on how to determine the freshness and suitability of raw and boiled eggs.

Checking egg freshness using water

The first way to check whether an egg has spoiled or not is to put it in a glass of cold water. Next, observe how the egg behaves:

• If it sinks to the bottom and lies on its side, then the egg is very fresh.
• If the egg sinks to the bottom but stands on its tip rather than on its side, it is between 1 and 2 weeks old. Can be consumed without fear.
• If the egg floats in the water or one of its ends peeks out a little on the surface of the water, then its age is 2-3 weeks. You can still eat.
• If the egg floats sideways on the surface of the water, it means it is spoiled. Eating such an egg is dangerous.

Be sure to do this test with every egg in the carton. Don't assume all eggs are fresh or rotten just because one of them is.

Advice

Relaxed eggs (1-3 weeks old) are best for boiling because the air gap between the shell and the egg makes it easier to peel. This way you can check the freshness of boiled eggs - the easier the egg is peeled and the less the white sticks to the shell, the older the egg.

Infographic: how to check eggs for freshness at home

Why is this happening

As an egg ages, the shell of an egg becomes more porous and begins to leak air. The more air that enters through the shell, the more the air pocket between the shell and the white fills, which is what causes the egg to float.

Cold storage

A good temperature range is 1-2 °C. Do not place eggs in containers located on the door of the refrigerator. They are unsuitable for long-term storage for two reasons.

1. The eggs should not be constantly moved or shaken. This is exactly what happens when stored in containers. It is necessary to ensure a stable position.
2. When you open the door of the refrigeration unit, there is a sharp change in temperature and humidity. This affects the safety and freshness of the product.

Eggs are placed on the refrigerator door for a short shelf life. For a long stay, you need to choose another place. This could be the bottom container of the refrigerator intended for fruits and vegetables. It establishes optimal conditions that ensure the correct ratio of temperature and humidity.

Checking egg freshness against light

You can check whether an egg is rotten or not using the light, but this will require a powerful light source. In fresh eggs, the yolk is located in the center, there are no inclusions in the white. In laying eggs you will notice slight darkening in the white.

In spoiled eggs, the following may be visible when held up to light:

• Embryo (fetus);
• blood ring or large blood clots;
• Large air gap between the white and the shell;
• Dark spots;

The presence of any of these signs indicates that the egg is rotten and should not be eaten.

Can eggs go bad?

Of course, a food product loses its freshness and beneficial qualities over time. Moreover, it spoils both raw and cooked in any way. Another reason why eggs can become unusable or rotten is a violation of the integrity of the shell (the formation of cracks, punctures). Equally important in preserving freshness and benefits is the correct storage temperature and humidity level. At room temperature, the testicles will deteriorate faster in a cool place. Too low humidity causes the product to dry out.

You cannot eat spoiled eggs; this can lead to stomach pain and food poisoning. Therefore, it is important to determine the quality of eggs before consuming or preparing them for food. There are several tricks that can help you check the suitability of raw and cooked foods.

Why is it dangerous to eat spoiled eggs?

Most chicken eggs contain salmonella and other pathogenic bacteria. They can be located both outside and inside the shell. It’s very easy to protect yourself, just follow simple rules:

1. Refrain from buying dirty eggs - this is a sign of poor quality control in production;
2. Store eggs in the refrigerator at a temperature of 0 to +5 degrees Celsius;
3. Wash eggs and hands thoroughly before preparing;
4. Subject the eggs to harsh heat treatment - fry or hard-boil;
5. Do not eat rotten eggs, watch the expiration date.

By the way, eggs, like milk, can be pasteurized. These eggs are heated to a temperature high enough to kill bacteria, but low enough to keep the egg raw.

Shelf life of eggs

The freshness of a chicken egg depends on the time of production and storage conditions.

Eggs can be divided into several types.

1. Dietary - the freshest, the shelf life of which at low temperatures does not exceed 7 days.
2. Canteens - 25 days at room temperature and 90 in the refrigerator.

Boiled chicken eggs can be refrigerated for up to 14 days if they are hard-boiled.
And if soft-boiled, then no more than two days. Cracked and peeled - no more than three days, and broken raw - only two days. Easter eggs dyed with natural dyes (onion peels, vegetable juices) are stored for no more than two weeks. If painted with artificial paints, the shelf life increases by another one or two days. Colorful thermal film, which does not allow air to pass through, greatly reduces freshness, these eggs should be eaten within the next three days.

And if you keep chickens, you can safely store fresh eggs for up to 3 months, in the refrigerator, of course. When buying homemade eggs on the market, even from a trusted seller, do not store them for a long time, make allowances for the fact that they have been collected for sale for more than one day.

We check the quality with an ovoscope

An ovoscope is a special device used to determine the freshness of eggs by candling. A fresh canned egg should look as light as possible, the yolk should not touch the walls, move smoothly and be only slightly darker than the white. There should be no clots or darkening.

If you see spots or clots, and the yolk moves very slowly and periodically or constantly comes into contact with the shell, then the product is of poor quality. In cases where it is opaque or has a reddish coloration, the product should be discarded immediately as it is not only unfit to eat, it may be dangerous.

Visual signs of egg freshness

So, how to determine the freshness of a chicken egg? First of all, this can be done by its appearance. In the first few days, the shell looks very presentable, it shines and has a pleasant, even shade. Over time, the surface of the egg becomes dull, the color becomes darker and uneven. You can visually check the freshness and light. Pick up the egg, place it in front of a bright light bulb and examine it carefully. If its shelf life is running out, then there will be dark spots in the center; this is not observed in a fresh product. A characteristic sign of a stale egg can be a very unpleasant odor, but this feature already applies to the last stage. Don't hesitate to throw it away.

How can you tell if an egg is fresh when purchasing?

At your request, the store can bring you an ovoscope. Thanks to it, you will view the inside of the egg, the air chamber, which will allow you to understand how high-quality the product is. However, you may not need to use an ovoscope. Just use the following methods.

To check the freshness of the eggs, inspect them carefully. You have to choose a good product based on these indicators.

Ovoscope

On the shell

• If the shell has a rough surface, it is matte, and hard , then the egg is considered fresh.
• If the surface of the shell is soft and has dark spots on it , then the product is rotten.
• If the shell is shiny and has a blue tint , the egg is old and spoiled. Sometimes sellers specially rub eggs so that they have a marketable appearance. However, this should not be done, since this reduces the shelf life of the product.
• If there are eggs in the tray that have a matte surface, but the specimens with them are shiny, it means the seller mixed fresh eggs with spoiled ones.

On the shell

By smell

Many people claim that the shell of a bad egg has a specific, nasty odor. But this indicator is considered dubious, and therefore it does not always provide accurate information.

However, you can also easily use such a check. This is because eggshells tend to absorb a variety of odors. If the egg is fresh, it smells like lime. The egg is stored longer - various odors may be present on its surface.

By translucency

You can check the freshness of eggs if you shine them with a paw with a power of 100 W. It could be an ordinary flashlight.

• The transillumination method makes it possible to examine the puga. If there is no puga, then the egg is considered good. This part tends to manifest itself over time. It is necessary for a certain period of time to pass for the water to evaporate and the inside of the egg to become dense. In a dietary egg, a puga is a maximum of 0.4 cm, but in a table egg its size is no more than 0.9 cm.
• A diet egg has a uniform, dense yolk. When you shine it through, it should be visually located in the central part.
• In a table egg, the yolk is slightly to the side.
• If the yolk is located immediately next to the shell, then the product should not be eaten.

Check
Also, while watching, you will notice inclusions in the form of blood:

• If the droplets are small, then this is normal.
• When the drops are arranged in a ring, never buy such an egg.
• If blood entered the inside of the egg while it was forming, then the white will be pinkish and the yolk will have an orange tint.

Also look carefully to see if there are any dark spots inside. If any are present, it means that pathogenic microorganisms have begun to develop inside.

Shaking method

If you want to find out whether a product is fresh or not using this method, first do the following:

• Squeeze each piece until you feel a slight vibration in the inside after doing so.
• Gently shake the eggs individually so that the shells remain intact.
• If the product is not spoiled, it will not give any unusual sensations. There will be no vibration inside since the egg is very dense.
• If, after squeezing it tightly in the palm of your hand and after shaking, something starts to get loose in the inside of the egg and is thrown around, do not buy this product, as it is spoiled.

Shake

This method is popularly called “chatterbox”. Because during the process it feels as if something is moving inside the egg itself. This technique has one important drawback - with its help you will never be able to find out exactly how long the egg has been stored, or what degree of freshness it is. Thanks to this method, you will only identify those eggs that are not worth buying.

Twist the egg

This method will also be useful to you in the store when buying eggs. It's quite simple:

• Place one egg on a flat surface.
• Try to push it to make it roll.
• If the egg turns and rolls for a long time while moving, it means it is rotten.
• A fresh egg rolls smoothly, but in a very short time.

By weight

If the store has check scales, then find out the weight of the egg.

• An egg that weighs more than 75 g has a high category. “B” is printed on the shell of such an egg.
• An egg weighing a minimum of 65 g and a maximum of 75 g is considered selective.
• An egg weighing a minimum of 55 g and a maximum of 65 g is classified as 1st grade.
• An egg weighing a minimum of 45 g and a maximum of 55 g is class 2.
• An egg whose weight is no more than 45 g belongs to the 3rd century.

Weighing
When you weigh an egg, you will immediately understand whether the markings on it are correct. For example, a selected specimen has less weight, which means it is defective. The weight of the egg decreased, possibly due to drying out as the moisture in it evaporated. Let us note that the best and most balanced in terms of nutritional composition are eggs that belong to the 1st grade.

Why are they useful?

The protein of this product is completely absorbed by the human body. It is better to eat them boiled or fried. But raw ones can be dangerous if they contain an infection. They are rich in magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc and other useful elements.

They should definitely be eaten by people who are rarely exposed to the sun, because they contain a lot of vitamin D. It is simply irreplaceable for strengthening bones. Lecithin has a beneficial effect on liver function, brain activity, and strengthens the walls of blood vessels. Lutene improves vision, and choline prevents the development of cancer cells. Folic acid is essential if you are planning to become a mother.

The shell contains more than 30 trace elements, approximately 2 grams of calcium. It is useful to use in combination with lemon juice. Grind the shells, mix and add a teaspoon to food.

But to get all these benefits, you only need to eat a good, fresh, quality product.

Spinning on the table

The freshness of eggs can be determined not only in water. One method is to watch it rotate. The edible product does not rotate, at most it wobbles or makes 1 slow incomplete turn. A spoiled egg will spin well and smoothly, almost like a boiled one. It will also roll for a long time and turn often.

But this method requires additional verification, especially if it is used at home. For example, using water. It may turn out that this is not a spoiled raw egg, but a hard-boiled one that accidentally fell into a container with raw ones. If a well-spinning egg sinks in water, this is most likely just such a case.

When cooking

You can determine the freshness of eggs in water during the cooking process in the same way as before cooking.

Since it is in the water, you need to look:

• does it float up - if so, how much, if it only rises a little above the bottom and is located horizontally, can it be eaten;
• if it cracks during boiling, check the smell above the container - an unpleasant hydrogen sulfide tint indicates that the product is unsuitable for food;
• The egg lying on the bottom, even at high boiling and in very salty water, is guaranteed to be fresh.

But it's best to check the freshness before you start cooking.

By smell

Determining the freshness of eggs, in water and not only, is important in order to avoid food poisoning. Smell testing methods can be quite accurate, but do not always work. For example, with impaired sense of smell.

If you can't smell the egg, but the egg is suspicious, you can ask someone else to help or let your pet smell it. Cats, dogs and other predators are unlikely to find the smell of a stale product attractive - they will either begin to imitate burying a bowl of food, or will try to leave as quickly as possible.

According to the state of the white and yolk

One of the most reliable ways to check freshness is to crack an egg. In addition to the fact that it will immediately become clear from the smell how fresh it is, and besides the fact that dark spots inside the shell are visible, the appearance of the white and yolk can tell a lot.

You need to break it onto a flat, flat surface:

1. The yolk is convex, the white is viscous, collects around the yolk and does not flow - the product is more than fresh.
2. The yolk is still convex, but the white has begun to spread a little - the egg has already been sitting, but it can still be eaten after heat treatment.
3. The yolk is flat, and the white has become watery and flows easily - the egg is no longer fresh and it is better not to eat it. As a last resort, use it for baking, but this is also extremely undesirable.

There are other signs of freshness. To notice them, you need to carefully examine the protein. On the sides of the yolk you can see small white threads; if you don’t look closely, they are easy to miss. These are protein flagella that are woven into chalazae, egg cords. They are necessary to fix the position of the yolk.

This is important for the survival of the embryo - no matter how the egg is turned, it will be in the same position and on the warmest side, that is, on top. Chalaza may appear before the egg is fertilized, but most often occurs after. The fertilized yolk contains a small red dot, the germinal disc.

If a broken egg has these threads visible, at least on one side of the yolk, the product is very fresh, the egg was laid no more than 4 days ago. If the chalazas are not visible at all, the product has been sitting for a long time. This is due to the fact that they dissolve over time.

It is important to consider 3 points:

1. The degree of freshness is not determined by the color of the yolk. It depends only on the diet of the bird that laid it. The rich yellow-orange color is typical for products from village chickens that are well fed or for eggs from poultry farms where the birds eat special feed with nutritional supplements.
2. The color of the shell, brown or white, has nothing to do with the quality of the product. The only difference between them is that the light ones are easier to break. In addition, it is easier to notice a gray coating on them, which indicates that the egg is very stale.
3. If you break an egg directly into a hot frying pan, you won’t be able to understand anything, since the white will curdle and will hardly spread in any case.
4. By taking into account all the details of this method, it is possible to fairly accurately determine the suitability of the product for consumption.

How to distinguish a raw egg from a boiled one

The simplest and most reliable method to distinguish boiled eggs from raw ones is to spin them on the table. This is similar to determining freshness using the rotation method. A raw and edible product does not spin, it only wobbles, even if you apply force.

And the boiled one rotates for a long time, smoothly and quickly, if you spin it hard.

Immersion in saline solution

There is another way to determine the freshness of eggs in water. In essence, it is no different from the previous one, although it is generally accepted that it is more accurate. You need to salt the water, then put eggs in it and, just like in the previous case, look at their behavior.

The signs are all exactly the same:

• a fully floated egg is spoiled and cannot be eaten;
• does not float up at all, lies on its side - the freshest;
• floats a little or stands upright - not perfectly fresh, but edible.

But in fact, adding salt to the liquid does not make any sense and does not affect the result. Internal processes in the product make it lighter, and it will float regardless of the composition of the water. On the contrary, the results may not be accurate enough due to the fact that the density of the liquid increases.

How to hold the product correctly

Do not neglect the expiration dates of eggs. Particular vigilance is needed in the heat, when the risk of catching an intestinal infection increases many times over. What else is worth paying attention to?

• Dislocation. Although absolutely all refrigerators are equipped with special compartments for eggs on the doors (probably in order to save space), modern scientists call this the worst place for storing eggs. Each time the door is opened, there is a vigorous shaking and an influx of warm air, to which the product is very sensitive. Cooks also agree, adding that shaking thins the egg whites. The best place to place the product is considered to be a compartment or drawer for vegetables and fruits.
• Loneliness. Eggs must be stored separately. This will prevent the absorption of “foreign” odors, as well as infection in case of contact with other raw products. Food containers, special mobile cells or “native” packaging are suitable. It is recommended to wrap boiled eggs in paper.
• Position. For storage, the egg is placed with the blunt side up. Then the yolk will move to the center and will not come into contact with the air layer.
• The washing up. Eggshells have a protective film invisible to the eye, provided by nature as a natural barrier against various infections. Therefore, it is not recommended to wipe, let alone wash eggs before storing. This should be done right before eating or cooking. Many people prefer to use a cooled soda solution for cleansing (a tablespoon of baking soda per liter of water). Keep in mind that washed eggs are stored in the refrigerator for no more than 10-12 days.
• Personal hygiene. After “contact” with the product, you must wash your hands with soap.

Checking quail eggs

This product is very popular; many people prefer to buy quail eggs. To check the freshness of quail eggs, use the methods described below:

1. If you buy eggs at the supermarket, find a scale. Checkweighers can also be found in some markets. Weigh one egg. A fresh egg should weigh about 12 grams. The lower the weight, the older the product.
2. If the products are provided in sealed trays, then take several boxes, weigh them, and choose the heaviest one.
3. Also look inside the tray. If there are eggs with cracks or damage to the outer shell, put the item on the shelf. Bacteria penetrate inside an egg with a damaged shell, and instead of benefiting, the consumer ends up with food poisoning.

If you use the tips described in the article, you will be able to protect yourself and your family from low-quality products.

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