How do you know when eggs are off ?

Jodi

Hi. I have tried to search for this on the site and I'm sure that it was only posted a few days ago (I think).

My question is how do you know if eggs are off. I cant remember if they are still good if they float or sink (in water that is ! ) ???

Please help, thank you Jodi !

samnmalc

I think that if they float they are bad,something to do with the gasses ....but I could be wrong

mirakl

if they sit at the bottom of the pan on their sides they're fresh, they start to tilt when they're a bit older, if they're floating or the pointed end is facing the bottom of the pan it's off.

All the same when you crack an egg you'll know straight away if it's bad

squeaky

If they float they are off. I'll find a link to a very good site about testing the age of eggs...

http://recipehut.homestead.com/FreshEggTest.html

Nile

How to tell if eggs are fresh

The above link has pictures to show how to identify fresh eggs etc.

Regards

Nile

honey28

i always remember it like this
If they are Fresh, they Sink
If they are Stale, they Float

I know that stale isn't a good way to describe and egg, its that fact that the S and F are opposites ie never Float and Fresh

Hope this makes sense - it does to me, but I'm a bit daft!

kittiwoz

The reason eggs start to float when they go off is that air permeates through the shell and is trapped in a pocket between the shell and the sack that holds the albumen. You can tell how fresh an egg is the minute you crack it into a pan. Obviously if it's really off it'll smell but also a fresh egg will stay together in the pan and the yolk will sit up proud. As the egg gets older the yolk will slump more and the albumen will be less thick and run off round the pan. Preferably buy eggs unwashed. If they are washed it makes it easier for air to permeate the shell, especially if they are washed with detergent.

busterkeye

if it clucks its past its date

xlt_hunter

Basicly what kittiwoz said I work with eggs everyday (groan) on the processing side and this method is the easy for all household to do.

Jodi

Hi and thanks everyone it looks like my eggs are still good !!

needmoney

Old uns go up good uns stay down hee hee