![]() ![]() Too Good To Go is challenging the British public to use the water bowl test to check the freshness of their eggs to help cut down on edible food needlessly being binned. ![]() Small changes from each of us can make a big difference." "Food waste is a huge problem – a third of all food produced globally is wasted. "If you've been throwing your eggs in the bin based on the dates on the box, you've probably been wasting perfectly good food," said Jamie Crummie, the co-founder of Too Good To Go. This is because as the egg gets older, the size of the air sac inside increases, making it float. If they float to the surface, they are no longer fresh enough to eat. If they are less fresh but still good to eat, they will stand on one end at the bottom. If eggs sink to the bottom of a bowl of cold water and lie flat on their sides, they are very fresh. ![]() The research found that just 23 per cent of Britons were familiar with the water test that reveals whether eggs are still fresh enough to eat. EU legislation requires that the maximum best before date on eggs must be 28 days from when they were laid. However, eggs are often still good and safe to eat long after the date on the packaging has passed. Inspecting the whites and yolk for discoloration is also a good strategy.The research also showed that 29 per cent of Britons throw away eggs solely because they are past their best before date. In addition to sniffing an egg, check its shell for signs of bacteria and mold. But this does not necessarily mean it has gone bad, and it can still be perfectly fine to use ( 2). This is an indication that the egg is old and that the quality has declined. You can also check to see if the whites or yolk of the egg are runny. If you notice any signs of discoloration, throw the egg out and wash the bowl with hot, soapy water before testing a new egg. Look for any pink or iridescent discoloration in the yolk or whites, as this may indicate bacterial growth ( 2). If the shell appears dry and undamaged, crack the egg into a clean, white bowl or plate before using. Sliminess or cracks can indicate the presence of bacteria, while a powdery appearance on the shell may indicate mold ( 2). While the egg is still in its shell, check that the shell is not cracked, slimy, or powdery. In addition to your nose, your eyes are a valuable tool for telling whether an egg is good or bad. But just because an egg has passed its date does not always mean it has gone bad. SummaryĬhecking the “sell by,” expiration, or “pack date” on an egg carton can tell you if an egg is still good. However, if your eggs are past the date printed on the carton, you may need to use another method to tell if the egg is good or bad. If your eggs are still within the expiration or “sell by” date on the carton, or within 21–30 days after the “pack date,” you can be pretty sure they are still fresh.Īnd even though the quality of an egg may start to decline after a certain date, it may still be good to eat for several weeks, especially if it has been refrigerated, which preserves quality and prevents bacterial growth ( 2). Therefore, January 1st is written as 001 and December 31st as 365 ( 1). The “pack date” is printed as a Julian date, meaning each day of the year is represented by a corresponding, chronological number. But you may not recognize it if you don’t know what to look for. If neither of these labels is present, there is yet another date you can look for to tell how fresh your eggs are.Įggs that have been graded by the USDA are required to show the “pack date” on the carton, which is the day that the eggs were graded, washed, and packaged. ![]() In the United States, eggs may be labeled with either a “sell by” or expiration date, depending on which state you live in, in order to let you know if your eggs are still fresh.Ī “sell by” date indicates how long a store should offer eggs for sale - no more than 30 days after packing - but not necessarily that the eggs have gone bad ( 1).Īn expiration date, on the other hand, marks the date after which the eggs are considered less than fresh. But if you throw your refrigerated eggs out as soon as this date arrives, you could be wasting perfectly good eggs. One of the easiest ways to tell if your eggs are still good is to check the date on the carton. ![]()
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