Eggs are a staple in many American households, appreciated for their versatility, affordability, and nutritional benefits, but despite their popularity, the topic of egg expiration can spark confusion and even heated debates among family members. In fact, many people have found themselves in arguments over whether expired eggs are still safe to eat, just like one couple who couldn’t agree on whether their out-of-date eggs were still good.
The truth is, understanding how egg freshness works—and how to test for it—can help you avoid wasting perfectly good food and prevent unnecessary health risks. The first step is knowing what the dates on egg cartons actually mean. Labels such as “sell-by,” “use-by,” or “expiration” can be misleading. These dates are primarily intended to guide retailers in stocking and rotating their inventory and aren’t strict indicators of when eggs become unsafe. In many cases, eggs can remain fresh for several weeks past the printed date, as long as they’ve been stored properly in the refrigerator.
So rather than relying solely on a date, it’s better to use your senses and a few simple tests to determine whether an egg is still okay to eat. One of the most commonly recommended ways to test egg freshness is the float test. To try it, just place an egg in a bowl of cold water. If it sinks and lays flat on the bottom, it’s fresh. If it stands upright or floats to the surface, it’s best to toss it. This works because over time, air seeps into the egg through its shell, making it more buoyant as it ages. Another method is to crack the egg open into a bowl and observe its appearance and smell. A fresh egg will have a thick, slightly cloudy white and a firm yolk, while an older egg will look runnier, flatter, and may emit a foul or sulfur-like odor—clear signs that it should be discarded. Scientifically, egg freshness is impacted by storage conditions and the passage of time. The porous nature of eggshells allows moisture and carbon dioxide to escape, which affects internal quality.
Refrigeration slows this process significantly, helping preserve the texture, appearance, and safety of the egg far beyond the carton’s expiration date. Still, there’s a lingering myth that eggs instantly become dangerous the moment that date is reached, which simply isn’t true. That said, the risk of foodborne illnesses like salmonella becomes real if eggs are truly spoiled, especially if they’ve been left unrefrigerated or exposed to high temperatures. Consuming bad eggs can lead to unpleasant symptoms such as stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. For that reason, if there’s any doubt after checking the egg’s condition, it’s safer to err on the side of caution and throw it out. To prevent eggs from spoiling too quickly, proper storage is key.
Always store eggs in the coldest part of the refrigerator—not in the door, where the temperature fluctuates more frequently due to frequent opening and closing. Keeping them in their original carton also helps prevent them from absorbing strong odors and flavors from other foods, which can affect their taste. When it comes to disagreements about whether food is still safe to eat, like in the case of expired eggs, the best approach is open communication. Talk through concerns, respect each other’s perspective, and come to a mutual agreement about how to determine whether something is still edible. Agreeing on a method like the float test can help both people feel more confident and avoid unnecessary conflict. Food safety experts agree that it’s better to rely on sensory clues—like sight and smell—than to stick rigidly to expiration dates. While those dates serve as useful general guidelines, they don’t always reflect the actual condition of the food. In the end, making smart choices about egg consumption comes down to blending caution with knowledge. By learning how to test egg freshness, understanding what expiration dates really mean, and storing them correctly, families can avoid waste, prevent illness, and maintain peace in the kitchen.
