How to Tell If Eggs Are Fresh (or Bad) and Store Them Safely

Wondering if your eggs are still good? Learn how to test eggs for freshness with easy methods like the float test, plus tips for storing and rotating backyard eggs safely.

Managing eggs from your flock can be a bit overwhelming at times. During my first year of keeping backyard chickens, our young flock of seven was new and laying like crazy. I was collecting five to six eggs a day, way more than we could eat.

At the time, I read that unwashed eggs stored at room temperature last the longest because of the protective bloom that naturally coats the shell. So I began storing them in baskets on the kitchen counter. Then I added a second basket. Before long, it was hard to tell which eggs were fresh and which had been sitting a little too long.

Protective coating or not, old eggs stored at room temperature will eventually spoil. I realized I needed a better system for rotating and tracking our eggs. But first, I had to go through the eggs I had on hand and figure out which were still good and which ones were destined for the compost pile.

If you’ve ever found yourself in a similar situation, whether you’re raising your own flock or just want to know if that carton in the back of the fridge is still safe, there are several simple and reliable ways to test eggs for freshness. In this article, I’ll walk you through the most common methods so you can feel confident using your eggs without guessing.

Why Egg Freshness Matters

Whether your eggs come from the backyard coop. local farmstand, or a grocery store carton, knowing how fresh they are can help you avoid unpleasant surprises, and even prevent food waste.

Food Safety First

Eggs that have gone bad aren’t just unappetizing, they can also pose a health risk. As eggs age, the protective barriers that keep bacteria out begin to break down. While rotten eggs are usually easy to spot by smell or appearance, testing before you crack them can give you peace of mind especially if you’re unsure how long they’ve been sitting around.

Quality Counts in the Kitchen

Fresh eggs behave differently in recipes. If you’ve ever tried to fry an older egg and ended up with watery whites and a thin, flat yolk, you’ve seen this in action. Fresh eggs have firmer whites, rounder yolks, and better structure for baking, poaching, and whipping. Older eggs can still be useful, but knowing their age helps you choose the right ones for the job.

Confidence in Your Homegrown Food

For backyard chicken keepers, managing egg freshness is part of the homesteading rhythm. Unlike store-bought eggs stamped with a sell-by or expiration date, home-collected eggs require a bit of tracking. Learning how to test eggs takes the guesswork out and helps you feel more connected to the food you raise and eat.

But first, I had to figure things out the hard way. Starting with a countertop full of eggs and no idea which ones were still good. Here’s how I tackled the chaos and created a routine that works.

My Egg Sorting Routine

Once I realized that baskets of unwashed eggs on the counter weren’t going to work long-term, I had to figure out a better system. Tackling the egg overflow became a weekly ritual, and one that taught me a lot about egg freshness, storage, and organization.

Step 1: Sorting the Baskets

I had two baskets of eggs on the kitchen counter. I knew one was older than the other, so I began by sorting through that basket first. I visually inspected each egg, checking the shell for cracks, flaws, or any signs of damage. I gave each egg a sniff for that unmistakable sulfur smell, then I gave it a gentle shake.

If an egg looked or smelled suspicious or jiggled noticeably in the shell, I set it aside in a discard pile for the compost. Any eggs that passed the visual and shake tests were grouped together in rough order from oldest to newest, so I could test and label them next.

Step 2: Testing and Labeling

With the remaining eggs roughly sorted by age, I moved on to the egg float test. I tested each egg in a bowl of water to see if it would sink, stand, or float. The eggs that passed the test were placed into cartons, and labeled “unwashed” with the date. Then they went straight into the fridge.

From then on, I made it a habit. Each week, I’d pull about a dozen of the older eggs, do another quick float test, wash them, let them air-dry, and move them into the refrigerator egg section where we keep our ready-to-use eggs.

Step 3: Using the Eggs

When I was ready to cook, I always cracked eggs into a separate bowl first. That gave me a chance to visually inspect the yolk and whites and take a quick sniff to make sure nothing was off. If anything looked or smelled questionable, it didn’t go on the plate, it went into the compost pile.

To be on the safe side, I made sure to fully cook the older eggs until they were used up. Cooking eggs kills salmonella bacteria that can cause foodborne illness. I used them for breakfast scrambles, baking, or hard boiled for snacks.

Step 4: A Better Storage System

After that first overwhelming experience, I realized I needed a more sustainable way to manage our egg supply. We invested in a small mini fridge just for storing unwashed eggs. Each egg was still inspected before going into a recycled carton, labeled with the collection date, and placed in the fridge in order by age.

Every week, I’d pull out the oldest eggs, wash them, and move them into the kitchen fridge so they were ready to use. With everything dated and organized, I no longer had to guess or worry.

This routine has made all the difference. I still rely on the same basic steps today, and it’s helped me waste less, cook with confidence, and stay on top of what our hens are producing.

How to Tell if Eggs Are Good

If you raise backyard chickens or even just buy eggs in bulk it can be hard to tell how fresh your eggs are without a printed date to guide you. Fortunately, there are a couple of easy tests you can do at home to check an egg’s freshness before cracking it open. These methods are quick, reliable, and don’t require any special tools.

Try the Float Test

The float test is one of the most dependable ways to estimate how fresh an egg is. As an egg ages, the contents shrink and the air pocket inside of the shell gets larger. This added air makes older eggs more buoyant.

How to Do It:

1. Fill a bowl or glass with cold water.
2. Gently lower the egg into the water.
3. Watch what it does.

What the Results Mean:

• Sinks and lays flat on the bottom: Very fresh. This egg was likely laid within the last week or so and is perfect for any use.
• Sinks but stands upright on the bottom: Still good, but not quite as fresh. The egg is a little older (maybe 2–3 weeks), but it’s safe to eat. These are great for hard-boiling because they’re easier to peel.
• Floats to the top: The egg is likely spoiled and should be discarded.

This egg water test works best for raw, uncracked eggs. Be gentle when lowering eggs into the water to avoid cracks, especially if you plan to put them back into rotation. If you’re unsure after the float test, you can always crack the egg into a separate bowl and give it a sniff. Your nose won’t steer you wrong.

Try the Shake Test

The shake test can offer another clue especially when you’re sorting eggs by hand. It’s quick and requires no tools. Just your hands and a little careful listening.

As eggs age, the contents inside begin to break down and shrink slightly. The air cell inside the egg grows, and the yolk and white become thinner. When you shake an older egg, these looser contents may slosh around more noticeably.

The shake test isn’t as reliable as the float test. It’s best used alongside other methods, especially when you’re sorting through a batch of eggs and want a quick first impression.

How to Do It:

1. Hold the egg up to your ear.
2. Gently shake it back and forth.
3. Listen carefully.

What the Results Mean:

• No sound or very little movement: The egg is probably fresh. The yolk and white are still firm and holding together inside the shell.
• Noticeable sloshing sound: This suggests the egg is older. The contents have thinned, and the air pocket is larger. If there’s no visible damage or odor, it may still be fine, but crack it into a separate bowl before use.

While the shake test isn’t as definitive as the float test, it’s a helpful tool when you’re quickly screening a lot of eggs and want to separate out any that feel off.

These two methods work best together. Start with a visual check, then use the float or shake test to get a clearer sense of freshness before deciding whether to store, use, or toss the egg.

Next, we’ll cover how to spot freshness (or spoilage) once you’ve cracked the egg open.

How to Tell if Eggs Are Bad

Even if an egg passes the float or shake test, it’s still important to check it carefully before using it. Always use a separate bowl when cracking eggs, especially older ones. It helps prevent contaminating other ingredients.

Sometimes the easiest way to tell if an egg is fresh is to simply crack it open. Once out of the shell, your senses of smell and sight can give you clear clues about whether the egg is still safe to eat.

Use the Sniff Test

Your nose is one of the best tools for detecting a bad egg. Crack the egg into a clean bowl, away from other ingredients, and take a whiff.

What You’ll Notice:

• Fresh egg: Will have little to no smell.
• Spoiled egg: Has a strong, unmistakable odor that smells sulfuric or rotten. If you catch even a whiff of something off, don’t take a chance. Toss it. Even if the egg looks fine, a bad smell is a sure sign it’s gone bad.

Visually Inspect the Egg

Once cracked, the appearance of the yolk and white can also give clues about the egg’s age and quality. Here are a few visual clues to help you assess its freshness and quality.

Signs of a Fresh Egg:

• A firm, thick white that stays close to the yolk.
• A tall, round yolk that holds its shape.
• Cloudy egg white: this is normal and actually a sign of freshness, caused by natural carbon dioxide that dissipates over time.

Signs of an Older (but Still Safe) Egg:

• Runny or watery white that spreads out in the bowl.
• Flatter yolk that may break easily.

These eggs are often fine for baking or scrambling, but not ideal for recipes where structure matters.

Signs the Egg Is Bad:

• Green, pink, or iridescent coloring in the white or yolk (can indicate bacterial growth).
• Any mold, strange textures, or unexpected slime.
• Off-putting odor, even if it looks fine.

Using both smell and sight is especially helpful if you’ve already done the float or shake test and want to be absolutely sure before cooking.

How to Store Eggs to Keep Them Fresh Longer

Knowing how to test eggs for freshness is helpful, but it’s even better to keep them fresh from the start. Whether you’re collecting eggs from your backyard flock or storing store-bought cartons, a few simple habits can make a big difference in how long your eggs last and how easily you can manage your supply.

Washed vs. Unwashed Eggs

If you raise your own chickens, how you handle your eggs after collecting them plays a major role in how long they’ll stay good.

• Unwashed eggs still have their natural bloom (also called the cuticle), a protective coating that helps seal the shell and keep bacteria out. With the bloom intact, eggs can be stored at room temperature for up to two weeks or in the refrigerator for up to three months.
• Washed eggs have had the bloom removed and are more porous, making them susceptible to contamination. These eggs should always be refrigerated and are best used within 4 to 6 weeks. Not sure whether an egg has been washed? Treat it like it has and store it in the fridge just to be safe.

Best Practices for Refrigerating Eggs

No matter how you store your eggs, a few small steps can help preserve freshness and make your egg rotation easier:

• Store eggs with the pointy end down. This keeps the air cell in place and helps the yolk stay centered.
• Label your eggs with the collection date. Chalk pencil, stickers, or even regular pencil on the shell all work well.
• Use recycled cartons or stackable trays to organize by date and make rotation simple.
• Keep eggs in a consistent, cool temperature. Avoid storing them in the fridge door, where temperature fluctuates.

By combining proper storage with regular freshness checks, you can keep your eggs safe, organized, and ready to use.

How Long Do Eggs Last?

Eggs can often last longer than you think, especially when properly stored. That’s why it’s so helpful to combine good storage practices with simple freshness tests.

• Fresh, unwashed backyard eggs (refrigerated): Up to 3 months
• Washed or store-bought eggs (refrigerated): 4 to 6 weeks past the pack date
• Unwashed eggs at room temperature: 1 to 2 weeks (best used quickly in summer)

From Overwhelmed to Organized: Managing Eggs with Confidence

Managing fresh eggs when your hens are laying in full force can feel overwhelming at times. But with a few simple tools and routines, it becomes second nature.

Learning how to test eggs for freshness not only helps you avoid waste, but also builds confidence in the food you’re raising, storing, and cooking. Whether you’re sorting through baskets on the counter or checking a mystery carton in the fridge, these methods, like the float test, shake test, and visual inspection are easy ways to know what’s still good to use.

Over time, I found a system that worked for our homestead. You’ll find your rhythm too, whether that means labeling cartons, rotating stock weekly, or setting up your own egg storage space.

Have a tip or routine of your own for managing fresh eggs? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

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