Here are 5 reliable, easy ways to tell whether an egg is fresh or rotten — no special tools needed!
🥚 5 Ways to Tell If an Egg Is Fresh or Rotten
1. The Float Test (Most Popular)
Fill a bowl with cold water and gently place the egg in.
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Sinks and lays flat: Very fresh
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Sinks but stands upright: Still safe, but older
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Floats: Rotten — throw it away
👉 Eggs float when the air pocket inside grows too large.
2. The Sniff Test
Crack the egg into a bowl.
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Fresh: Mild or no smell
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Bad: Strong sulfur, rotten, or sour smell
👉 If it smells bad at any point, don’t use it.
3. Check the Shell
Inspect the egg before cracking.
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Fresh: Clean, smooth, matte shell
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Bad signs:
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Slimy film (bacteria)
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Cracks
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Powdery residue (mold)
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4. Shake Test
Hold the egg next to your ear and gently shake.
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Fresh: No sound
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Old or rotten: Sloshing sound
👉 Older eggs have thinner whites and bigger air pockets.
5. Crack and Examine the Egg
Look closely after cracking it into a dish.
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Fresh:
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Thick, firm egg white
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Yolk stands up high
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Old:
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Watery whites
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Flat yolk
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Rotten:
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Discolored whites/yolks (pink, green, blue, black)
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✔️ Tip:
Eggs can stay good 3–5 weeks in the fridge, sometimes longer, depending on storage.
If you want, I can also give:
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A printable chart
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A short social-media version
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Food-safety tips for storing eggs
Just tell me!
