Eggs Best Before Date

[EdmundD]

I have a box of 6 eggs that have been in the fridge with a Best Before date of 06 March 2021. Will they still be OK to eat?

[gingejbee]

Crack one and see/smell. Even if not "off", they won't be at their best!

[pastafreak]

Test them by putting into a deep pot or bowl of water. If they float, throw them out. It's an indication of air in them.

[ummmm]

Do the water test. Google it. I can't remember the details.

[Canary42]

Suck them and see, basically.

[gingejbee]

Just to add...I've used eggs a few weeks after "best before date"...but seven weeks is pushing it.

[pastafreak]

I'd think 7 weeks is pushing it also...but you never know!

[EdmundD]

Thanks. Did the float test - they don't float.

[bhg481]

If they didn't float they'll probably be OK; the "air" that makes them float is hydrogen sulphide formed as they rot, so no floating is no rotting. They probably won't fry very well (they'll spread thinly), so scrambling or cooking/baking with them will be the best option.

[Everhelpful]

Throw them out,they are cheap enough.

[EdmundD]

Thanks everybody.

[diddlydo]

Break open and sniff each one before adding to other ingredients. If they smell OK just eat them.

[burlyshirley]

I wouldn't eat eggs that old, I'd just buy some more !

[ummmm]

I wouldn't eat them either.

[emmie]

i threw mine out, they were well out of date.

[barry1010]

I'd eat them if they looked and smelt okay, they are no good for poaching but they'll be fine fried or scrambled. I never take notice of best before dates - I never keep my eggs in the fridge, either

[theprof]

Let's put a stop to a common misconception apparent in this thread.

Eggs have an air cell at the big end of the egg. As an egg ages, the contents of the egg lose moisture through the shell due to its porosity and the yoke and white of the egg shrink. However, the air cell expands as air is taken in from the outside, again due to the shell porosity.. The size of the air cell is indicative of the age of the egg as an old egg will have a larger egg cell and consequently float when submerged in water. Newer eggs have a smaller egg cell and consequently sink.

This has absolutely nothing to do with the formation of hydrogen sulphide. Air alone determines whether an egg floats or sinks so i'm afraid the information provided by bhg481 is incorrect.

Hydrogen sulphide and other gas production in an aged egg has nothing to do with it. You can crack an egg that floats without experiencing the whiff of hydrogen sulphide.

[EdmundD]

Boiled one this morning - absolutely fine.

[bhg481]

theprof - thank you for correcting my misinformation.

[emmie]

that's good Edmund...

[maggiebee]

My mother kept free range hens who layed all over the place. Favourite game was hunt the eggs. We never had any idea when they had been laid, but nobody was ill or died. If you have any doubts, break the egg into a saucer before using.