SIMPLE EGG FLOAT TEST: How to Test for Egg Freshness

No matter where you get your eggs—grocery store, farmer’s market, or your own chicken coop—you should have plenty.

Having lots of eggs means you can enjoy fresh eggs for breakfast every day!

When you have a lot of eggs, it’s easy to forget which ones are oldest. You might find yourself wondering how to tell if eggs are still good….You can’t tell an egg’s age just by looking at it. But there’s an easy way to check if it’s fresh!

What is the Egg Float Test?

Experts say it’s safe to eat eggs even after their expiration date. But how do you know when they’re too old? Use this simple method to check for freshness. It’s the easiest test you can do!

eggs in a bowl after the water float test for egg freshness

Generally, eggs stay fresh a lot longer than you realize. Those left unwashed and unrefrigerated may last two weeks, while those stored in the refrigerator may stay fresh for up to three months.

If you’re still not convinced, there’s one thing you can do to address your concerns.

Introducing the egg test or water test: an easy way to find out the approximate age of an egg!

This test is an old-fashioned way to determine the approximate age of eggs. It takes less than five minutes to check a carton of eggs.

How to Do the Raw Egg Float Test?

Whenever you’re in doubt, you can determine the freshness of an egg in three simple steps with the egg float water test.

Step 1

Fill a clear bowl or glass with warm water. Make sure you don’t use cold water, as it may draw the bacteria on the eggshell into the egg.

Step 2

Carefully place an egg(s) in the bowl/glass.

Step 3

Now, wait for the outcome.

If the egg sinks to the bottom of the container, it’s good. If it floats, it isn’t fresh.

The reason this simple test works is that eggshells are porous. Over time, eggs lose moisture, and their content starts shrinking. The older the eggs, the more moisture they lose.

Meanwhile, a small air pocket inside the shell starts expanding. This is what causes the eggs to float.

3 eggs floating in 3 glasses of water for a freshness test

Possible Outcomes of the Float Test

Freshly laid eggs lie flat at the bottom when placed in a bowl or glass of water. After a couple of weeks, it may start rising from the bottom.

Then, after two months have passed, it will likely be standing upright in the container. Only the pointy end will touch the bottom.

Eggs older than three months will immediately start floating in the water.

▪ Egg Sinking and Falling to the Side

If the egg goes to the bottom and falls to the side, congratulations! You have a fresh egg that you can enjoy however you like.

▪ Egg Sinking but Standing Upright

If the egg doesn’t fall to the side after sinking and stands upright at the bottom instead, you must act quickly. This is a sign that it’s okay to eat, but it won’t be fresh for too long.

▪ Egg Floating

If the egg floats in the water, it’s way too late. This egg is no longer fresh enough to eat, so you should toss it. If you still want to do a double-check, you can crack the egg in a bowl and sniff it.

If it smells bad and looks discolored, it’s definitely gone bad and shouldn’t be eaten.

It’s best not to take any chances with an egg that floats because when the air sac has increased in size, there is a high possibility that bacteria has gotten inside as well.

spoiled eggs float during the egg float test

Is the Egg Float Test Accurate?

Now that you know how to do the egg float water test, you may be wondering how reliable it is.

As mentioned earlier, it is an old-fashioned way of testing an egg’s freshness or telling if an egg is bad. This means it has stood the test of time and is quite accurate.

A fresh egg has a tiny air cell, which eliminates buoyancy. This air sac increases in size as the egg gets older.

Upon reaching a certain size, it causes the egg to float in water, indicating its maturity.

Experts of the egg float test can tell you how many weeks old an egg is based on its position when submerged in water.

How to Store Eggs for Maximum Freshness

It is advised to store eggs in the refrigerator to keep them fresh for longer. Ideally, you must ensure a 40⁰ F temperature for fresh eggs.

And oh, don’t keep them in the refrigerator’s door. When getting in and out of the refrigerator, your eggs are exposed to variable temperatures, which might compromise their freshness.

It’s best to keep them safely in a carton and place it on the coolest shelf of the fridge.

How to Utilize an Egg That’s Old and Almost Expired

You may be tempted to throw an egg away if it’s close to expiring when you have so many fresh ones, but DON’T!

Older eggs whip up better and are best for making meringue.

You can also hard-boil them to extend their life for a little bit longer. But don’t count on hard-boiled eggs lasting forever.

You can then store them in the refrigerator for another week or so and later make deviled eggs or egg salad with them.

Just make sure you label the older eggs so that you don’t confuse them with the fresh ones.

Is it Safe to Eat an Egg with Black Spots Inside or a Pink Yolk?

Black or green spots inside the egg indicate mold growth. Get rid of it! You shouldn’t think twice when tossing this rotten egg out!

Red or brown spots, however, are usually harmless. They’re just meat spots. Although unattractive, the egg is safe to eat.

Find out about meat spots in eggs and why they occur more often in brown eggs than in white ones.

Besides that, if an egg ever has a pink yolk, you should throw it away. It may be contaminated with bacteria.

One last tip, older eggs will have a clearer, runnier egg white, while fresh egg whites should closely surround the yolk and actually look a little cloudy.

Final Words

The egg float test is a reliable method to check the freshness of an egg. It hardly takes a minute or two and gives accurate results.

The next time you’re in doubt about an egg’s freshness, simply put it in a bowl or glass of warm water and notice the position it takes.

Remember the Simple Rule of Thumb:

If the egg stays at the bottom, you’re good to go!