Eggs are a must-have for almost all breakfasts in the country, perhaps the world. It’s an important meal because it’s a good source of protein. People doing a keto diet will appreciate this, for sure.
Eggs are not a must-have for breakfast only. Eggs are a key ingredient for a lot of meals, especially desserts.
Now that you think about it, there aren’t many types of desserts that don’t require eggs, right? Eggs bind other ingredients, and that’s why they are so important for dessert.
The same deal is with pretty much any other meal that contains eggs. The binding isn’t the only reason – some dishes just taste better with a few eggs inside.
It’s not unusual to see eggs on sale. Today, you thought about buying a few dozen, but you’re not sure about the shelf life. Do eggs go bad, ever?
Is there a definite shelf life for this common breakfast food? Read our article to find out the answer!
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Do Eggs Go Bad?
Eggs are one of the best sources of protein out there. They also contain so many essential vitamins, making them a superfood.
Let’s check out the nutritional value of 1 large egg:
| Nutrient | Value | Daily value in %* |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 78 kcal | 4% |
| Protein | 6g | 12% |
| Total fat | 5g | 7% |
| Saturated fat | 1.6g | 8% |
| Cholesterol | 186mg | 62% |
| Total carbohydrates | 0.6mg | 0% |
| Vitamin A | 244IU | 5% |
| Vitamin D | 17.5IU | 4% |
| Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) | 0.2mg | 14% |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.6mcg | 11% |
To know the answer to whether you should stock up on eggs or not, you need to know one important piece of information. Do eggs go bad?
If they do, you probably don’t want to go out and buy too much, because you’ll be forced to throw some out. And if they don’t, you can buy as much as you want, because you’ll finish them at some point in the future. So, do eggs go bad?
The answer is, eggs can go bad, unfortunately. There is no way around it – eggs, like most food items, have a shelf life.
To make things even worse, eggs don’t have a long shelf-life either! They will go bad pretty soon. We know, it’s a shame, but what can you do?
We will tell you what you can do – you can store them properly. Storing eggs according to the guidelines on the box and according to our advice will make sure your eggs are fresh whenever you need them!
The Shelf Life Of Eggs
So, we have established that eggs go bad and that there’s a shelf life on them. The next important thing is: how long do eggs last?
Sure, you can’t go overboard with eggs on sale, but you can buy in bulk reasonably if you know how long you have to finish it up. If it’s long enough, you can buy a little more eggs without a worry.
Eggs are usually bought prepackaged in an egg box unless you bought them at the farmer’s market. The egg box has printed information about the manufacturer, storage instructions, and most important of all: the use-by date.
The use-by date is simply the expiration date. It’s a manufacturer’s guarantee that the food in question will be safe to use, up to the printed date.
Afterward, the food will probably degrade in quality or go bad. Either way, it’s not the greatest idea to eat something past its use-by date. A day or two is probably fine, but you will want to check out the food first.
That is, is stored according to the instructions. If the eggs were stored at room temperature, use them within a week to be safe.
Eating eggs past their prime can not only spoil the taste of the meal, but it can also make you ill, too. Eggs don’t cost a fortune, so if you’re not sure, it might be best to toss them out.
However, if you bought a carton of eggs with only the production date, don’t stress yet. Remember that eggs stay fresh for around four to five weeks past the production date.
Over time, E. coli and salmonella start growing inside eggs, so you probably don’t want to push that five-week mark. If it’s past five weeks, just toss them out.
If you have leftovers from a meal prepared with eggs, it won’t last as long. Finish the leftovers in the next three to four days. Hard-boiled eggs will stay fresh for around a week, but probably no more than that.
Storage Tips For Eggs
When it comes to eggs, storage is the number one reason why they go bad too soon. If the storage doesn’t work well for the eggs, you’re out for a nasty surprise.
So, let’s talk about it. What’s the best way to store eggs?
Storing eggs at room temperature is never a good idea if you ask us. The eggs can go through numerous temperature changes during transport, and leaving them out can spoil them rotten.
Room temperature just shortens the shelf life by a lot. The fridge is the ideal place to store the eggs, and all manufacturers seem to agree.
In ancient and medieval times, fridges didn’t exist, and eggs were stored at room temperature. It was fine because they were used within a few days. After all, whenever you needed some, you just had to go out in the yard and look in the chicken pen for eggs.
Now, the fridge keeps the eggs fresh for a few weeks, like we already said. Many fridges come with boxes for eggs, and they are a pretty good place.
If your fridge lacks those boxes, you can leave them in the original carton. That’s a good place because they will not break as easily when you’re looking for the last Jello cup.
Can Eggs Be Frozen?
- Some foods can be frozen to preserve freshness. To be honest, eggs can be frozen to extend their shelf life, too.
- There are a few things to remember, though. First, eggs cannot be frozen in their shell. The eggs should be opened and mixed. Mixing the yolk and egg whites will keep the eggs safe in the freezer for up to a year!
How To Tell If The Eggs Have Gone Bad
There are a few sure signs that your eggs are no longer good. First, let’s talk about the simple test to do when your eggs are still in-shell.
Pour some water into a bowl. Then, place the eggs inside. If they sink to the bottom, the eggs are still fresh. If they float, it’s time to toss them!
There is another thing to do. If your eggs are old-ish, you can open them in a plate or bowl to check them out.
The eggs look fine, but you’re still not sure about the state of them, do a sniff test. If they smell unpleasant or rotten, you know what to do – discard them!
Do Eggs Go Bad? – Conclusion
To conclude, eggs go bad. This is not a surprise, since most food items do have a shelf life, eggs are just no different.
Eggs don’t even have long before they spoil rotten, too. At best, you have around five weeks to use them up. That is if the eggs are stored in the fridge. A fridge is an optimal place to store your eggs since they tend to go bad too soon at room temperature.
It may seem foolish to some to even buy too many eggs. But, eggs have so many vitamins and they are such a good source of protein, how could you not?
If you bought too many eggs by mistake, don’t worry. There is a solution for that – freeze them! Frozen eggs will stay fresh for around a year if stored mixed and without the shell.
If you didn’t remember to label the frozen eggs, it might be best to toss them. Fresh eggs can be subjected to the water test to check them out, but frozen cannot. They will just have to go into the trash.
If the eggs look fine even after opening, and they smell fine, they are safe for human consumption and they are not out to make you ill. It is time to start cooking some eggs, then!