Have you ever opened the fridge, taken out an egg, cracked it into a pan, and found a suspiciously liquid, foul-smelling substance oozing out? There's nothing worse than planning a delicious breakfast, only to discover that your eggs are spoiled. Eggs are a delicate food, and their freshness fades over time - but how do you know if they're still safe to eat? Luckily, there's a quick and easy trick that lets you check their quality in seconds without even cracking them open.
To check whether they are eggs still good, you don't need any special equipment - just a bowl of water. With a simple buoyancy test, you can immediately determine whether the egg is still fresh, slightly runny, or already dangerous to eat. This trick will not only save you time and money, but will also protect you from unpleasant health problems. So let's see how it works!
Swimming test: The egg in the water tells it all
The egg contains a small air chamber that expands as it ages. When the egg is placed in water, its buoyancy reveals how much air has already penetrated the shell.
If the egg sinks to the bottom and lies horizontally, is fresh and safe to eat. These eggs are ideal for any preparation – from soft-boiled eggs to the perfect scrambled breakfast.
If the egg stands upright at the bottom, means it is about a week old. It is still safe to eat, but it is better to use it for baking or hard-boiling, as its texture may be less pleasant.
When the egg floats towards the surface or even hovers just below it, is a sign that it is very old or even rotten. It is best to throw away such eggs, as they can be dangerous to your health.
The science behind this test is simple: eggshells are porous, meaning they let air in over time. The more air there is inside, the more the egg will float.
Additional tricks for checking the freshness of eggs
If you want to be even more sure about the quality of your eggs, you can use a few additional methods:
Smell test – Rotten eggs give off a characteristic sulfur or rotting smell. If you have any doubts, it's best not to take the risk.
Lighting the egg – You can use a flashlight to check the size of the air chamber. The smaller it is, the fresher the egg.
Egg white texture – When you crack an egg, a fresh egg has a firm white that holds together nicely. Older eggs have a more runny white, which can affect baking results.
How to store eggs properly?
- Always keep them in the refrigerator., ideally at a temperature of around 4–7 °C.
- Leave them in their original packaging., as the carton protects the eggs from the odors of other foods.
- Do not wash them before storing., as this removes the protective layer that prevents bacteria from entering.
With this simple trick, you will always know if your eggs are still good to use. Eggs into a bowl of water – and you’ll have your answer in seconds! This is not only a practical method for preventing poisoning from rotten eggs, but also a great way to reduce food waste.
Next time you're in doubt, try this test and save yourself a bad experience!