You can tell if an egg is bad by using several simple tests:
Water (Float) Test
- Fill a bowl with cold water and gently place the egg in it.
- If the egg sinks and lies flat on its side, it is fresh and safe to eat.
- If it sinks but stands upright or tilts, it is still safe but less fresh.
- If the egg floats to the surface, it is too old and should be discarded
Sniff Test
- Smell the egg, either in the shell or after cracking it open.
- A bad egg will have a strong, rotten sulfur smell.
- If you detect any off or sulfuric odor, the egg is spoiled and should be thrown away
Visual and Texture Inspection (After Cracking)
- Crack the egg onto a flat surface.
- Fresh eggs have a plump, round yolk and thick, slightly opaque egg whites with a gelatinous ring.
- Older eggs have flatter yolks and watery, runny whites.
- Discoloration such as pink, iridescent, or cloudy whites, or any unusual colors in the yolk indicate bacterial growth and spoilage.
- If the egg white spreads thinly and is watery, the egg is old but not necessarily bad.
- Any sign of mold, cracks, or powdery coating on the shell also means the egg is bad
Shake Test
- Hold the egg up to your ear and shake it gently.
- If you hear a sloshing sound, the yolk may be watery and the egg is older and possibly spoiled.
- No sound usually means the egg is fresh
If an egg fails any of these tests, especially the float or smell test, it is safest to discard it to avoid foodborne illness. Cooking eggs thoroughly also reduces risk if the egg is borderline
. In summary, the most reliable indicators of a bad egg are floating in water, a foul smell, discoloration after cracking, and a watery consistency.
