Do you know how to tell if an egg is fresh?

[ramazank2]

I tend think eggs never go bad but Martha says:

Dear Martha Stewart: How can you tell when an egg has spoiled?


Dear Reader: On the side or end of an egg carton, you'll find stamped numbers and letters. Usually the stamp is two lines long. On the bottom line, you'll find the phrase "sell by," "expires" or "best if used before." All three refer to the sell-by date, which is the last date the eggs should be sold, not the date they expire.
To arrive at the true expiration date, look at the first line of the stamp. There, you'll find a three-digit number between 001 and 365, with 1 meaning Jan. 1 and 365 meaning Dec. 31 (except in leap years). This number refers to the date the eggs were processed and packaged. According to the American Egg Board, eggs will keep four to five weeks after the date they were placed inside the carton.

You also can perform the following test: Dissolve four teaspoons of salt in two cups of water. An old egg will float in this solution, and a fresh one will sink. If the egg hovers somewhere in the middle, it's not particularly fresh, but is certainly safe to eat. The test works because as an egg matures, it loses water and the air bubbles inside expand, making it float.

[oblongmelon]

ugh..you had to ask Martha Stewart when you could have just "asked Obby"..I'm insulted, now I have to go cry. :cry:

[ialsohaveadream]

You also can perform the following test: Dissolve four teaspoons of salt in two cups of water. An old egg will float in this solution, and a fresh one will sink. If the egg hovers somewhere in the middle, it's not particularly fresh, but is certainly safe to eat. The test works because as an egg matures, it loses water and the air bubbles inside expand, making it float.
Damn! I just threw out some eggs this morning because they were a week past the sell-by date and didn't look too good when I cracked them open. If only Martha would've come to the rescue sooner!

Eggs + Frank's Red Hot = Fantastic breakfast.

[brainsmile]

ugh..you had to ask Martha Stewart when you could have just "asked Obby"..I'm insulted, now I have to go cry. :cry:
:stupid:

[zippyjuan]

Also be aware that the packer of the eggs can give it any expiration date they want (but usually not more than 31 days from being laid)- there is no set one to use so a date on one brand of eggs may not be as fresh as another brand with the same date. If you have to ask if they are good- you should probably just buy some fresher ones. Eggs have what is called a semi- permiable membrane which allows things to pass through it. From inside the egg, they slowly dry out and the white and yolk become thicker. In the other direction, they absorb odors and tastes from the refrigerator. More egg information: http://www.workdaygourmet.com/

[ramazank2]

ugh..you had to ask Martha Stewart when you could have just "asked Obby"..I'm insulted, now I have to go cry. :cry:

Sorry Obby... I was looking for how to make these egg things from the movie V for vendetta and my wife said she saw it in one of martha's magazines so while searching I find that and figure it would be a fun post. So please do not be offended....

If you are interested in the egg things see below:

(http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=content&id=channel1738&contentGroup=MSL&site=living)

They were pretty good!

[RIVERWIDOW]

(but usually not more than 31 days from being laid)]

There's a couple of people I know that I wish had expired 30 days after being laid. :rolleyes: :disa:

[MikeD]

Excellent info from ZJ. How-evah, my eyes kept coming back to the following portions of his comment:


the packer of the eggs

but usually not more than 31 days from being laid

the white...become thicker.

:bow:

[Houdini]

Excellent info from ZJ. How-evah, my eyes kept coming back to the following portions of his comment:





:bow:

:heh:

[molecularfire]

Nice thing about being vietnamese... if the eggs are fresh, great. Cook them and eat them. If they are no longer fresh, great. Cook them and eat them.


Sometimes, I love being vietnamese.

[oblongmelon]

Eggs are about 120 days old before they even get to the markets in some places. Haven't you guys learned that yet? I swear we had this conversation before.


Sorry Obby... I was looking for how to make these egg things from the movie V for vendetta and my wife said she saw it in one of martha's magazines so while searching I find that and figure it would be a fun post. So please do not be offended....

If you are interested in the egg things see below:

(http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=content&id=channel1738&contentGroup=MSL&site=living)

They were pretty good!

we call those "uova nel foro"..or eggs in the hole..
some people call them toads in the hole. Italians make those ALL THE TIME but we do it the right way by frying up some red peppers and onions and placing them ontop of the eggs..geez..classic italian breakfast.

[dougadam]

Thanks for the information.