What Happens If I Eat Expired Eggs? Food Poisoning Symptoms
Rotten eggs can be easily identified by a strong sulfur smell.
How to Tell If Eggs Are Bad
Not sure if your eggs are still good? Here are a few ways to check. Plus, learn what the “packing date” is and how best to store eggs.
It’s easy to tell when most foods have gone bad: They’ll let you know with a distinct smell or look. But what about eggs? There’s not much you can tell by simply looking at or smelling one, especially if the shell hasn’t been cracked or punctured. So how can you tell when eggs are bad? When in doubt, should you throw them out? Not yet! Before you head to the compost bin, here are a few ways to check if your eggs are still safe to eat.
Check the Packing Date, Not the Expiration or Sell-By Dates
The most reliable date stamped on your egg carton is not the expiration or sell-by date, but the packing date. The expiration date is a general guideline about freshness, and the sell-by date is a tool for stores to use in order to gauge how long a product should sit on the shelf. Neither will tell you exactly how old your eggs are.
The packing date, on the other hand, is the exact day your eggs were put into the carton. Sometimes it’s not easy to identify because it’s indicated using the Julian date calendar—a system where days of the year are counted chronologically starting with 1 for January 1 and continuing through 365 for December 31. To find the packing date, look for a three-digit code near the “use-by,” “sell-by” or “exp” date. If stored properly, your eggs should be fine to eat within four to five weeks of the pack date and two to three weeks after the expiration date, according to United Egg Producers. If you’re not into deciphering dates and codes on cartons, the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln recommends eating your eggs within three to five weeks of the day you purchased them.
Do a Float Test
If you can’t find the Julian date or it’s smeared beyond readability, a float test may be the way to go. Eggshells are porous (air can easily penetrate them), which means the older the egg, the more air inside it. After enough time has passed, the egg will have enough air inside to make it float.
To conduct a float test, fill a bowl or cup with water (it should be big enough to fully submerge your egg). Gently place your egg inside and see if it sinks or floats. If it floats, it’s old and you may want to toss it. But, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service says an old egg “may be perfectly safe to use. Crack the egg into a bowl and examine it for an off-odor or unusual appearance before deciding to use or discard it. A spoiled egg will have an unpleasant odor when you break open the shell, either when raw or cooked.”
If the egg sinks and stands up, then it’s not very fresh but still safe to eat. If it sinks and falls to its side, then the egg is at its prime.
Can I Tell If an Egg Is Bad by Shaking It?
You can also perform a shake test to see if your eggs are bad. Hold an egg by your ear and shake it. If you hear nothing, then many say your egg is OK, based on anecdotal evidence. If you hear liquid sloshing around, it means the yolk and/or white have deteriorated and are no longer fresh and firm but rather old and watery. However, FSIS does not endorse this test for freshness, like they do the float test. Your best bet is the float test or, even easier, cracking the egg open.
Crack It Open
The most accurate way of testing whether your eggs have gone bad is to crack them open. If the yolk or white has any discoloration, the egg is no good. Discoloration is an indication of bacterial growth. If your eggs look good but have an off or sulfuric smell to them, they are bad. Compost them.
According to food writer and Culinary Institute of America-trained cook Sean Kenniff, “A fresh egg should have a bright yellow or orange yolk that is more rounded than flat. The yolk should sit high on the inner albumen (that’s the thicker part of the white directly surrounding the yolk), and the inner albumen itself should not spread too much from the yolk and be relatively thick. The thinner outer albumen should not spread too far from the inner albumen. And there should be no off smells or colors.”
What If I Eat a Bad Egg?
In the unlikely event that you happen to eat a bad egg, you may be at risk for foodborne illnesses such as salmonella. Food poisoning may cause you to have a fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting. For most people, symptoms go away within a few days; however, serious illness and hospitalization can follow. Best to avoid eating a bad egg if possible.
How to Properly Store Eggs
Eggs have a long shelf life as long as they’re refrigerated properly. Instead of storing your eggs on the inside of the fridge door, place them in the coldest part of your fridge, which is usually the middle or bottom shelf. The door is actually the warmest part of your fridge because it gets exposed to ambient temperature every time you open it.
Keep your eggs in the carton. The carton protects and insulates the eggs from breaking and absorbing excess air. For your eggs to last as long as possible, FSIS recommends keeping the temperature of your fridge at 45°F and lower. And don’t leave your eggs out! According to FSIS, “Discard all perishable foods such as meat, poultry, eggs and casseroles, left at room temperature longer than 2 hours; 1 hour in temperatures above 90°F.”
The Bottom Line
As long as they’ve been stored properly, eggs can keep for four to five weeks after they’ve been packed. Make sure to store your eggs in the coldest part of your fridge and in the carton they came in. If you’re ever in doubt, perform one of the tests (float it or crack it, don’t shake it) to determine whether your eggs should be used or tossed.
What Happens If I Eat Expired Eggs? Food Poisoning Symptoms
Eggs are rich in nutrients and an affordable staple of many households. But if they have been sitting in your fridge for several weeks, you may be wondering whether or not they are still safe to eat.
Generally, it can be safe to eat expired eggs about 3-5 weeks past their sell-by date as long as they have been stored and cooked properly. The sell-by date indicates the date at which the market shelves need to be cleared of the egg cartons. It does not mean that the eggs are unfit for consumption after the sell-by date.
However, it is important to understand the difference between expired eggs and spoiled eggs.
What are the risks of eating bad eggs?
Eating rotten or contaminated eggs carries the risk of making you very sick.
Rotten eggs can be easily identified by a strong sulfur smell.
Contaminated eggs contain bacteria called Salmonella which can penetrate the shell. Identifying Salmonella, however, can be tricky because even fresh eggs can be contaminated with Salmonella. Fortunately, this can be avoided by proper handling and cooking practices.
What are the symptoms of food poisoning?
If you eat eggs contaminated with Salmonella, you may develop food poisoning symptoms that typically begin between 6 hours and 6 days after consumption.
Symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning include:
Symptoms of Salmonella infection generally last for about 4-7 days, during which it is important to drink plenty of fluids. Contact your doctor immediately if you develop the following symptoms:
- High fever (102 F)
- Diarrhea that worsens or does not improve within 2 days
- Vomiting beyond 2 days
- Blood in stools
- Signs of dehydration such as dry mouth, dizziness, dark urine, scanty or no urine, and excessive thirst
What does the expiration date mean for eggs?
Egg cartons are often labeled with dates making it clear when they were processed or packed, which can help you determine how long your eggs are safe to eat.
- Sell-by date: This date generally indicates the date at which sellers can have the eggs sold until they should be removed from the shelves. Eggs are generally safe to consume up to 3-5 weeks past the sell-by date as long as they are stored properly.
- Expiration date: For eggs, the expiration date is the same as the sell-by date.
- Use-by or best-by date: This date indicates when the eggs will be best in quality and flavor. Even if the eggs have passed their best-by date, you can consume them as long as they don’t have signs of spoilage.
- Packed on date: This date tells you when the eggs were processed and packed in the carton or box. It is expressed as a three-digit code that represents the consecutive day of the year, ranging from 001 for January 1 and 365 for December 31. Eggs are generally safe to consume up to 3-5 weeks past the pack date as long as they are stored properly.
How to tell when eggs have spoiled
- Smell: Spoiled eggs will have a putrid or sour smell when you crack them open.
- Cracks: Cracked shells act as an entry point for harmful bacteria such as Salmonella.
- Color: If the egg white is greenish or iridescent, it could indicate the presence of bacteria. Normally the egg white is clear or cloudy with or without the presence of string-like structures or chalazae.
- Tests: The float test or candle test can help you determine how fresh the eggs are. However, they will not necessarily tell you whether an egg has gone bad.
- Float test: Involves placing the eggs in a large bowl full of water; eggs that sink are considered fresh.
- Candle test: Helps you examine the presence of any blood or meat spot (a sign of fertilization ) in the egg. You need to hold a light source near the broader side of the egg and then tilt it to one side holding it from its narrower end and quickly bringing it back.
Who should avoid eating expired eggs?
Although eggs can be consumed beyond their expiration date, certain groups of people may be more likely to get sick from eating expired eggs. Expired eggs should be avoided by:
- Children
- Older individuals
- Pregnant women
- People with chronic health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, human immunodeficiency virus, and renal diseases
How to reduce the risk of getting sick from eggs
Proper storage, handling, and cooking of eggs can protect you from getting sick from contaminated eggs:
- Buy eggs from stores that keep the eggs properly refrigerated in hygienic conditions.
- Discard cracked or dirty eggs.
- Wash your hands, utensils, cutting boards, and kitchen counters if they have come into contact with raw eggs.
- Store eggs in your refrigerator at 40 F (4 C) or lower (in the main body of the refrigerator and not in the egg rack on your refrigerator door).
- Buy pasteurized eggs and egg products, especially for recipes that involve light cooking or using raw eggs (such as Caesar salad dressing and hollandaise sauce).
- Cook eggs thoroughly (at 160 F or higher) until the egg white and yolk appear firm).
- Avoid tasting dough or batter that contains raw eggs.
- Consume eggs soon after cooking.
- Refrigerate cooked eggs or foods prepared using eggs within 2 hours, or 1 hour if the eggs were exposed to temperatures above 90 F (such as inside a hot car).
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What is the nutritional profile of eggs?
When stored and cooked safely, eggs are an excellent and versatile source of protein. One large egg (weighing about 50 grams) provides you with the following nutrients:
What are the health benefits of eggs?
The rich nutritional profile of eggs makes them an ideal addition to any diet with many health benefits:
- Rich in protein: Egg protein contains all the essential amino acids and in the right proportions. Because of this, all other protein sources are compared to eggs as a reference. Protein is essential for building healthy muscles, bones, and other body tissues.
- Good source of vitamin D : Egg yolk contains vitamin D, which serves several important functi ons in the body. Vitamin D helps keep bones and teeth healthy, boosts immunity, and helps lower inflammation in the body.
- Promotes brain health: Eggs contain various essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals that promote brain health. Eggs are a source of choline, which plays an essential role in brain functions such as memory. They also play a crucial role in fetal development , as the folate in eggs helps prevent neural tube defects in a developing fetus.
- Aids weight loss: Because eggs are high in protein but low in calories, they are excellent for weight management. They are satiating and help limit calorie intake. Vitamins , minerals and choline in eggs also boost metabolism.
- Improves eye health: Eggs are good for your eyes because they contain various antioxidants including vitamin A which is needed to maintain healthy vision and prevent eye diseases such as macular degeneration.
- Boosts immunity: Eggs play a crucial role in keeping your immune system healthy. The various nutrients in eggs such as protein, vitamin D, selenium, and antioxidants strengthen your immune system and help keep infections at bay.
- Gluten-free: Because eggs are naturally gluten-free, they are also suitable for people with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease.
How many eggs should you eat on a regular basis?
Although eggs are safe to consume for most people, eating too many eggs in one day can cause indigestion, bloating, nausea, and stomach discomfort.
Studies report that most healthy people can safely consume 1 egg a day or 6-7 eggs a week. Consuming more than that could increase your risk of cardiovascular diseases, especially if you have high triglyceride levels.
People with health conditions such as diabetes or heart diseases should limit egg consumption to no more than 3 egg yolks a week. If you have difficulty controlling your blood cholesterol levels , you may opt to just eat the egg whites instead of the yolk. It is also important to cook eggs in healthy ways without too much fat or salt.
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