How to tell the difference between expired and expired eggs in a snap.
Just because eggs are past their expiration date printed on the carton doesn't mean they're unusable.
Many people think that you shouldn't eat chicken or duck eggs after the expiration date printed on the carton when you buy them at the market. In reality, you can still use eggs for a few more days, even a week, as long as you know how to distinguish between good and bad eggs; the expiration date on the packaging is often only approximate.
Put the eggs in the water.
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- If the egg sinks and lies horizontally, it's still very fresh and you can use it at your leisure.
- If the egg sinks and stands upright, you need to dispose of it as soon as possible, as it is nearing its expiration date.
- If an egg floats on the water's surface, you should throw it away because it's an old egg; the yolk and white have shrunk, and air has entered inside, making it easy for them to float.
Examine under a light.
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Because eggshells are quite thin, when examined under a flashlight or desk lamp, you can easily see the yolk and egg white, thus distinguishing whether the egg is spoiled or not. As shown in the image above, the freshest egg is image a; images b and c are both old eggs, but if you see a clear, dark yolk (like image b), you should consider carefully before using it. Image d shows a spoiled egg, which will definitely have a foul smell because the yolk and egg white have mixed together.
Crack the eggs onto a plate.
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When cracking open an egg, you'll immediately know which ones are unusable by their strong odor. Additionally, if the yolk is round and raised, the egg is very fresh; conversely, a flattened yolk means it's not very fresh but still edible. If you're unsure, poke the yolk with a toothpick; if it stands upright, the egg is fresh. Alternatively, use chopsticks to pick up the yolk; if it doesn't break, the egg is fresh; otherwise, it's old.
For fresh eggs, you can use them as usual, without paying attention to the expiration date on the packaging. As for slightly stale eggs, if you're concerned, you can use them to make salted chicken or duck eggs and consume them gradually. Besides that, many Vietnamese people are addicted to the unpleasant smell of the famous "rotten duck eggs," boiled from spoiled or rotten eggs – a food that nutrition experts advise against because it's not good for your health.