We have been teaching the kiddos at our house to cook. Egg freshness was addressed. I thought my readers might also benefit from this information.
Have you ever been ready to bake or maybe add eggs to a recipe and wondered if they were fresh or not? They really do go bad. It is amazing how many people think eggs will keep in the refrigerator for months and months. Old eggs are more susceptible to salmonella and other bacteria, so it is important to know if your eggs are fresh before consuming them. Many eggs, however, are completely safe to use after their expiration date.
Here is a few quick and simple ways to determine if your eggs are fresh enough to use.
The Float Test:
(I learned this one from my grandmother many years ago)
What you need:
1. eggs
2. bowl or pan deep enough to hold enough water to cover eggs
3. cold tap water
What to do:
1. Fill a bowl or pan with enough cold tap water to cover your eggs completely.
2. Place the eggs in the bowl (in the water) and use the following tips to determine freshness:
* If the egg stay on the bottom, lying on its side, the egg is very fresh.
* If the egg is beginning to stand up a little or bobs up and down just a bit, it is not as fresh and should be used as soon as possible.
*If the egg balances on its smallest tip, with the large tip reaching for the top, it’s probably close to three weeks old. Still fresh but use immediately.
*If your egg floats to the surface, discard it. DO NOT USE. This means your egg is not fresh.
The Slosh Test:
This is another method of egg testing. It may come in handy if you do not have the means for doing the float test.
** Hold the egg up to your ear and shake gently. If you hear a sloshing sound, the egg would not be considered fresh. You should discard.
*If you hear a nothing, the egg is likely fresh and considered to be safe for use.
Surface Test:
Crack the egg on a flat surface, like a plate.
Observe the yolk and egg white (albumen)
If the yolk is "sitting high" and is slightly globe shaped, and the egg white is gathered closely around it, then the egg is considered fresh.
If the egg white is transparent but still gathered close and the yolk is sitting a bit lower, (see picture) then the egg is a bit older, but still considered safe to eat.
If the yolk is flat and the egg white is runny (almost like water), then the egg is bad.
Tips for storing eggs:
*Eggs should be stored in the refrigerator.
*Eggs should be stored small end down in their original carton.
What are the best eggs to buy?
Grade AA eggs are best and are the highest grade available for purchase. They usually cost a bit more than other grades, but may be a good choice because of their high quality and longer shelf life.
Partial Information source: WikiHow
Now another little tip I learned from my grandmother years ago. We often kept boiled eggs in the refrigerator in an unused carton that looked just like the eggs that had not yet been cooked. Yes! You guessed it! There were a few times fresh eggs were mistaken for boiled and we had a bit of a mess. There is a simple way to tell if an egg is boiled or not. Simply spin it on a flat counter. (Be careful and don't get too close to the edge!) Watch it closely! If the egg spins smoothly, it is hard boiled. If the egg wobbles, it is fresh!
We are a homeschooling family. I am sure I will have many more subject or ideas to share here from time to time. I hope my sharing benefits some of you as well.
Thanks for stopping by my blog today.
