How To Check The Freshness Of An Egg In Just 3 Seconds

Do you have any idea how to check the freshness of an egg? We show it to you in this article

There is nothing better than enjoying fresh eggs for breakfast or dinner. Now, do you know how to determine the freshness of an egg? So, keep reading!

The egg is a very healthy food that should be included frequently in the diet to provide our body with all its benefits.

Although eggs can last for some time, there is nothing better than buying them fresh and consuming them in the shortest possible time to take full advantage of their benefits.

The freshest and highest quality eggs that we can buy are, without a doubt, those that we buy directly from a farm.

Although it is now very easy to get eggs on the market, these are not usually as fresh as they seem, since the industries subject them to some techniques to prolong their freshness and have more time to market them.

For example, some eggs go through partial freezing and cold storage for weeks before companies can take them to stores and supermarkets.

While old eggs are suitable for human consumption, they do not usually retain the delicious taste of fresh eggs and when cooked they will not be as perfect as we expect. But how do you know if the eggs are fresh?

What is the Juliana date?

In the egg industry in the United States and elsewhere in the world, egg cartons must be stamped with a series of numbers ranging from 000 to 365.

This is known as the Julian date and indicates when the eggs are cleaned and packed in the carton.

For example, if the carton is stamped with 000, it means that the eggs are from January 1, on the other hand, if it has the number 213 it means that they were packed on August 2.

This date is accompanied by another number that is indicative of expiration, the time limit for selling the eggs to the consumer.

For example, an egg carton stamped with the numbers 015 February 28 means that the eggs are from January 15, but they can be sold in the market until February 28, that is, a month and a half later.

Who would want to buy eggs older than six weeks if they can get fresh eggs?  Surely no one.

The float test of eggs

As we do not always have the egg carton to check its freshness through the date, there is an alternative that can help us check the freshness of an egg.

The test consists of placing the egg very carefully in a cup of water. If the egg is fresh it will sink and remain in a longitudinal plane at the bottom of the bowl.

The older the egg, the more it will float in the water. As time passes, the egg loses water through the pores of the shell, which causes a decrease in weight and also an increase in air inside the egg.

Why eat fresh eggs?

As with any other food, the fresher, the better taste and nutrient supply.

However, when it comes to buying eggs, it is difficult to be 100% sure how fresh they are. The results can be noticed once the eggs are prepared at home and it is noticed that they do not have the same flavor and color as a fresh egg.

Fresh eggs will always give a more pleasant flavor, they will have a darker yolk color and the white can be easily separated from the yolk without a mixture of both.

The egg contains carbonic acid dissolved in the white and the yolk. Over time, this acid is lost through the pores of the shell in the form of gas, causing an increase in pH that has effects such as:

• Loss of consistency of the egg.
• The yolk is off-center.
• It increases the repulsion between the proteins of the white, causing it to lose color as time passes.

Is it advisable to wash the eggs?

It is believed that the eggs should not be washed, as these practices could weaken or damage the shell, which acts as a protective barrier that prevents the entry of microorganisms.

In fact, this study carried out by the University of Adelaide, in Australia, affirms that Salmonella, formerly associated with the supposed dirt of the eggshell, can cause infection in humans whether or not the shell of the food has been washed.

Have you learned to detect the freshness of eggs? Remember to check it before consuming them to avoid discomfort and infections.