How long eggs sell by date?

Eggs are a staple of many diets, from breakfast scrambles to meringue pies. But have you ever wondered how long they actually last? Sure, there’s usually an expiration date on the carton, but what does that really mean? Can you still eat them after that date has passed? Fear not, dear reader! We’ve cracked the code (pun intended) and will provide clarity on all things egg expiration dates.

The Low Down on Egg Dating

Before we dive into how long eggs last beyond their sell by date, let’s first understand what those dates actually indicate. According to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), stores can legally sell eggs up until 30 days past their packing date as long as they remain at or below 45°F throughout storage and transportation. So if a carton of eggs says it was packed on July 1st and has a sell by date of August 1st, theoretically those eggs could be sold until August 31st.

But wait! That doesn’t necessarily mean you should keep those eggs for that long. Instead, use the sell by or best before dates as guidelines for consuming your cartons in order of freshness – with the freshest ones used first!

How Long Do Eggs Really Last?

Now for the big question: how long do eggs last after their expiration/sell by/best before dates have passed? The answer is…it depends! There are different ways to determine whether an egg is still safe to consume:

The Float Test

Place your egg(s) in a bowl filled with water:
– If they sink straight down and lay flat at bottom = FRESH
– If one end tips upwards slightly = Still okay BUT not super fresh
– If standing upright = Old

The Sniff Test

Take a whiff of the egg(s). If it has a sulfuric, rotten smell it’s time to chuck them.

The Crack and Sniff Test

Crack your suspected expired egg(s) into a bowl before cooking with sniffing first to test for freshness.

According to Incredible Egg (yes, that’s an actual website), eggs can last anywhere from 3-5 weeks beyond their sell by date as long as they’ve been stored properly – aka in your fridge around 40°F according to FoodSafety.gov. On the other hand, be warned that aged eggs are not ideal for certain dishes like custards or meringues where fresh ones would produce better results.

How Do I Store My Eggs?

We already mentioned proper storing temperature above but there are few more things you should know when deciding on the best place for your precious cargo:

Inside Your Fridge:

The door is NOT where you want to store them even if here might be designated space (smart marketers!). According To Good Housekeeping‘s senior food editor Lauren Miyashiro explained that “the refrigerator door tends to experience fluctuations in temperature.” Instead store tehmin containers along a shelf , ideally near th back so they remain at consistent temperatures

Should You Clean Them Before Storing?

According to Extra Crispy writer Kate Welsh, farm-fresh eggs don’t need refrigeration but still need washing before storage.”U.S. production facilities must give them chemical and mechanical baths so they’re sterile when sold,” she writes. “This process also removes two protective barriers against bacteria—cuticle oil and bloom—which means supermarket cartons spend less time at room temp than their counterparts abroad”

If you do wash your eggs before placing them in the pre-determined receptacle, make sure to do so just before cooking to avoid removing the egg’s natural protective coating.

Are Expired Eggs Safe To Eat?

Okay, but let’s say you’ve found a carton of eggs in the back of your fridge and it’s been way past their sell by date – are they safe to eat? It depends on how far beyond that date they are first. If it’s only been a day or two, use one of the above freshness tests and proceed with caution (read: give them a good sniff!). However if your carton is weeks or even months past its expiration then throw it away! According To USDA “If eggs crack on the way home from grocery store, break as soon as you get them home, and refrigerate immediately”

TLDR: Don’t keep those shrink-wrapped golf balls for stashing into small crevices forever- especially after several weeks- unless want Frankeneggs

Conclusion

In conclusion, trust your senses when deciding whether or not to consume an egg that has passed its expiration/best before/sell by date. Use guidelines listed above such as float test/sniff test etc) and don’t wait too many days beyond any key dates.

With this knowledge in hand may you go forth confidently whipping up omelets quiches souffles pavlovas et al while saving money without risking hemorrhagic diarrhea-a novelty no one needs!

So until next time happy cracking!

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