What You Should Look For When Buying Eggs and How to Tell if They Are Fresh

The age of eggs doesn’t really matter when you’re frying or scrambling, but we prefer the freshest specimens possible for poached eggs.

Learn our foolproof method for poaching eggs:

To determine the pack date (which is typically the same day that the eggs were laid), check the end of the carton for a three-digit code known as the Julian date; this is often beneath or above the sell-by date when one is provided. The numbers run consecutively, starting with 001 for January 1, so 078 would indicate that the eggs were packed on March 19. (The Julian date may follow a set of numbers beginning with a “P”; this is a code indicating the packing plant.)

While some sources suggest that you can check freshness by putting eggs in a bowl of water—fresher eggs are more likely to sink, while older ones are more likely to float because the air sack expands over time—we found that wasn’t a reliable test since eggs didn’t float until they were four to six months old. It’s a safer bet to just check the Julian date; try to find eggs that are less than three weeks old.

DATE CHECK: The three numbers on the second line indicate when the eggs were packed.

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[nickdudesville]

i wish all videos were this helpful and to the point! Great job!

[brett]

I'm loving these quick, helpful tips!

[rachel]

I haven't bought eggs in over 4 years, but I can also tell you that flavor is best the week it is laid, and you probably won't be able to find eggs like that in any grocery store. Fresh eggs can also be difficult to peel when boiled. The float test is only really a good measurement of freshness if you are not keeping the eggs under refrigeration. If you want to use the test anyway on eggs stored chilled, basically the best eggs under a few weeks old will simply lay horizontally on the bottom with no hint of "round end pointing up". Or if you want to keep it really simple, keeping 3 hybrid layer chickens is far cheaper, more reliable, and takes less time than trying to find similar quality eggs...not that I have only three, or hybrids, or just chickens. Also, properly scrambled (fresh) duck eggs will ruin you, so stick to chicken eggs. It's cheaper, less stinky and muddy that way.

[janetehoffman]

You guys at ATK are fabulous 🥚🥚🥚, good to know! I would like to know when to feed the 🍳 to the 🐕 🐶?

[liukang]

Forget Kimball, I'm glad this dude is still on ATK :)

[CheesyDoesItCooking]

Cool, I'll bring water and an abacus next time I shop for eggs.

[DJaquithFL]

I like Vital Farms, pasture-raised eggs. There's a huge difference and obviously the fresher the better.

[Thxsober]

My eggs were packed on March 15 (074). Thanks

[thihal]

I’m one of many customers who after opening a carton of eggs would examine to see if they are cracked and I exchange any cracked eggs from another carton. I think that messes up the dates.

[Bev]

Eggs are laid with a protective coating. If and when they are washed with something that removes this coating, the eggs are open to contamination from the outside, including the outside air. Egg shells are permeable, they breathe. People who raise birds and take their eggs for artificial incubation or inspect the egg and return it to the hen, will sometimes carefully brush off any poop, etc. from the egg. Their is a complex procedure to follow if they want to use water to clean the egg. They have to be very careful because they do not want to introduce anything from outside the egg into the egg where it will damage the embryo.

[bratschespieler]

Except that the format of Julian Date is CYYDDD not DDD (the day number) as this fellow suggests; what he's really referring to is the 'day number'.

[kds]

Interesting. So the eggs in my fridge were packed on March 4th.

[chairshoe]

step one go to supermarket, step two you fucked up

[trevorburgers]

Egg farms HATE him with this one simple trick!

[roberthrodebert]

But the expiration date is *always* the same amount of days ahead of the packaged date, isn't it?

[mintysingularity]

I'm surprised you guys didn't do the "crack it open and check the albumin consistency" freshness test.

[keld]

At what point are eggs not suitable for poaching?

[saulgoodman]

Like any store will let you put the eggs in water?

[cctvspystore]

so i need to use subtraction to know the freshness....i got that, teehee

[HanshinOh]

Why is the bottom of his mouth shifted to one side