In this material we will share with you several testing methods with which you can determine the freshness of chicken, duck and quail eggs in a matter of minutes.

How to check the freshness of eggs at home?

Checking eggs for freshness in water is the simplest, and therefore the most popular, method. To do this, you don't even have to break the suspicious egg.

What is this method based on? The fact is that the eggshell is penetrated by many tiny pores through which air passes, forming a kind of air “pockets”. The more air enters, the correspondingly larger the pockets themselves become, and the more buoyant the egg itself becomes.

1. If, when immersed in a container with cold water The egg sinks to the bottom, lying on its side - it is at the peak of its freshness.
2. If the egg rises vertically but is still on the bottom, it is not as fresh, but is still good to eat.
3. An egg that floats to the surface is spoiled and should be thrown away.

If you don't know how to check freshness, you can also use this simple method.

Another way to know the freshness of an egg without damaging the shell is to simply listen to the sounds it makes in the shell when shaken.

Again, as time passes, carbon dioxide escapes and the egg fills with oxygen. At the same time, the white and yolk are compressed and can float noticeably more freely inside the shell, therefore, when shaking, the egg should not make any sounds at all, or make a subtle gurgling sound.

How to check a raw egg for freshness by breaking it?

1. For this method, the egg will need to be cracked and the quality of the white and yolk visually assessed.
2. The density of egg whites and yolks decreases over time, so simply breaking an egg onto a plate can easily tell you its freshness. If the yolk shell easily bursts and it does not hold onto the white but moves freely across the surface of the plate, the egg is not fresh.
3. Over time, the protein becomes more watery and becomes transparent.

Technique for determining egg freshness

1. The easiest way to determine the freshness of a broken egg is simply to smell it; the smell is the most important indicator of spoiled food. A bad egg can give off a pungent odor of sulfur, even when remaining whole, but breaking it, the pungent odor can be detected for sure.
2. You can also check the color of the egg. A yolk in shades of yellow and orange indicates the freshness of the egg and its safety for consumption, and such a color difference is determined only by the breed of the bird and what it was fed.
3. Small bloody inclusions are also harmless and only indicate rupture of blood vessels during egg formation.
4. Eggs with a greenish and pinkish color, as well as spotted inclusions of black, gray and green colors, indicate infection of the eggs or poultry with fungus and bacteria, which is why they are not suitable for food.

1. has a sulfur smell, even if it was completely fresh, but in the case of a stale egg, this smell becomes much more pronounced and pungent.
2. You can also check the freshness by the consistency of the white and yolk. A watery, slimy, and puree-like consistency is a bad sign and indicates that such eggs should be thrown away.
3. Freshness can be judged by greenish, grayish and bluish coloration, but this method requires some experience, since even fresh eggs can have this color after being overcooked.

Greetings, dear friends! In this article we will talk to you about how to check the freshness of eggs in water, and also tell you about alternative testing options. Eggs are an indispensable product for losing weight. They are convenient and easy to prepare; a poached, hard-boiled or soft-boiled egg will be an excellent breakfast.

But for the product to be beneficial, it is important to buy only fresh. Finding out the quality and checking the suitability of eggs at home is not difficult. The test for good quality will take no more than 5 minutes. Water method The freshness of the product is determined by the date of its manufacture. The most useful and dietary product is considered to be a week old product. The maximum period of consumption of the ingredient in food from the moment of birth is a month. You can make sure that a raw egg is fresh by dipping it in water with salt.

The test results may be as follows:

the chicken ingredient has drowned - the product is fresh; it has fallen to the bottom, but the blunt end is slightly raised - the product is 1 week old; the vertical position of the egg indicates that it is already 2-3 weeks old; The “gift” from the hen floats in the water - it is unsuitable for cooking and eating.

This method is recognized as reliable, because it is based on elementary chemical reactions And physical processes. Fresh eggs have a very dense shell, and there is practically no air inside, so they are heavier. During storage, air gradually penetrates into the cavity, the membrane moves away from the shell, creating an air bag. The more air, the longer the shelf life, and the closer it is to the surface of the water. To better understand the selection principle, study the pictures.

You can determine the freshness of quail eggs in a similar way using water. Another option is to check using broken eggs. After cracking the shell, you need to carefully examine the condition of the yolk and white, smell, consistency, and shade. A spoiled product will have an incomparable aroma; in this situation it will be impossible to confuse it. You can also check for freshness at home boiled egg. Only the ingredients that have been blown away from the chicken will be difficult to clean. 1-2 weeks old - easy to clean, the shell peels off on its own. Old eggs will have bad smell, greenish tint and liquid inside. Other verification options All methods presented are applicable after purchasing the product. But you can protect yourself from wasting money on stale products in the store. To do this, you should carefully study the markings on the stamps. Products of this type are divided into three grades. The first is selected ingredients 1-2 weeks old. The third grade means that the product is about to expire.

On the stamp you can see the letter “D” - dietary or “C” - table, this means that the products are of the highest quality. Also look at the numbers on the mark, this is the date the product was taken from the chicken.

You can't test homemade chicken eggs like that. A different method is used for this. You need to put the egg to your ear and shake it. There should be no squelching or jolting inside. Impacts of the contents on the shell indicate that it is better not to buy the product.

Another interesting testing method is transillumination with an ovoscope. You can purchase such a device on the Internet or make it yourself. To do this, you need to take a box whose diameter is smaller than the egg, put it in the hole, and shine a flashlight from below. The shell will be translucent. The yolk should be located in the central part. All liquid should be as light as amber. The presence of spots and traces of the embryo is unacceptable.

Watch also the video.

Every week you bring home huge bags with a variety of products presented on the shelves of markets and supermarkets. On the one hand, this makes your life much easier, but on the other hand, it complicates it, because not everyone can constantly keep in mind the expiration date of all this gastronomic diversity. Remember how often you opened the refrigerator door and wondered: “How long have these foods been sitting here?” We are sure that this problem is familiar to many first-hand. This is especially true for eggs. Although this is a very delicate product, it appearance does not change over time, and therefore it is almost impossible to determine the freshness of an egg by eye. Of course, it’s no secret that you can break an egg and try to determine its freshness by smell, but there are other ways. Here are some ways to check the freshness of eggs:

1. Submerge the eggs in water

Place the eggs in a deep container with cold water. If they remained lying at the bottom in horizontal position, which means they are very fresh. Eggs, slightly raised at an obtuse angle upward, are no longer fresh, but can still be used in preparing hot dishes. Eggs that float to the surface are spoiled and cannot be eaten! We recommend that you get rid of them as soon as possible.

Eggs float to the surface because over time, the moisture inside evaporates through the shell and the resulting “free” space is replaced by air. The more air inside the egg, the higher it floats. And, of course, the older it is.

2. Check the white and yolk

Break one of the eggs and pay attention to the condition of the yolk and white. If the yolk is convex and the white is viscous and tightly gathered around the yolk, the egg is very fresh. However, if the yolk is flat and the white is runny, this is a sign of a stale egg.

Cause: Over time, the protein chains (different substances connected to each other) fall apart, and therefore, in an old egg, the yolk and white are loosely bonded together.

3. Shake the egg

If you don’t hear any extraneous sounds when shaking, then you can safely eat the egg - it’s fresh. If splashes or squelching sounds are heard, it means that air has entered the egg and expanded the natural air bubble. You can no longer eat such an egg.

4. Pay attention to the expiration date

The packaging of eggs always contains information about the expiration date, which you should pay close attention to. The supplier guarantees that, subject to storage rules, the product will remain fresh. In general, eggs can be eaten for some time after the expiration date, but before doing so, it is strongly recommended to check their freshness using the methods described above.

When eating eggs, special attention must be paid to hygiene. Please note the following recommendations:

• Buy only fresh eggs and use them before the expiration date.
• Store eggs in the refrigerator - salmonella bacteria do not multiply at temperatures below 6°C. At room temperature their number increases. Please note that subsequent cooling will not help the situation.
• When preparing dishes using raw eggs, use only very fresh eggs.
• Cook the eggs for at least 5 minutes in boiling water.
• If eggs have expired, they can still be eaten for some time, but only if thoroughly cooked. Salmonella bacteria are killed at a temperature of 70°C.
• If the shell of an egg is damaged, it must be cooked immediately. This product can no longer be stored.

Where is the best place to store eggs in a Liebherr refrigerator?

Eggs can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 15 days. In the freshness zone

ABOUT maximum benefit eggs can only be said if they are fresh. After lying in the refrigerator for a month, they lose their nutritional value and become hazardous to health. Once ingested, an expired product causes serious intoxication, which can be fatal. Therefore, it is important to be able to independently determine the degree of freshness of such a product and understand the acceptable expiration dates. Later in the article we will tell you in detail what to look for when buying chicken and quail eggs, how long they can be stored and where is the best place to do it.

How to tell if an egg is fresh: chicken and quail

The unique structure of the eggshell allows the inside to retain its properties for a long time. beneficial properties. But for this, certain storage conditions are important. Otherwise, the inside of the product will begin to dry out, and a foul-smelling chatterbox, unsuitable for further use, will form.

There are many ways to check the freshness of eggs at home. And for this it is not at all necessary to drag a microscope and the rarest chemical reagents into the kitchen. You can even judge the suitability of these products in a store. Let's look into the details.

Did you know? Today, the world's largest egg producer is the People's Republic of China. About 160 million pieces of these products are produced there every year. Many experts attribute this to the fact that chicken first appeared in this country. And this happened somewhere in 1400 BC.

Upon purchase

Experts advise against making “blind” purchases. In their opinion, visual assessment of the product is important. Therefore, when you go to the supermarket or market to buy eggs, inspect them carefully. Recently laid specimens will be distinguished by their matte shell surface. But those that have already lain for several days will be characterized by a specific glossy shine. But it’s not worth relying only on this verification method. Experts warn that savvy sellers resort to various tricks in order to successfully sell products. One of these is rubbing or washing each specimen.
To ensure that your purchase does not disappoint with an unpleasant-smelling substance, When choosing an egg tray, compare it with the rest of the range. Ideally, the entire dozen should have the same shell color and gloss level. If you have a diverse set in front of you, most likely the seller mixed old and fresh eggs. Smell them. Severely expired boxes will have a strong, unpleasant odor.

Important! The shell of a fresh egg has a specific odor that is very reminiscent of lime.

It also doesn't hurt to scramble a raw egg. If you hear distinct chattering inside, you should refuse the purchase. After all, chatterboxes are not suitable for consumption.

Do not ignore what is indicated on the product expiration date. By informing you about this, the manufacturer guarantees the freshness of the product provided it is stored correctly. Always choose fresh products and try to use them before the expiration date on the package.

When cooking

Many consumers do not take stamps on egg trays seriously and continue to eat expired products. According to experts, in reality he is still short time retains its suitability. But before using it, its freshness needs to be double-checked.

This is done in the following ways:

Important! Eggs are a source of salmonellosis, so they need to be boiled for at least 5 minutes in boiling water. Keep in mind that salmonella bacteria lose their viability at a temperature of +70 °C.

Video: checking eggs for freshness with water

Upon opening

Break the shell and visually assess the condition of the inside. In recently laid specimens, the white will be viscous and tightly packed, and the yolk will be convex. If the egg has been sitting for a long time, you will see a liquid, spreading white and a flat yolk.

What is the danger

The stereotype about the exceptional benefits of chicken and quail eggs has clearly taken root in society. But if the rules for their storage were violated, then there is no need to talk about the nutritional value of this protein food and the saturation of the body with vital substances. In this case, as medical statistics show, we will talk about poisoning and its consequences.

In addition, improper cooking of eggs, the use of dirty dishes, as well as infected kitchen utensils threaten the development of salmonellosis. The bacteria that cause this disease live in egg white, yolk and on the shell. Their source is the laying hen. Moreover, according to external signs Even experts will not be able to recognize infected specimens. Neither the color of the shell, nor the smell, nor other visual features of the product will reveal this.

Did you know? The Chinese dye eggs red every time a newborn arrives in the family. According to folk legends, such a ritual guarantees the baby a long and happy life..

When eating expired or contaminated eggs are hazardous to health: homemade mayonnaise, raw sugar-egg mixture (white or yolk), as well as all dishes that have undergone insufficient heat treatment. This can be fried eggs, poached eggs, or even traditional scrambled eggs. Therefore, doctors strongly recommend strictly monitoring the expiration date of such products and preparing them at high temperatures.
Signs of egg intoxication become obvious during the first 24 hours after eating low-quality food.

The eater experiences:

• vomit;
• nausea,
• weakness;
• pain in the abdominal area;
• gastroenteritis developing against the background of the disease (when inflammation of the mucous membranes of the small intestine occurs);
• diarrhea (as a rule, the stool is very liquid, resembles the consistency of rice water and is characterized by a dark green or yellow color);
• increase in body temperature to 39-40 °;
• bloating;
• signs of colitis resulting from inflammatory processes in the large intestine;
• spasms;
• decreased appetite;
• dysfunction of the central nervous system (manifests itself in severe poisoning and is expressed by headaches, dizziness, insomnia, lethargy);
• disruptions in the functioning of the cardiovascular system (pressure decreases, pulse rate and heart rhythm change);
• bacterial infection and sepsis (with such symptoms the outcome is fatal).

Important! To extend the shelf life of eggs at home, grease their shells with pork fat, vegetable oil or Vaseline and place in a cold room where the temperature is below +10 °C. As an alternative, you can wrap each piece in plain paper and fold the pointed ends down, covering with burlap.

The manifestation of the listed symptoms largely depends on the victim’s immunity. But with any degree of egg poisoning, it is important to protect the body from dehydration.
For this purpose it is recommended:

• solution of "Regidron" or "Oralit";
• any sorbents ( activated carbon, “Smecta”, “Polyphepan”);
• immunomodulatory drugs (multivitamin complexes, Methyluracil);
• antibiotics that are prescribed by a doctor individually;
• limiting the consumption of dairy products, raw vegetables and smoked meats (it is advisable to provide the patient with a gentle diet during this period).

If after 24 hours the disease continues to progress, you need to seek medical help without wasting time.

Shelf life of eggs

How long chicken and quail eggs will be fresh depends largely on their origin and storage conditions:

Did you know? If you keep an ordinary fresh egg for several days in 9% table vinegar, its shell will harden so much that it will not break even if it hits the floor hard.

Where and how best to store eggs

To store such products, most consumers prefer a compartment in the refrigerator door. But experts express their indignation about this, which is associated with a sharp temperature drop. In such conditions, eggs quickly lose their nutritional value and do not represent any gastronomic value.

Experienced housewives advise choosing a place for this type of product where it is always cold. Under no circumstances should you put the tray in the freezer.

In the refrigerator

Each piece must be fixed in a stable position with the sharp end down. It is important that the eggs do not touch. It is better to leave them in a special stand or tray, arranged in cells. Do not forget to close the container, because eggshells are very sensitive to neighboring odors. From the refrigerator it will absorb everything nearby.
Make sure that the temperature in the chamber is at the level +2...+4 °С. Never wash shells before storing. Such manipulations shorten the shelf life.

Important! When boiling eggs, do not throw the product you have just taken out of the refrigerator into bubbling boiling water. Give it 10 minutes to warm up. This will preserve the integrity of the shell.

Without refrigerator

If you prefer this method, then be prepared that fresh product when stored at room conditions with temperature conditions+20 °C should be consumed within 20 days. For better preservation, eggs are placed in wooden boxes and then covered sand, sawdust or table salt , covered with natural cloth and hidden in a dark place. It is important that the room has good ventilation.

Since ancient times, people have been eating eggs. Usually you can see chicken eggs in our refrigerators, less often quail eggs. Sometimes duck or goose can be used for baking. Restaurants may offer an ostrich egg or even a crocodile as an exotic item.

The main sign of egg quality is its freshness. But it is very difficult to determine it externally. To find out if an egg is spoiled, there are several simple and proven methods.

Features of selection and storage

When buying in a store, you need to pay attention to the labeling of eggs. They have a stamp on them indicating the product category.

Diet eggs are stamped with a red stamp indicating the production date and varietal mark. This product is valuable up to seven days. After 7 days the eggs become table eggs.

Optimal conditions for storing eggs are +5-8°C. They can be stored for no more than a month.

• Humidity should not be high.
• Before preparing egg dishes, you need to wash them.
• Do not store smelly foods nearby.
• Place eggs in the tray with the pointed end down.

The danger of stale food

The main problem that can occur after eating eggs that are not fresh is salmonellosis. Food poisoning and intoxication of the body occurs. If action is not taken in a timely manner, everything may end fatal. Salmonella can contaminate chicken eggs. It is not found in quails.

Pay attention! Eggs contain allergens and can cause unpredictable reactions in sensitive people. The likelihood of developing an allergy increases as the shelf life of the product increases.

Checking eggs before purchasing

If the eggs have recently been laid, the surface of their shell should be matte. And if they are stored for a long time, a slight gloss appears. But this method cannot always determine the freshness of the product. After all, eggs are often rubbed to make them look presentable.

If the eggs in the tray are different in color, it may be that fresh ones were mixed with old ones. Rotten eggs will emit an unpleasant odor. But such a product is unlikely to end up on store shelves.

You can shake the egg. If it is old, the inner shell will separate from the shell and it will become loose.

You can weigh the egg. If it is above 75 g, this is the highest category. There must be a corresponding “B” marking. 65-75 g - selected eggs marked “O”. Category 1 - 55-65 g, category 2 - 45-55. If the egg weighs less than the declared marking, then it is defective. This may indicate that the moisture in it has evaporated and it is drying out.

Home testing methods

After purchasing eggs, you should also check them. You can do this at home in several ways: traditional methods or with special equipment - illuminate with UV rays. A fresh egg is bright red inside. If it is not suitable for consumption, it will have a purple hue. If you just hold the egg up to the light and you can see dark spots, the product is not suitable for food.

Immersion in water

Place the egg in a glass of water. If it is fresh, it should sink. The rotten stuff will float to the surface. Except clean water You can use salted one (0.5 teaspoon per 2 glasses of water). The older the egg, the more air accumulates in it and it begins to float to the top.

On the page, learn about what and how to clean tarnished silver at home.

White and yolk

Break the egg onto a plate. If it is fresh, its protein is fluffy and does not spread much. It is transparent and thick, like jelly. The yolk rises above the white. If they are on the same level, then this product is not of the first freshness. But you can eat it. Availability unpleasant odor- evidence of the proliferation of pathogenic microflora. These eggs should be thrown away.

Shell

A fresh egg smells like lime. The longer the shelf life, the more odors from outside the product absorbs. The degree of freshness can be determined after cooking. Newly laid eggs are very poorly shelled. Try the shell of a cooled boiled egg with your tongue, alternately from the sharp and blunt end. The blunt side should be warmer if the product is fresh.

Eggs are an essential product in any kitchen. You can prepare many dishes from them. To avoid digestive problems and infection with pathogenic bacteria, it is necessary that the eggs are fresh. You can check the freshness yourself in simple ways accessible to everyone.

From the following video you can learn more useful information on how to determine the freshness of eggs at home: