How Do You Know If An Egg Is Fresh?
Every Norwegian eats 211 eggs per year. It is definitely one of the most consumed protein sources. Therefore, it is good for you to know how to recognize a bad egg. People eat eggs in large quantities almost everywhere in the globe, but can you tell the difference between a fresh egg and a bad one?
Sometimes there can be 3 or 4 bad eggs in a pack of 12 or 24 eggs. Below we show you what an old egg looks like, as well as some other interesting facts.
The appearance of the eggshell is a key factor
The eggshell provides protection for the content of this nutritious protein against contaminants outside. In fact, there are some microbes that – under certain environmental conditions – can penetrate the eggshell and grow in the egg yolk.
Therefore, it is important to check the physical appearance, composition and texture of an eggshell.
- A fresh egg has a strong shell and has no stains or discolorations.
- If you notice a small hole or crack, it is best not to buy or eat the egg.
- Soft shells are more prone to allow very small contaminants to enter. In addition, eggs with soft eggshells decompose faster.
The plum string and egg white say something about an egg being fresh
A sign that helps you know exactly how healthy an egg is from the condition of the plum string. The plum string is the flexible, white strings that hold the egg yolk in the middle of the egg.
When you crack an egg and remove the shell and notice that the sticky liquid is complete and easy to see, then you have a fresh egg. The more plum string, the fresher the egg becomes.
Examination of the egg whites is also a key factor. If the egg white spreads too easily, it means that the egg is no longer fresh. The problem with checking the plum string and the white, however, is having to crack an egg to check it. In the grocery store, customers will obviously have to discover bad eggs without cracking them.
The plum is a good indicator
Another element you should consider is the egg yolk. The plum should not be loose, and it should stick with the rest of the liquid. Move the egg around to see if the egg yolk remains attached to the egg white.
You have an old egg when the egg yolk moves around with a slight movement. In the same way, the egg yolk should look clear, compact and whole. Any irregularity in the egg yolk or white that indicates contamination or decomposition means that there is a lack of freshness in this basic product.
Other signs that an egg is not fresh
How an egg smells may be the clearest sign of an old one. If an egg gives off a bad, rotten odor, you should throw it away because it is about to rot.
The water glass test to check if an egg is fresh
A medium-sized glass is all you need to test an egg. Fill it with water, just below the top of the glass. Afterwards, put the egg in the water. It’s easy, if the egg sinks, it’s still fresh.
On the other hand , an egg is not fresh when it floats in the water. It may even be unfit to eat. Eating an old egg can endanger the health of the consumer.
What kind of dangers can an egg pose to the human body?
In August 2017, a major egg scandal took place in the Netherlands. The scandal is due to a large contamination of chickens and eggs due to an insecticide called Fipronil. However, the contaminated eggs were not spread to all European countries, but Belgium and Germany were among the countries that had to withdraw eggs from the shops.
In addition to the harmful insecticides, salmonella is an increasing threat to humans when it comes to eating bad eggs. This infection is caused by a significant dangerous pathogen that can easily penetrate the eggshell and multiply in the egg yolk.
