Last Updated on July 2, 2021 by Fumipets
We’ve all heard of it, but what is it exactly?
The egg float test is a simple method for determining the freshness of an egg.
Is this, however, merely an old myth, or does this test genuinely work?
That is the subject of today’s discussion. We’ll go through the egg float test, how to do it, and if it’s reliable. We’ll also go through how to store your eggs properly, which is extremely important during these hot and humid months!
What is the Egg Float Test?
The Egg Float Test is a method of determining whether or not an egg will float.
The egg float test is a old fashioned way of determining the age of your eggs. Checking a carton of eggs is straightforward and takes about 5 minutes.
How to Perform the Float Test on an Egg
Fill a basin halfway with cold water to cover the egg by at least two inches. Uncracked eggs should be used for testing. Cracked eggs should either be thrown away or fed back to the chickens.
Once the bowl is full of water, place an egg into the water, one egg at a time.
The following is an explanation of the results:
If the egg rests on its side at the bottom of the basin, then the egg is very fresh.
If the egg rises up but remains immersed, it is not as fresh but still good for consumption
If the egg floats – then it is very old and should not be eaten.
How accurate is the Egg Float Test?
This approach has stood the test of time and has shown to be quite accurate.
People that do this test will be able to tell you how old an egg is based on its location in the water.
Why is it correct? Because a raw egg contains just a single air cell, it has very little buoyancy. The egg develops bigger than the air cell as it grows older.
The egg will float when the air cell reaches a specific size.
Alternatives to Egg Float Test
Aside from the egg float test, there are a few more ways to determine the freshness of an egg.
Candling: Those who are skilled in candling can estimate the age of an egg by handling it.
Because this isn’t simple, I don’t suggest it for beginners unless you want to practise your candling skills in preparation for hatching season!
Shaking: This one is a little shaky. While it is true that old eggs definitely make a sloshing sound, how realistic this is with eggs that are just a few years old is uncertain.
Scientifically, the contents of the egg shrink with time, leaving a bigger pocket for air and hence greater mobility for the contents to move when shaken. The contents of the egg deteriorate and mix as it matures.
Overall, it is advisable to avoid this strategy.
Smell Test: Once you’ve cracked the egg, you may use this method. The smell of a rotting egg is unmistakable…
Plate Test: Watch how the egg sits as you gently break it onto a plate. A brilliant yellow/orange yolk that stands erect in a very fresh egg. The white will be tight and strong.
The yolk of an older egg will be flatter, and the white will spread over the plate. However, I t doesn’t imply it’s not good to eat just because it’s spread out. It’s just not fresh.
Carton Date: Apparently, this procedure will only work on store-bought eggs.
On the egg carton, you’ll find some useful information. There are three pieces of information for you in the picture below.
Packing plant number – Day of the year, the eggs were packed. Day 164 in the Julian calendar is actually June 13th.
Best by date – The eggs should be taken off the shelf by this date.
It may interest you to know that store-bought eggs may be already up to two months old when you acquire them. The farmer has 30 days from the time the eggs are laid to package them. By law, they may be sold for up to 30 days after being packed.
So, although store eggs are safe to eat, they aren’t nearly as “farm fresh” as you may want.
How Long Do Eggs Last?
Eggs that have been properly preserved may endure a long period. As long as they’re kept refrigerated at the proper temperature. It’s possible to use eggs up to 8 weeks after they’ve been laid. If you wish to freeze the eggs, You’ll need to break and gently beat them. We recommend large ice cube trays in a 1 cube to egg ratio. These may last up to a year in the fridge.
Because frozen eggs lose some of their freshness, they’re best used for baking.
How to Properly Store Eggs
When it comes to washing and keeping fresh eggs, different countries have different methods.
The growth of industrial farming has resulted in cheaper goods, but at the expense of certain sanitation issues, most notably the salmonella outbreaks that occur.
Unfortunately, cramped quarters facilitate the quick growth of poor health and illness, which is to be anticipated when you squeeze a few thousand chickens into a barn together.
This also applies to the eggs laid by your own chickens. For things like fresh mayonnaise dressing, you should never use stale eggs. For raw egg applications, always use clean eggs.
To safeguard consumers, several governments now recommend that you keep eggs in the refrigerator.
The eggs should be kept at a temperature of 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not keep them in the refrigerator door!
This is because the temperature fluctuates due to the continual opening and shutting of the door. Eggs should be kept in a carton on the shelf in the coldest area of the fridge.
Cooking Suggestions
If you’ve ever tried to remove the shell off extremely fresh eggs to create hard-boiled eggs, you know how tough it can be.
It’s best to use eggs that are a little older since they peel easier.
If you must use the very fresh eggs, steam them for 20 minutes for bantam eggs and 25 minutes for regular eggs before plunging them into cold water.
Repeat the cold water plunge if necessary; you want them to cease cooking as soon as possible. Wait until it’s cold enough to handle before peeling. One or two may resist you, but the majority will peel with care.
Is It Necessary to Wash Your Eggs?
This debate continues on and on, but there is never a “one-size-fits-all” solution.
This isn’t an issue if your eggs are deposited in clean nest boxes, but what if you have a lot of poop-stained eggs?
After each egg is deposited, Mother Nature cleverly coats it with a protective covering known as “the bloom.” Clean eggs don’t need to be washed since the bloom locks in the goodness and keeps germs away.
However, those that aren’t so clear – what to do with them? Washing them removes the protective bloom, exposing the egg’s contents to bacteria.
Essentially, you have three options:
Wash the egg in hot water and don’t let it remain in the water for too long. To remove the dirt, run hot water and scrub with a towel or scrubby pad. Some people use bleach or dish soap which is not really necessary.
Sandpaper: If the dirt is light and dry, rub it away with a piece of sandpaper.
Toss the egg: Toss it in the compost if it’s grossly contaminated.
If the eggs aren’t clearly filthy, there’s no need to clean them before using them. Some individuals wash eggs only for the sake of doing so.
If you need to wash any of your eggs, do it beforehand so you don’t lose their protective covering.
Tip: If your eggs are consistently poopy, it’s time to investigate why. Is it true that your chickens sleep in their nest boxes? If that’s the case, it’s time to stop, or you’ll have to replace your bedding on a daily basis.
If you have a few chickens that insist on laying on the floor (trust me, there is always one), it may be time to intervene if she is young enough to stop the behaviour.
Frequently Asked Questions about Egg Freshness
Is it okay if my egg yolk is pink?
No, the egg might be infected with germs; toss it. The egg white should be cloudy/clear. The albumin should not be coloured in any way.
There are black spots inside my eggs. What exactly are they?
Mold is identified by black or green patches. So dump it in the trash. Meat spots are brown or red blotches that are safe to consume despite their unappealing appearance.
There is a blood spot in my egg?
This seems unappealing, yet it’s perfectly safe to consume. A blood artery breaks during the hen’s ovulation, causing this. On rare occasions, there may be a lot of pinkish blood. If you’re unsure, throw it away.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this post and are now confident in your ability to do the float test. You may not need it for your hens’ eggs, but you may need to purchase eggs from the supermarket on occasion!
When you think about it, eggs are incredible creations, a tidy tiny package that, if fertilised, may develop into a chick. If not, it may provide nourishment for you and your family in the form of a meal in a shell!
For just 70 calories, one egg includes 6 grammes of protein, 5 grammes of fat, and several trace elements such as zinc, iodine, selenium, and B12 and D vitamins!
