Eggs are a food with many nutrients that are good for health. Eggs are often preserved for use within a certain period of time, suitable for the daily menu in every family meal.

However, we cannot always know if the eggs are fresh or spoiled just by looking at them with the naked eye. Even if the eggs are stored in the refrigerator for a while, we still need to check the freshness of the eggs before using them to avoid eating spoiled eggs.

There is a simple way, such as shaking the egg, if the yolk hits the side of the egg, it means the egg is still fresh and can be eaten. There are also some other ways to check eggs as follows:

- Drop the egg into a basin of water - if the egg sinks to the bottom, it means the egg is still fresh:

The egg quickly sinks and lies horizontally at the bottom of the cup, it means the egg is still fresh

To perform this test, prepare a cup or a water bottle to drop the egg into. If the egg sinks quickly and lies horizontally at the bottom of the cup, it means the egg is still fresh and you can use it with confidence.

If the egg sinks slowly and lies vertically or diagonally, the egg is not fresh and should be used immediately.

If the egg does not sink to the bottom, but instead floats in the middle of the cup or floats on the surface of the water, it is a sign that the egg is spoiled and should not be eaten.

Eggs float because of gas produced by organic matter during the decomposition process inside the egg. The more the egg floats, the more it is decomposed and spoiled, and you should not eat it.

- Boil the egg to check the position of the yolk and air bubbles:

After boiling the egg, cut it in half and observe. If the yolk is in the middle and there is a small space, it means the egg is still fresh and can be eaten.

However, if the yolk is closer to the eggshell and there are more air spaces, it means the egg is no longer fresh and is gradually spoiling.

- Crack the raw egg into a bowl:

If the yolk and white are intact and do not dissolve, the egg is fresh

If the egg white and yolk are not dissolved or mixed together, the egg is fresh

Another easy way to check if an egg is fresh or spoiled is to crack the raw egg into a bowl or plate. If you see that the egg white and yolk are not dissolved or mixed together, the 2 yolks are still intact and separate, it means the egg is fresh.

On the other hand, if you see the egg white and yolk spread over the entire plate, the yolk is dissolved, the egg is spoiled and should not be eaten.

So how long is the shelf life of eggs?

Eggs have a shelf life of 4 weeks

One thing to note is the day the poultry lays the egg. This time is the benchmark for calculating the shelf life of the egg. Normally, eggs have a shelf life of 4 weeks, from the 3rd week onwards, they should not be eaten anymore.

The reason is that during this time the eggs begin to decompose, the nutrients turn into toxins, which are not good for health. Be especially careful when eating eggs from the 6th week onwards.

The best way to preserve eggs is to leave them in a tray or box in a cool, dry place. The eggs will maintain good quality for the first 3 weeks after the poultry lays them.

Storing eggs in the refrigerator door is a bad habit that many people still do.

During cooking, if you want to store unused leftover eggs in the refrigerator, remember to leave them in a box and cover them tightly. The eggs will be guaranteed to last for 3 to 4 days, but remember to regularly check for any unusual odors or appearance.

Note that food exposed to high temperatures will not last long. In this case, use them within 2 days to ensure the best quality.