Rather than shaking eggs in the supermarket, check the packing date, best-before date, storage instructions, and shell condition. Buy from a reputable seller who handles eggs properly.
If you want to assess an egg at home, you can use the water-float test as a rough indicator of age, although it cannot establish whether the egg is safe to eat.
The best approach is to combine sensible purchasing habits with proper storage instead of relying on one simple trick.
4. Use Your Sense of Smell Only When Appropriate
Smell can help identify an egg that has clearly spoiled, but it is not a reliable way to confirm that an egg is safe.
Fresh eggs generally have little to no noticeable odor. If an egg produces a strong sulfur-like, rotten, or otherwise unpleasant smell when cracked open, do not eat it.
The smell may indicate decomposition caused by microorganisms or other changes inside the egg.
How to check an egg safely
If you are uncertain about an egg at home, crack it into a separate, clean bowl rather than directly into a pan or mixing bowl containing other ingredients.
This practice allows you to inspect each egg individually and prevents one questionable egg from contaminating an entire recipe.
Look at the contents and smell them. If there is an obvious foul odor, discard the egg and wash the bowl and any utensils that contacted its contents.
Do not taste a questionable egg to determine whether it is safe.
Can a dangerous egg smell normal?
Yes. Some foodborne pathogens, including Salmonella, may be present without causing obvious changes in an egg's smell, appearance, or taste.
This is an important distinction. A foul smell is a reason to reject an egg, but the absence of a foul smell is not proof that the egg is safe.
Food safety depends on several factors, including the health of the laying hens, cleanliness during collection, temperature control, storage duration, and cooking practices.
For people at higher risk of severe foodborne illness, such as young children, older adults, pregnant people, and individuals with weakened immune systems, thoroughly cooked eggs are generally the safer choice.
5. Understand What the Shell's Texture Can Tell You
Some shoppers prefer eggs with smooth, glossy shells, while others believe that a slightly rough or matte shell indicates greater freshness.
Neither assumption is universally reliable.
Eggshell texture can vary naturally. Some eggs have smooth surfaces, while others may feel slightly rough because of variations in shell formation. Tiny bumps, ridges, or irregularities can occur for several reasons, including the hen's age, nutrition, health, and the conditions under which the egg developed.
A rough shell does not automatically mean that an egg is fresher, more nutritious, or more natural.
Likewise, a smooth shell does not mean that the egg is artificial.
What about the powdery coating on an egg?
Freshly laid eggs may have a thin protective coating called the cuticle, sometimes referred to as the bloom. It helps reduce the movement of microorganisms through the shell's pores.
The appearance of this coating can vary, and it may be reduced or removed by washing and handling. You cannot reliably judge its effectiveness simply by touching the shell.
Commercial egg washing and storage practices also differ from country to country. Follow the handling and refrigeration instructions provided by the seller or local food-safety authorities.
In general, avoid washing eggs immediately before storage unless the applicable food-safety guidance specifically recommends it. Washing them incorrectly can spread contamination or damage the shell's protective surface.
The bottom line on texture
Choose eggs with intact shells and no suspicious contamination. Do not pay extra simply because an egg feels rough, chalky, glossy, or unusually smooth.
The texture of the shell is a minor physical characteristic, not a dependable measure of freshness or nutritional quality.
6. Do Not Assume Larger Eggs Are Healthier
Eggs come in many sizes, from small eggs laid by younger hens to larger eggs produced by mature hens. Some people believe that small eggs are more nutritious, while others assume that larger eggs contain more nutrients.
The truth is more nuanced.
Egg size is influenced by factors such as the hen's age, breed, body weight, nutrition, and laying conditions. Younger hens often produce smaller eggs early in their laying cycle, and egg size tends to increase as they mature.
However, a smaller egg is not necessarily a special category of healthier food.
What are pullet eggs?
Small eggs laid by young hens are sometimes called pullet eggs. They are perfectly normal eggs, although their size and availability may differ from those of standard commercial eggs.
Some people enjoy them because they are convenient for certain recipes or because they come from small-scale farms. But there is insufficient basis for claiming that all pullet eggs contain more lecithin, have substantially less cholesterol, or are especially suitable for children, older adults, or pregnant people simply because they are small.
Eggs contain cholesterol naturally, and the total amount per serving depends partly on how much egg is eaten. A smaller egg usually contains less of the egg's components overall because it weighs less; this does not automatically make it nutritionally superior.
Which size should you choose?
Choose a size that fits your needs.
Small eggs can be useful for snacks or portion-controlled meals. Medium and large eggs are convenient for everyday cooking, while larger eggs may be preferred in baking recipes that specify a particular size.
If you are following a recipe, using the recommended egg size helps maintain the intended balance of liquid, fat, and protein.
For general nutrition, consider the whole diet rather than focusing on egg size alone. Eggs can be part of a balanced eating pattern alongside vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, and other protein sources.
7. Choose Egg Color Based on Preference, Not Health Claims
One of the most common questions in the egg aisle is whether brown eggs are better than white eggs.
In reality, shell color is primarily determined by the genetics and breed of the hen. Some breeds lay white eggs, while others lay brown eggs. Other breeds can produce blue or green shells.
Pigments deposited during shell formation create these differences in color. The color of the shell itself does not determine whether the egg is nutritious, fresh, or safe.
Are brown eggs more natural?
Not necessarily. Both brown and white eggs are natural products of hens.
The belief that brown eggs are always more traditional, organic, or healthier is largely a misconception. A brown egg can come from a conventionally raised hen, and a white egg can come from a hen raised under a different production system.
Similarly, shell color does not reliably tell you whether a hen was raised outdoors, what it ate, or how much space it had.