Foods · Dairy
How long do eggs last? And the float test that beats the printed date.
Refrigerated eggs last weeks longer than the carton date suggests. The float test takes ten seconds and tells you exactly where each egg sits on the freshness curve.
- Counter
- Not recommended (US-washed eggs)
- Fridge
- 3-5 weeks past purchase
- Freezer
- 12 months (beaten, not in shell)
Shelf life
How long does egg last?
Concrete numbers by storage condition. Use the longest viable option you have time for.
| Condition | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Counter, room temperature (US-washed) | Not recommended | US commercial eggs are washed, which removes the natural protective coating and requires refrigeration. |
| Fridge, in original carton, on a shelf | 3-5 weeks past purchase | USDA confirms safety for 3-5 weeks if continuously refrigerated. |
| Fridge, in the door | Reduced shelf life | Door is the warmest part of the fridge. Avoid for eggs. |
| Freezer, beaten whole or yolks/whites separated | 12 months | Use in baking or scrambles after thawing. |
| Freezer, in the shell | Not safe | Shells crack from expansion and the eggs become contaminated. |
Storage
How to store eggs for maximum freshness.
- 1
Store eggs in the original carton on a fridge shelf, not in the door. The shelf is colder and more stable in temperature. The carton protects against absorbing fridge odors.
- 2
Do not wash eggs at home, even if they look a little dirty. US commercial eggs are already washed, and adding water can drive bacteria through the porous shell.
- 3
If you use eggs in a recipe and have leftover yolks or whites, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-4 days, or freeze for longer.
- 4
To freeze eggs, beat them lightly and pour into ice cube trays (each cube is about one egg), then transfer to a bag once frozen. Or freeze yolks and whites separately if recipes call for one or the other.
- 5
Hard-boiled eggs keep in the fridge for one week, peeled or unpeeled. Store peeled hard-boiled eggs in water if you want to keep them moist.
Spoilage
How to tell if egg has gone bad.
Float test: in a bowl of water, fresh eggs sink and lie flat, week-old eggs stand on end, bad eggs float.
Sulfur, rotten, or strong off smell when you crack the egg.
Pink, green, or iridescent yolks or whites indicate bacterial contamination.
Cracks, leaks, or sticky residue on the shell.
A loud rattling sound when you shake the egg (very stale).
Use it up
Recipes that use egg.
Real recipes from FreshTrack's starter set, all built around what is already in your kitchen.
Veggie Egg Scramble
Fluffy eggs with vegetables and a little cheese.
Bacon and Egg Fried Rice
Savory fried rice with crispy bacon and scrambled eggs.
Spinach Feta Omelet
Fluffy omelet with wilted spinach and feta.
Common questions
About egg.
Related foods
Foods that go bad on the same shelf.
A kitchen ledger
Stop wasting egg.
FreshTrack is a free pantry tracker that surfaces items before they expire, ranks recipes by what you already have, and tracks money saved over time. Built for busy households, not factory inventory.
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