Currently in the United States, the avian flu continues to cause a shortage of chicken eggs and a surge in egg prices, prompting many Americans to start stockpiling eggs. So what is the best way to store eggs? How can you tell if eggs are fresh?
According to data from the NielsenIQ (NIQ) Consumer Research Group cited by NBC, at the end of January, the average price of eggs was $5.29 per dozen, compared to around $3.50 at the same time last year.
According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), egg prices in December 2024 were 36.8% higher than a year earlier, but still lower than the peak price in January 2023.
In 2025, the USDA predicts that egg prices will rise by over 20%, with significant monthly fluctuations expected in egg prices.
The USDA states that eggs are one of the most nutritious foods on Earth and can be part of a healthy diet. However, like raw meat, poultry, and fish, eggs are prone to spoilage. For safety reasons, eggs must be refrigerated promptly and thoroughly cooked.
In a news article by NBC on February 12th, food safety experts’ advice on how to store eggs was highlighted.
Kelly Fernandes, a lecturer at Johnson & Wales’ College of Food Innovation and Technology, emphasized that to keep eggs fresh, it’s best to store them in a very cold environment.
“For store-bought eggs, the best way to ensure they last as long as possible is to keep them in the coldest part of the fridge, at 40°F or below, typically in the middle or back,” she said.
Fernandes advises against storing eggs on the refrigerator door, as the temperature there is not as low as in other parts of the fridge, and the temperature fluctuates more frequently, shortening the shelf life of eggs.
Furthermore, Bridget Vickers, a lecturer at the Culinary Education Institute, recommended keeping eggs in their original carton rather than transferring them to a plastic container with an open top for reuse.
“The best way to store eggs is to keep them in their original carton in the refrigerator,” she said. “The carton helps prevent eggs from absorbing strong odors from other foods and also prevents moisture loss.”
Not all European grocery stores refrigerate eggs. According to the USDA, considering the processing of American eggs, refrigeration is crucial to prevent bacteria growth, including Salmonella.
The USDA’s “Egg Grading Manual” indicates that when eggs are washed to remove bacteria, the natural coating called the “cuticle” deteriorates, reducing the protective quality of the eggshell.
Elisa Maloberti, the Innovation and Food Safety Manager at the American Egg Board, stated that for eggs to last as long as possible, they should be refrigerated in the coldest part of the fridge from the day of purchase.
“This helps maintain freshness beyond the pack date (the date the eggs were placed in the carton) by four to five weeks or approximately three weeks after purchase,” she said.
Fernandes pointed out that the expiration date can sometimes serve as a reference for freshness but is not always a hard deadline. “If stored properly, eggs are generally considered safe to eat after the printed ‘sell-by’ or ‘expiration’ date,” she said. “If stored at 40°F or below, intact, uncracked eggs can be stored for up to four weeks (or even longer) after the date on the carton.”
Fernandes mentioned several methods to determine if eggs are still edible, including:
– Float test: Gently place an uncracked egg in a bowl of room temperature water. Fresh eggs will sink and lie on their side, while older eggs will stand upright and float.
– Shake test: Hold an egg near your ear and gently shake it. If you don’t hear any sound, the egg is fresher.
– Visual inspection: Fresh egg whites are thick and slightly cloudy, while old egg whites are thinner and more watery.
– Smell test: Rotten eggs emit a distinct foul (sulfurous) odor when cracked open.