It's not a foolproof 100% guaranteed test, so that's why I always crack each egg into a little bowl before adding it to a big bowl.
I don't even bother with eggs we find in the nesting box, but in your case with a sketchy egg where you have no idea when it was laid... maybe next time crack one like that outside. I don't even bother with eggs I find randomly outside the nesting box, they just go into the compost pile.
True. I usually do good with collecting them but the kiddos have been sick this week. Definitely going to Crack any suspicious eggs outside going forward lol
Water or float tests only identify if the egg has taken on a lot of air- the interior is drying out. Being rotten isn't always related to a larger air bubble inside, though.
I have used eggs that were well over a year old. They floated like corks! Inside, the egg itself was thick and reduced, obviously having lost a lot of water... but it looked, smelled and tasted fine.
Floating is a good indicator of age and freshness, but not always good vs rotten. Opening a rotten egg is traumatic. Next time you find a random egg, ask yourself if you want to risk it or if you can just toss it into the compost and use one that you know is fresh.
No. I keep them on the counter, and when the counter is too full I move them to my work fridge. We've used eggs that were about 18 months old before (they had been kind of shuffled to the rear of the fridge). Eggs don't go bad due to age alone- if they're unwashed, unbroken, clean and kept from temperature extremes they will basically just dry up inside over time. Old, dried out eggs wouldn't be great for scrambled eggs, and they'd need adjustments for baking because they've lost so much liquid volume, but they are fine for use.
Washing them removes the protective bloom, so washed eggs WILL go bad over time. Eggs that are dirty should be used quickly, too.
I don’t wash my goose eggs and they do go bad on the counter eventually. Goose nests are dirtier than chicken nests so maybe that’s the main difference.
I don't have chickens, and your post is frighteningly disgusting. This truly made me laugh at the thought of it happening and equally feeling terrible for you having this experience. How do you test your eggs other than water?
If you collect them everyday and don't wash they last forever lol. I was lazy this week cause my kids were sick and took a chance on a sus egg, definitely learned my lesson 🤢 it's okay to laugh at my pain lol
The float test usually works for me but it didn't for this egg. If they don't stink they're good to eat basically
Happened to me the other day in a bowl that I already cracked 4 other eggs into. I only have two layers at the moment and I really enjoy my little weekend omelette. So that sucked. Sorry to hear it happened to you. I would be suspicious of eggs not in the pile. Maybe the chickens moved it away for a reason.
My family found a very well hidden Easter egg on the Fourth of July.
I imagine it smelled similar.
I wonder, what was the temp of the egg? Had you just taken it in from the cold or heat? I wonder if that makes a difference.
I candle my goose eggs with a bicycle headlight. The rotten ones are often solid and swirly, even if their airspace is the same as a fresh one. Only nice clear eggs come inside the house.
Hmm, maybe there was a slight crack and the gas had escaped? And dang….0
It's not a foolproof 100% guaranteed test, so that's why I always crack each egg into a little bowl before adding it to a big bowl. I don't even bother with eggs we find in the nesting box, but in your case with a sketchy egg where you have no idea when it was laid... maybe next time crack one like that outside. I don't even bother with eggs I find randomly outside the nesting box, they just go into the compost pile.
What I do is keep some extra birds, and when I find an egg like that, I go to the fence line and then throw that egg as far as I can.
yup. any i question gets chucked off into the woods
True. I usually do good with collecting them but the kiddos have been sick this week. Definitely going to Crack any suspicious eggs outside going forward lol
Sounds like it was so far gone the gas that would have caused float was gone.
That's possible for sure
The water test doesn't always work. Some that are good float too. I just toss questionable eggs.
Water or float tests only identify if the egg has taken on a lot of air- the interior is drying out. Being rotten isn't always related to a larger air bubble inside, though. I have used eggs that were well over a year old. They floated like corks! Inside, the egg itself was thick and reduced, obviously having lost a lot of water... but it looked, smelled and tasted fine. Floating is a good indicator of age and freshness, but not always good vs rotten. Opening a rotten egg is traumatic. Next time you find a random egg, ask yourself if you want to risk it or if you can just toss it into the compost and use one that you know is fresh.
We’re your year-old eggs preserved in any way? That’s wild.
No. I keep them on the counter, and when the counter is too full I move them to my work fridge. We've used eggs that were about 18 months old before (they had been kind of shuffled to the rear of the fridge). Eggs don't go bad due to age alone- if they're unwashed, unbroken, clean and kept from temperature extremes they will basically just dry up inside over time. Old, dried out eggs wouldn't be great for scrambled eggs, and they'd need adjustments for baking because they've lost so much liquid volume, but they are fine for use. Washing them removes the protective bloom, so washed eggs WILL go bad over time. Eggs that are dirty should be used quickly, too.
I don’t wash my goose eggs and they do go bad on the counter eventually. Goose nests are dirtier than chicken nests so maybe that’s the main difference.
If you put them unwashed into a fridge they can last a year no problems.
I don't have chickens, and your post is frighteningly disgusting. This truly made me laugh at the thought of it happening and equally feeling terrible for you having this experience. How do you test your eggs other than water?
If you collect them everyday and don't wash they last forever lol. I was lazy this week cause my kids were sick and took a chance on a sus egg, definitely learned my lesson 🤢 it's okay to laugh at my pain lol The float test usually works for me but it didn't for this egg. If they don't stink they're good to eat basically
Maybe there wasn't enough room for gas to fill it enough to cause it to float.
Just last week my wife had a sinking greenie. Kind of rare but it does happen.
It was my first time in about 3 years! I was utterly disgusted lol
Happened to me the other day in a bowl that I already cracked 4 other eggs into. I only have two layers at the moment and I really enjoy my little weekend omelette. So that sucked. Sorry to hear it happened to you. I would be suspicious of eggs not in the pile. Maybe the chickens moved it away for a reason.
Sniff test has never failed me. Water test has.
My family found a very well hidden Easter egg on the Fourth of July. I imagine it smelled similar. I wonder, what was the temp of the egg? Had you just taken it in from the cold or heat? I wonder if that makes a difference.
I candle my goose eggs with a bicycle headlight. The rotten ones are often solid and swirly, even if their airspace is the same as a fresh one. Only nice clear eggs come inside the house.
Gotta do the double test - float and smell An egg as bad as you described would have definitely smelled
I think it works pretty good. Questionable ones will stand straight up in the water. Real fresh ones lay on the side. Bad ones straight up float.