Chicken and quail eggs are an important source of protein, amino acids, vitamins B, A, E and minerals necessary for normal human life. Unfortunately, their shelf life is very short, after its expiration, the use of the product becomes dangerous. How to determine the freshness of eggs? To do this, there are several fairly simple ways that every good housewife should know.

Shelf life of eggs

Interested in how to determine the freshness of eggs? To begin with, it is necessary to clarify information about the optimal periods of their storage. The product can only be kept in the refrigerator without exposing any primary processing, maximum 3-4 weeks. If you broke the shell, then both the protein and the yolk, together and separately from each other, will remain usable for no more than 4 days, but it is better to eat them within two days. A boiled egg can be stored for a week.

Visual signs of egg freshness

So how do you define freshness? chicken egg? First of all, this can be done by appearance. In the first few days, the shell looks very presentable, it shines and has a pleasant, even shade. Over time, the surface of the egg fades, the color becomes darker, uneven. Visually, you can check the freshness and the light. Pick up the egg, place it in front of a bright light bulb and examine it carefully. If its shelf life is running out, then dark spots will be present in the center, this is not observed in a fresh product. A characteristic sign of a stale egg can also be a very unpleasant odor, but this feature already applies to the last stage. Throw it away without hesitation.

Proteins and yolks

Are there more reliable ways to determine the freshness of eggs? Certainly yes. But for this you need to break the integrity of the shell. Break the egg on a flat saucer and carefully examine its contents. If he is only a couple of days old, then you will be able to note the following signs:

• dense protein, spreads over the surface minimally;
• the yolk has a round shape, rises high above the plane;
• there is no sharp, unpleasant odor.

Stale protein is rather liquid, viscous, spreads throughout the saucer, the yolk does not hold its shape and does not rise above the surface.

Most popular method

How to determine the freshness of eggs by the most popular method? Take a deep bowl and fill it with water, then put an egg in the center of it and watch. If it has lain for more than 2 weeks, then air voids begin to form in it, it no longer lies on the surface, but stands with its narrow end down and its blunt end up, as if balancing. A rotten egg floats on the surface of the water, it is categorically not recommended to use it. A fresh egg lies at the very bottom on its side, this is due to the fact that there are almost no pockets of air in it, it is quite heavy. You can feel its weight just by holding it in your hands. By the way, it is worth noting that such a test is valid only if the egg does not have cracks and dents.

Method for determining the freshness of quail eggs

How to determine freshness quail eggs Are there special techniques? You can use accurate electronic scales for this purpose. As a result of measurement, a usable product will give you an indicator of about 20 grams, but a rotten egg will weigh several times less, only 5 grams.

Of course, these data are approximate and may differ slightly in one direction or another, but they are still quite indicative. All the above methods of verification can be applied to quail eggs, they will also be absolutely fair. Among other things, when buying packaging in a store, you should also be guided by the expiration date indicated on it.

Checking the freshness of eggs at home is easy. To do this, it is enough to pour into a container cold water about ten centimeters. Dip the eggs in the bowl for a minute.

Bad, spoiled, rotten eggs will immediately float in water. This is due to a violation of the density inside the shells of raw eggs.

This can also occur if storage conditions are violated: non-compliance with the temperature regime, the assumption of a sharp temperature drop.

Eggs that have floated to the surface, but only the very tip is visible from the water, may still be quite suitable for food, but they must be used before all others.

They tend to accumulate air between the shell and the outer shell of the protein. This is a necessary condition for gas exchange.

The layer, like a gateway, saturates the egg with the necessary oxygen for further development, and releases accumulated gases through the shell, including methane. That is why they go out and deplete such a smell.

Fresh ones stay at the bottom. The amount of oxygen in them is minimal, they were demolished quite recently.

note! A fresh egg always stays at the bottom. The spoiled floats to the surface.

It is almost impossible to check the freshness of raw eggs in the store. It is important to monitor the integrity of the shell.

Bacteria can enter through the cracks and spoil the egg.. After that, it will become unfit for consumption.

How to check a boiled egg for freshness

If the egg is already cooked, then you can check it by cleaning it:

1. Good, young hard to clean. The shell is very tight to the shell, and when peeling, part of the cooked protein leaves together.
2. If it is not the freshest, it will be very easy to clean.. She literally moves away from the protein along with the shell.
3. If the egg is already rotten, then when cleaning, a sharp unpleasant odor will immediately arise., which is impossible to confuse.

Important! A fresh boiled egg is difficult to peel. And what has been stored for some time is easy to clean. An egg that has gone bad after cleaning has a sharp unpleasant odor.

Buyers in stores try to take chicken eggs of the first category or selected ones, because they are larger. From the point of view of their usefulness, this is not entirely true.

After all, the largest ones carry old chickens, which are already becoming obsolete. Young growth lays eggs more and more often, but they are noticeably smaller.

Eggs of young chickens are more useful: they have more calcium, magnesium, protein and other useful trace elements.

While large eggs of old laying hens contain more cholesterol, which is the main cause of heart and vascular diseases, and also leads to obesity.

Eggs of small sizes of the second and third categories are much cheaper.

When choosing eggs in a store, pay attention to:

1. The surface of the shell should be smooth and without cracks.
2. Choose the eggs of young chickens - they are more useful.
3. When you get home, use a glass of water to check for freshness.

How to check the freshness of quail and other eggs?

Goose, duck, quail, chicken eggs have a limited shelf life, which largely depends on the temperature regime.

You can also check the freshness of quail eggs with water.. And also, considering the surface of the shell - it should be even, smooth, without flaws and cracks.

The freshness of eggs depends entirely on the storage periods that must be observed. If they have been stored in stores for too long, they are sold at a low price.

They may not be rotten or spoiled, but they already definitely have a completely different structure.

The processes that take place in the egg do not stop, but only slow down when they are placed in the cold.

Waterfowl eggs are rarely used as food. More often they are left for the reproduction of numbers.

The shelf life is determined by the storage conditions of the product. The cooler and more saturated with moisture the environment, the longer the eggs remain fresh.

Be sure to cover the top with a damp cloth or tightly close the lid. Opened eggs dry out quickly. The yolk in this form can be stored in the refrigerator for one to two days. Protein - up to four to five days.

Checking egg quality with an ovoscope

An ovoscope is a device that has been used since ancient times, and is still used today to check the quality of eggs. This simple device is a flashlight with a directional beam of light.

You can check the eggs with an ovoscope at home. It is easy to make at home:

• To do this, you need a regular flashlight or lamp.
• Place the flashlight in a light-tight box so that the light comes from above.
• At the top of the box, you need to make a hole that will be smaller than the size of the egg.
• Put the egg itself on this hole and carefully examine it.

A good quality young egg has a smooth surface and an even color without spots or flaws.. Inside the egg, which has been violated storage conditions, sometimes you can even see how a chicken is born.

This is noticeable by bloody clots inside the shell and specific outlines. A rotten egg, when translucent with an ovoscope, will have an unpleasant cloudy tint.

Important! To keep eggs fresh longer, they do not need to be washed before storage, so as not to break the protective layer of the shell.

Useful video

Eating even slightly spoiled foods can cause harm to the body, provoke poisoning. Particularly dangerous in this regard are the missing eggs, which are used to prepare many dishes. Everyone should be able to check the freshness of this product.

visual inspection

The degree of freshness can also be determined by appearance. First, carefully inspect the shell. It should be matte, with slight roughness, the color is even. Gloss and shine indicate staleness. No chips or cracks allowed. From fresh eggs comes a slight smell of lime, and from rotten - hydrogen sulfide. When shaking, there should be no sounds, gurgling.

Crack an egg onto a plate. A fresh yolk will be convex and round. Protein should keep its shape well. Due to carbon dioxide, it may have a yellowish or greenish tint, this is normal. If the yolk is flattened and loose, and the protein is transparent, but does not separate, then the product is still edible, but the expiration date is already expiring. Pinpoint blood blotches are not a sign of staleness. The whitish flagella on the edges of the yolk are designed to hold it in the middle. Their presence speaks of freshness, because over time they dissolve.

Ovoscope check

To determine the freshness, there is a special device that you can even make yourself. Ovoscopes are available in most grocery stores and supermarkets. The device shines through the egg. The yolk in the center speaks of freshness. The presence of the silhouette of the embryo in the lumen is unacceptable. If you notice dark areas and clots in the protein, then the product has been stored for 1-2 weeks. You can not take a product with a blood ring around the yolk, but dotted inclusions are normal. A completely rotten egg does not shine through at all.

By smell

Eggshells are like a sponge soaking up different flavors. The smell of lime should come from a fresh product. The longer it sits, the more impurities will appear. At the same time, the aroma of lime becomes less noticeable. The rancid smells strongly of hydrogen sulfide, especially if you break it. According to reviews, this method is controversial, it is not considered completely reliable.

Checking the freshness of eggs in water

The method described below is very old and very popular. Testing in water gives a reliable result. It has one drawback - it can only be done at home. Submerge the egg in a glass or bowl of cold water and watch the result. If it:

1. Lying on its side at the very bottom - very fresh, demolished recently.
2. It is located at an angle, the blunt end has surfaced, and the sharp one, closer to the bottom, is a week old.
3. It floated up to the middle of the glass with a blunt end up - it has been stored for 2-3 weeks. It is allowed to eat the product only after a long heat treatment, as a result of which all bacteria will die.
4. Floated to the surface - completely rotten.

Torsion

You can check the product in this way at home or in the store. Instruction:

1. Place the product on a flat horizontal surface.
2. Unroll with your fingers.
3. The fresher, the faster it will stop moving.
4. If stored for a long time, then it will spin like a boiled top.

How to test a boiled egg

The finished product is inspected at the cleaning stage. Determination of freshness after boiling:

1. Fresh. Very difficult to clean. The shell fits snugly to the shell, part of the protein leaves when cleaning.
2. It has been stored for some time, but is usable. Easy to clean. The shell departs along with the shell, it will be possible to remove it in a few seconds. The protein is not damaged.
3. Not usable. When cleaning, a slight unpleasant odor spreads. When cut, the presence of mucus or wateriness is detected.
4. Rancid. When cleaning, a very unpleasant smell spreads.

At the time of buying

It is advisable to check the freshness of products in the store, before purchasing. How to do it:

1. Pay attention to the marking: the date of demolition is affixed to the shell. If the egg is dietary (marking D), then it is stored for no more than 7 days, the table egg (C) is usable up to 2 weeks.
2. Hold the egg to your ear and shake. If it is fresh, then no gurgling will be heard, no pushing of the yolk into the fingers will be felt. This method is not perfect, but it will help to weed out a guaranteed rotten product.

Before you buy eggs, you need to inspect the product - its good quality can be determined already by its appearance. Fresh chicken eggs have a matte surface, and over time, gloss appears on them. The more shine, the older the product. It is useful to pay attention to the uniformity of the color of only a dozen in the cells - one batch should look the same if it does not contain foreign (stale) units. You can also verify the good quality by shaking the eggs - during long-term storage, the contents dry out and begin to fluctuate inside.

But in a hurry it is not always possible to check the quality. At home, you can test eggs for freshness without breaking them. This will allow the unscrupulous seller to return the unusable product.

Methods for determining freshness

All methods for checking eggs for freshness can be divided into the following categories:

• visual - by marking on the product, the condition of the shell and smell;
• technical - using devices or meters;
• test - placing the egg in a certain environment and observation.

All of these methods allow you to determine the quality of the product without opening its shell, that is, they are non-destructive. They are quite simple in execution and are available for use at home.

Folk recipes

First you need to look at the date of manufacture, as well as the expiration date on the package. To determine the quality of the product visually, you need to examine the shell of raw eggs. The surface of fresh ones will be matte and rough, stale ones will be smooth with a glossy sheen, as well as a bluish tint if they are white. Next, you need to smell the product - the one-day one smells of lime, and over time, the aromas of surrounding objects are mixed in.

You can check eggs for freshness by testing methods using certain manipulations. Here are some of them:

1. 1. Load a raw egg into the water is a well-known and reliable test method to determine its age. To do this, fill a glass or other container with water to a height of 10 cm from the bottom and lower the test object into the liquid: drowned - fresh, remained afloat, which means it was stored for more than a month, deteriorated, and it is dangerous to eat it. The air chamber inside tends to increase during long-term storage, therefore, in a submerged position, the egg can be at different levels, by which you can find out the degree of its freshness. A week-old product lies at the bottom, a two-week-old product is approximately in the middle.
2. 2. Squeeze the product - you will feel a slight vibration of the contents, then shake. A fresh egg will not react to this in any way, and distinct fluctuations indicate that the product cannot be used for food.
3. 3. Rotate the product on the table to determine whether it is boiled or raw, a method known to many. It is also used for the study of qualitative characteristics. A fresh egg spins with difficulty, very sluggishly. Old objects behave almost like boiled ones.

There are other ways to check eggs for freshness, but already with a violation of their integrity. The shell of fresh products is tough and hard, it is difficult to peel off the boiled product, and with age it softens. Having broken a raw egg, they examine the smell and contents - the fresh product has no aroma. If there is a smell, the food has gone bad. The stench indicates that this happened a long time ago. The transparent, jelly-like protein does not spread over the surface, the yolk is elastic and rises above the protein - signs of freshness.

Technical ways

Instrumental egg quality indicators include an ovoscope, special equipment with ultraviolet radiation, weighing devices and conventional electric lamps. In addition to scales, all other technical means ensure the translucence of the object with light rays (including solar).

By purchasing eggs, we are essentially buying a pig in a poke. After all, the stamps on the packaging do not always correspond to reality, and they are completely absent on the market when selling a homemade product.

When properly stored, eggs can remain edible for more than a month. But not always at poultry farms and at the points of sale of eggs, the necessary conditions are met, thereby accelerating the spoilage of the product.

In order to make sure the freshness of the eggs or determine its degree, you can use a simple trick, which we will discuss below.

Checking eggs for freshness in water

You can easily and quickly determine the freshness of eggs using salted water.

Fresh eggs have practically no air inside, and the shell fits snugly against the membrane, so if you lower such an egg into a container of salted water, it will sink to the bottom and take a horizontal position.

When stored through the pores of the egg shell, air gradually penetrates inside, the membrane moves away from the shell, thereby increasing the air bag. The more the egg is stored, the more air inside, which, if stored improperly and at high temperatures, promotes the development of bacteria and the rapid deterioration of the product. Such an egg, when lowered into water, will float on the surface.

With the help of water, you can not only check the freshness of eggs, but also determine its degree. By doing a simple test, you can find out if the purchased eggs are suitable for poaching and diet food, or they will fit only for hard-boiling and adding to a salad.

Determining the freshness of eggs in a glass of water

1. The first seven days, eggs are considered dietary and can be used to make poached eggs, scrambled eggs, biscuits, as well as various desserts and other dishes where the freshness of the product is important. If an egg, immersed in a glass of water, sinks to the very bottom and takes a horizontal position, it is undoubtedly fresh and can be used for any dish.
2. Eggs with freshness from a week to two will float a little with a blunt end up, but the sharp one will still touch the bottom. Such eggs can be boiled hard, used for frying an omelette, but when poached, such an egg will simply scatter in water. If you break a two-week-old egg into a pan, the protein will spread over the pan like a pancake and you won’t get a beautiful scrambled egg.
3. Eggs that are more than two weeks old but still edible will sit upright in the center of the glass with the blunt end up. The sharp end no longer touches the bottom. Such eggs can only be used for ten minutes or more from the moment of boiling and used in salads or other dishes as needed. The advantage of such not the first freshness of eggs is that, unlike fresh ones, they are always perfectly cleaned.
4. If, during the test, the egg floats to the surface of the water and takes a horizontal position, it is definitely spoiled, the process of decomposition has begun in it and it can no longer be used for food.

How to check the freshness of quail eggs in water?

The structure is the same as that of chicken, so you can check their freshness in water based on the information described above. Fresh eggs will sink to the bottom, and spoiled ones will float to the surface of the water in a glass.

Now you know how to find out the freshness of eggs in water and you can determine it at any time at home. But to keep eggs fresh for as long as possible, you do not need to wash them before sending them to the refrigerator immediately after purchase. Yes, and it is better to check for freshness in water immediately before use. Upon contact with water, the protective shell is washed off the eggs, which covers the pores, which significantly reduces the shelf life of the product, since air begins to penetrate much faster.