
- If the egg spins quickly and steadily like a top, the egg is hard boiled. [8] Its center of gravity is stable.
- If it spins slowly, it has a major wobble, or it's tough to spin at all, it's raw. [9] The liquid inside is shifting around as the egg spins and throwing it off balance. [10]
How can you tell if an egg is raw or hard boiled?
How can you tell if an egg is raw or hard boiled? The key is in the spin! A hard boiled egg will spin nicely and a raw egg will wobble. The raw egg is full of fluid which moves around as it spins making the egg wobble!
How do you know if an egg is safe to eat?
The water should be able to cover an egg completely plus a few inches. Drop the questionable egg in the water. If it isn't completely submerged or is only barely covered by water, add more water. If the egg sinks to the bottom, that means it's still good to eat.
Can physics tell the difference between Raw and cooked eggs?
Have you ever found an egg in your refrigerator and wondered if it was cooked? Although eggs drastically change inside their shells when cooked, it is still remarkably difficult to distinguish a cooked egg from a raw one without cracking it open. In this activity, you will find out how physics can help you tell the difference!
Can you tell if an egg is bad by shaking it?
Much like you can shake a lightbulb to hear if the filament is broken, some people say you can also shake an egg to hear if an egg has gone bad. The theory is that, when shaken, fresh eggs will make no sound, while not-so-fresh eggs will sound like the liquid inside is sloshing around.

How can you tell if an egg is raw or cooked?
Spin both the eggs and see what you notice. The raw egg will spin more slowly and it will wobble! This is because the raw egg is fluid inside, whereas the hard-boiled egg is solid. When you spin the raw egg, the fluid inside moves around and causes the wobbling.
Is a raw egg supposed to float?
An egg can float in water when its air cell has enlarged sufficiently to keep it buoyant. This means the egg is old, but it may be perfectly safe to use. Crack the egg into a bowl and examine it for an off-odor or unusable appearance before deciding to use or discard it.
How can you tell if an egg is raw or cooked without breaking the shell?
Tip: Just place the egg on a hard surface, like the counter, and spin it like a top. As it's spinning, grab it with your fingers ever-so-briefly and immediately let go. If it keeps spinning, it's raw. If it stops dead, it's boiled.
How do you know if it's safe to eat an egg?
To perform the float test, gently set your egg into a bowl or bucket of water. If the egg sinks, it is fresh. If it tilts upwards or even floats, it is old. This is because as an egg ages, the small air pocket inside it grows larger as water is released and replaced by air.
What happens if I eat an egg that floats?
An older egg will either stand on its end or float. The float test works because air builds up inside the egg as it ages, increasing its buoyancy. However, an egg that floats may still be safe to eat, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Can you eat eggs 2 months out of date?
As long as the eggs don't show signs of spoilage, they can still be sold and are considered safe to eat after this date. Sell-by. This date can be no more than 30 days after the pack date of the eggs. At the sell-by date, the eggs may be around 4 weeks old.
Why does the egg white from raw eggs go from clear to white after it's cooked?
When heat is applied, those proteins uncoil and get tangled together. These tangled proteins form a kind of mesh, which traps the surrounding water. This changes the color and the physical consistency of the egg white.
Why is my raw egg yolk hard?
When the eggs are subject to low-temperature environment, the egg yolk reduces its water content upon exposure to coldness. It becomes more viscous and undergoes irreversible gelation. It turns hard and bouncy after cooking.
What of eggs have salmonella?
Eggs are washed and sanitized at the processing plant. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 1 in every 20,000 eggs are contaminated with Salmonella. Persons infected with Salmonella may experience diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, headache, nausea and vomiting.
How do you know if an egg has salmonella?
You can't tell if an egg has salmonella just by looking at it. The bacteria can be present inside an egg as well as on the shell. Cooking food thoroughly can kill salmonella. Be aware that runny, poached, or soft eggs aren't fully cooked — even if they are delicious.
What temperature kills salmonella in eggs?
"To kill salmonella you have to cook eggs to 160 degrees Fahrenheit," she wrote. "At that temperature they are no longer runny."
What does a rotten egg look like?
0:401:11How to Tell If Eggs Are Rotten - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhite a pink or iridescent appearance means it's spoiled don't worry about red spots they representMoreWhite a pink or iridescent appearance means it's spoiled don't worry about red spots they represent blood vessel ruptures that occurred at the time of ovulation.
Can you hard boil an egg that floats?
You can drop your hard-boiled egg in and it will sink to the bottom of the first layer, but float on top of the salt water! What's happening? The egg is denser than tap water, so it sinks.
Are eggs good if they stand up in water?
If the eggs sink to the bottom and lay flat on their side, they're still fresh. However, if they sink, but stand on one end at the bottom of the glass or bowl, they're not as fresh but still edible. Of course, if any eggs float to the top, they shouldn't be eaten.
How can you tell if an egg is raw or hard boiled?
The key is in the spin! A hard boiled egg will spin nicely and a raw egg will wobble.
Safety Notice
Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.
How to tell if an egg is fresh?
If you’re not sure how to tell if your eggs are fresh, fill a large glass or bowl with enough water to completely submerge an egg. Carefully lower the egg into the water and watch to see whether it sinks or floats. If the egg sinks to the bottom of the bowl, it’s still fresh and you can use it for whatever you like.
How to test for rotten eggs?
Place the egg in the water. Carefully lower the egg in the water so that it doesn’t crack if it hits the bottom of the container. If you're testing more than one egg, test each egg individually so that you can determine which ones are good and which ones are rotten.
What happens if you crack an egg?
If you crack the egg open and a white ooze comes out, there’s a good chance that it is rotten. Fresh eggs will have milky or clear whites and a perky bright yellow or orange yolk. If the egg is rotten, the whites will be thin and watery or may look pink and the yolk will flatten out.
What happens if an egg floats?
Throw the egg away if it floats. If the egg floats, it means that air is trapped inside of the egg and it is rotten. Eating rotten eggs can lead to food poisoning and should be avoided. You can compost the egg or dump the inside of the egg in the garbage disposal. Do not put egg shells down the garbage disposal.
What does it mean when an egg sloshing around?
If you hear the inside of the egg sloshing around, it means the egg is rotten. If you can’t hear or feel the contents of the egg move, it means it’s fresh and you can eat it. This is a less accurate method than examining or smelling the egg. If you’re unsure, try the other methods as well.
What temperature should eggs be kept at?
All raw eggs should be maintained in a temperature of 40 °F (4 °C) or less. The sell-by date won’t tell you whether your eggs are rotten, but will give you an idea of how old your eggs are.
How long can beaten eggs be kept in the refrigerator?
Lightly beaten eggs can be kept covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
How to tell the difference between cooked and raw eggs?
You can tell the difference between the cooked and a raw egg by spinning it on its point .
How to make a small mark on raw eggs?
Use a pencil to make a small mark on the three raw eggs. Keep the mark subtle, as this will make it easier to test your ideas in an unbiased way.
What is the yolk of a bird egg?
In essence, a bird egg contains a yolk enclosed in a membrane and surrounded by a white liquid (the albumen or egg white), all packaged together in a hard shell. The albumen mainly consists of proteins floating around in water.
Why does a cooked egg spin more easily than a raw egg?
A cooked egg spins more easily than the raw egg because its inside is solid. Rotating a cup with water and an ice cube demonstrates the difference between a rotating liquid and a rotating solid. Fill a cup halfway with water and set it on a saucer. Put one drop of food coloring into the water near the edge of the cup and start rotating the cup.
How does a cooked egg rotate?
The solid inside of a cooked egg rotates in unison with its shell, making it relatively easy to balance a spinning cooked egg on its tip. The liquid inside of a raw egg slides against itself and the shell. This slows the rotation down and makes it almost impossible to balance a spinning cooked egg on its tip.
Why is it easier to balance cooked eggs?
Since it is easier to balance an egg on its tip by spinning it faster, this also makes cooked eggs easier to balance than raw eggs. It also helps that the inside of the cooked egg is less wobbly since it does not move around (its center of mass is fixed). Next: Explore More. Digging Deeper.
How to listen to a cooked egg?
Gently tap your pencil against the cooked and raw egg and listen.
How to tell if an egg is bad?
Sniffing either a raw or cooked egg is a simple but reliable way to tell if an egg has gone bad.
How to tell if eggs are still good?
1. Check the Expiration Date. One of the easiest ways to tell if your eggs are still good is to check the date on the carton. But if you throw your refrigerated eggs out as soon as this date arrives, you could be wasting perfectly good eggs.
What to do if egg smells?
If anything smells off, toss the egg and wash the bowl or plate with hot, soapy water before using again.
What does expiration date mean on eggs?
An expiration date, on the other hand, marks the date after which the eggs are considered less than fresh. If neither of these labels is present, there is yet another date you can look for to tell how fresh your eggs are.
Why do eggs float?
This is because as an egg ages, the small air pocket inside it grows larger as water is released and replaced by air. If the air pocket becomes large enough, the egg may float. While this method may tell you whether an egg is fresh or old, it doesn’t tell you whether an egg is good or bad ( 3 ).
What is the best test to check if an egg is good or bad?
The float test is one of the most popular methods for checking whether an egg is good or bad.
Why do eggs go bad?
However, an egg only “goes bad” when it starts to decompose because of bacteria or mold. In fact, your eggs may be perfectly good to eat for many more weeks.
How to tell if raw eggs are good?
5 ways to tell if raw eggs are still good, fresh and edible. Put those five senses to use! No one wants to be — or worse, eat! — a rotten egg. You might not necessarily get salmonella from bad eggs, but according to Emily Rubin RD, LDN at Thomas Jefferson University Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, they can be the cause ...
How to tell if an egg is bad?
The theory is that, when shaken, fresh eggs will make no sound, while not-so-fresh eggs will sound like the liquid inside is sloshing around. This noise indicates the yolk and/or albumen (egg white) is less firm. However, it's worth noting that this method is questioned by experts like Don Schaffner, PhD, a food scientist at Rutgers University, who told SafeBee, " this sound test has no credibility ."
What does the color of the egg yolk mean?
The color of the yolk also doesn't necessarily indicate freshness either; rather, egg yolk color hints at the diet of the chicken that laid it. The egg yolks of chickens fed corn or wheat will be lighter than the yolks of chickens fed plants with more yellow and orange pigments. Katie Jackson. Shop TODAY. Kitchen.
Why do eggs make a noise when shaken?
The theory is that, when shaken, fresh eggs will make no sound, while not-so-fresh eggs will sound like the liquid inside is sloshing around. This noise indicates the yolk and/or albumen (egg white) is less firm.
How long do eggs last in the refrigerator?
This date is a 3-digit code where 001 indicates Jan. 1 and 365 is Dec. 31. According to the USDA, eggs stored in the refrigerator will last between 4-5 weeks after this pack date.
Can you get salmonella from eggs?
You might not necessarily get salmonella from bad eggs, but according to Emily Rubin RD, LDN at Thomas Jefferson University Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, they can be the cause of some pretty uncomfortable digestive symptoms like cramps and diarrhea. Plus, of course, they taste terrible. So, how can you tell if a raw egg is still good?
Do you smell eggs after cracking them?
She recommends smelling every egg immediately after cracking it and before using it. If it's bad, it will have a "distinct foul odor.". Even if you didn't get a good sniff prior to placing it in your pan, you're probably OK.
How to tell if an egg is bad?
Bad eggs, you see, float. It has to do with the way moisture evaporates through the shell as eggs age—as that moisture decreases, the air bubble inside the shell grows. One way to test this is to hold the egg to your ear and shake it; if you hear the egg sloshing around, that’s a bad sign. But if you gently place the egg in a glass or bowl of water, you can get not only a “usable or not?” answer, but also a gauge of how fresh the egg is.
What happens if an egg lies horizontally?
If the egg lies horizontally, it’s at its freshest.
What cheese should I use for fried eggs?
I couldn't conveniently fry eggs for that many people, so I devised this recipe that became a family favorite. Mild and salty feta cheese is my favorite for the dish, but shredded cheddar or Parmesan work, too. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia
Is it safe to bake eggs?
If the egg stands upright (but is still at the bottom of the container), it’s past its peak, but is still safe—use these eggs for baking or hard-boiling.
Can you tell if an egg is spoiled?
The good news is that badly spoiled eggs are easy to detect as soon as you crack them open. The bad news is, there’s a lot of territory between “off” and “strong smell of sulfur”—you don’t want to have to count on your nose if your health is on the line. The great news is that there’s a way to tell whether your eggs are usable or not, ...
How to tell if an egg is safe to eat?
To check if it is safe to eat, crack the egg in a bowl and check for an off-odor or unusual appearance before determining whether to use or discard. A spoiled egg has a terribly unpleasant odor when you crack it open — whether raw or cook.
Why is my egg white pink?
If the egg white is pink or iridescent this is an indication of spoilage due to Pseudomonas bacteria. Some of these bacteria can make us sick when eaten and they will produce a greenish, fluorescent, water-soluble color. Also, a spoiled egg (cooked or raw) will have an unpleasant odor once you crack it open.
How long can you keep eggs in the refrigerator?
Do not keep eggs outside the refrigerator for more than two hours. If a recipe calls for eggs at room temperature than they should sit out a max of two hours. Raw eggs and other ingredients should be combined according to the recipe directions and cooked immediately or refrigerated and cooked within 24 hours.
How long can you leave eggs out?
Once you purchase your eggs, do not let them sit in a hot car for too long. At room temperature, do not leave them out over two hours and if the temperature is sweltering hot (90 degrees F or higher) then no more than one hour. Once you get home, store your eggs immediately in the refrigerator.
What does "use by" mean in eggs?
Grading eggs is mandatory and eggs must meet standards for quality and size (like large, extra-large, and jumbo). The “Use by,” “Use before,” or “Best before” date indicates a period that the eggs should be consumed before overall quality diminishes.
Where should eggs be stored?
Eggs should also be stored in their original carton on a shelf in the refrigerator and not in the door. “Cartons are designed to prevent breakage, as well as insulate the egg to reduce temperature changes,” explains Jones. Also, minimizing how many times you open and close that refrigerator can help minimize spoilage.
Do European countries wash their eggs?
Other countries like Canada, Japan and Scandinavia began to do the same thing. However, the European Union doesn’t wash or refrigerate their eggs. As such, they are kept at room temperature at home and in stores.
How to tell if eggs are still good?
One of the easiest ways to check if eggs are still good is by using the egg float test. Sidoti elaborates on exactly how to tell if eggs are good or not with the egg float test: "Fresh eggs will sink to the bottom of the bowl on their sides. Older eggs will sink to the bottom at a tilted or upright position. If the eggs float, they're too old and you should toss them."
What does it mean when an egg sinks?
If it isn't completely submerged or is only barely covered by water, add more water. If the egg sinks to the bottom, that means it's still good to eat. If the egg floats to the top, that means it has gone bad, and it should be thrown out promptly. If an egg sinks to the bottom but sits in a tilted or upright position, ...
How long do eggs typically stay fresh for?
"If stored properly in the refrigerator, eggs can stay fresh for four to five weeks. In the U.S., eggs must be refrigerated. If not, they will go bad after about two hours if left at room temperature," says Sidoti.
Why do egg float tests work?
It's not magic: there's a scientific reason why the egg float test works as a way to tell if eggs are still good. "The reason [the egg float test] works so well is that eggshells are absorbent," Sidoti explains. "This means they allow some air to get through.".
What to do if an egg floats?
If the eggs float, they're too old and you should toss them.". Fill up a see-through flat-bottomed bowl, pot, or tall glass with water. The water should be able to cover an egg completely plus a few inches. Drop the questionable egg in the water.
Can you eat eggs in the fridge?
Luckily for your hungry self, the answer is yes. Just employ the quick egg float test. We spoke with the head chef at HelloFresh, Claudia Sidoti, for the lowdown so you can accurately—and quickly—figure out how to tell if eggs in your fridge are good enough to eat or if it's time to toss them out.
Are there any other ways I can tell if an egg has gone bad?
"A bad egg will have a foul odor when you crack it open," says Sidoti. "The smell will usually be obvious the second you crack it open."

Introduction
- Fill up a large glass or bowl with room temperature water. The bowl or glass should be large enough so that it can hold the entire egg. Fill the container up 3/4 of the way, or enough so that the entire egg will be submerged once you put it in the container.[1] X Research source If you don’t have a bowl or glass big enough, you can use a bucket or any container that’s large en…
- Place the egg in the water. Carefully lower the egg in the water so that it doesn’t crack if it hit…
Materials
What Happened?
Digging Deeper
- At least six chicken eggs, similar in size and color
- Saucepan
- Stove (Use caution and ask an adult to help you use the stove and handle hot items in this activity.)
- Water
For Further Exploration
- Did you notice that the inside of a raw egg is liquid, while the inside of a cooked egg is solid? It was probably impossible to tell the difference without cracking the shell until you tried to spin the egg. Even though it is difficult to spin a cooked egg, spinning a raw egg was probably much harder. This is expected. When you boil an egg, the ins...