Eggs are a kitchen essential in many homes, appreciated for their versatility and nutrition.

But debates often arise around whether eggs past their expiration date are still safe to eat. One couple’s disagreement over expired eggs highlights how confusing this issue can be. This article looks at what egg expiration really means and how to handle it with confidence.

Understanding Egg Expiration Dates

Egg cartons usually list a “sell-by” or “expiration” date, but these are meant more as guidelines than strict rules. While these dates help retailers manage inventory, they don’t necessarily signal that the eggs are no longer good once the date has passed. Knowing what these labels mean can help prevent unnecessary food waste.

How to Tell If Eggs Are Still Good

There are simple ways to check an egg’s freshness. One of the most popular is the float test: drop an egg in a bowl of water—if it sinks and stays flat on the bottom, it’s fresh. If it floats, it’s likely gone bad. Another method is to crack the egg into a bowl; if it smells foul or looks unusual, toss it.

Eggs naturally lose moisture and gases like carbon dioxide through their shells, which causes quality to decline over time. Keeping eggs in the fridge helps slow this process, often allowing them to stay good beyond the printed date.

A common myth is that eggs become unsafe immediately after the expiration date. In reality, properly stored eggs can remain safe for weeks. Instead of relying strictly on dates, it’s better to use sight and smell to judge their condition.