Eggs are a common ingredient in our daily lives. We usually buy eggs at supermarkets or markets, and these eggs may have been stored for too long, leading to spoilage. However, we often don't know if the eggs are spoiled when we buy them. Spoiled eggs can be harmful to our health and should not be consumed. So, how can we determine if an egg is spoiled?
Methods for identifying spoiled eggs
Disintegrated yolk, moldy smell: If you open an egg and find that the yolk has disintegrated, the egg white and yolk have mixed together, or there is a moldy or rotten smell, the egg should not be consumed. This is the most direct method for identifying spoiled eggs.
Transmitting light: Form a circle with your left hand and place the egg at the end of the circle. Hold it up to the light. Fresh eggs appear slightly reddish and translucent, with a clear outline of the yolk. If the yolk is dull, opaque, or has spots, it indicates that the egg has spoiled.
Float test: If an egg lies flat in water, it is very fresh. If it tilts in the water, it has been stored for at least 3 to 5 days. If it stands upright in the water, it may have been stored for up to 10 days. If it floats on the water's surface, it is likely spoiled.
Listening: Gently shake the egg with your hand. If there is no sound, it is fresh. If there is a sloshing sound, it is old.
Can you still eat spoiled eggs?
Generally, eggs with disintegrated yolk should not be consumed, as there are various possibilities for the disintegration. If the disintegration is not severe and there is no odor, the egg can still be consumed after high-temperature cooking. However, if bacteria have multiplied inside the egg, the protein has denatured, and there is a bad smell, the egg should not be eaten as it can cause bacterial food poisoning.
