How Long Do Eggs Stay Fresh?
With egg prices still so high in the U.S., some Americans are trying to buy them in Mexico. One problem. It’s illegal to bring them back over the border. According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, seizures of eggs at some border crossings, including Laredo, Tucson, and San Diego, are up more than 300%.
Since eggs are so precious right now, you don’t want to throw any away unless absolutely necessary, but you can’t keep them around forever. Good Morning America offers these tips to help us know how long eggs last:
- The “best if used by” date shows the last date an egg is at its peak quality.
- If eggs are stored properly, they can be used past the date – they are good for 45 days from the packing date.
- They should be stored at 40 degrees or colder.
- Don’t leave eggs out of the fridge for more than two hours or bacteria will grow inside them.
- If you get a cracked egg – open it, put it in a container and eat it within two days.
- Hard boiled eggs should be kept in the shell until used and eaten within a week.
If you’re not 100% sure that an egg is still good, there’s a simple way to test its freshness. Fill a bowl with enough cold water to cover the egg, and gently lower the egg in. If it sinks to the bottom and stays on its side, the egg is very fresh. If it completely floats to the top, throw it out.
Now I’m wondering if people will even bother to dye Easter eggs this year. That’s going to be quite an investment. At the rate things are going, by April, Cadbury Creme Eggs might be cheaper!