How long after the expiration date can I use/eat eggs?

United States
September 18, 2011 6:35pm CST
I have never paid attention to the "sell by" date on cartons of eggs until recently. I am sure that I have used eggs in the past well past the sell by date. What is your experience?
2 people like this
10 responses
@GardenGerty (157486)
• United States
18 Sep 11
I eat them as long as they do not float in a bowl of water. I have eaten them quite long past sell by dates.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (85313)
• United States
18 Sep 11
You taught me something new!
• United States
19 Sep 11
I never knew that trick about floating eggs! Will need to try it soon. Thanks!
@Galena (9110)
18 Sep 11
here's the thing. if an egg is off, you will KNOW from the smell. if it smells okay, it's most likely okay. so if I'm cooking it in a way where I have to break the shell first, I've always had a habit of breaking into a cup, and then adding it to the container if it is okay. even fresh, within date eggs can have the odd bad one, and this means it won't ruin all the rest by being broken straight into the container. if you'r going to boil your eggs, put them in a large container of water. if they float, they are off. if they sink they are okay. as an egg gets older, the skin comes away from the shell surface, creating an air pocket. that air pocket makes the egg buoyant. if it smells bad, don't eat it. that's about all you need to know.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157486)
• United States
18 Sep 11
In Home Ec they told us to break into a dish, but I do not do it, unless the eggs are really old. I use the floating egg rule. Also, if my eggs are close dated I boil all of the old ones. I then use the fresher eggs in dishes.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
19 Sep 11
I wouldn't be using any eggs after the use by date. I am very suspectible to changes in taste in eggs, and even a slighlty off egg, really turns me off.
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
18 Sep 11
If you're not sure if an egg is still viable,fill a bowl with water and place it in there..if the egg floats round side up,it's gone..don't use it... a fresh egg will sink.
• United States
19 Sep 11
I usually have 2 cartons of eggs in my fridge - the newer ones and the older ones. The newer ones I use when I want to eat eggs. Hard boiled, omelets, or something like that. The older ones I use to cook with. I will put them in cookies or use them to bread chicken. I have never had a problem!! They just dont taste quite as good if you are trying to eat them plain. I have used eggs a couple of months past their expiration date. I hate wasting money and since I have never had a problem, I will continue to do so!
• United States
19 Sep 11
I have used eggs way past the expiration date and never really paid mind if they were old or not. But I have picked up a few tips from the other responders that I will pay close attention to. However, I usually go by the appearance and or smell of the egg myself.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85313)
• United States
18 Sep 11
If the eggs are going in a dish I will use eggs up to a week after the expiration date. I've done that and not gotten sick or anything. But as for making scrambled eggs, a singular egg dish, I won't eat them after their expiration date. I'm sure they would be fine because they were fine in a big dish, but it's just a mental thing with me.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
19 Sep 11
I'm not really sure but I do know they last a very long time past expiration. I have used them about 2-3 months after expiration.
@BeetleBam (171)
• United States
19 Sep 11
You can use them 3-4 weeks past the expiration date with no ill effects.
• United States
19 Sep 11
When I was growing up we bought eggs from a neighbor. She had so many cartons of eggs she couldn't refrigerate them. Who knows how long she had them.. they were fresh eggs. Actually they were what we call double yolkers. They were always good. They weren't store bought eggs and no expiration dates.. In fact, I don't think anything had expiration dates back then, and I never got sick.