Techniques to recognize the authenticity and freshness of eggs: Step by step guide
Eggs represent a fundamental ingredient in our diet and are often the protagonists of many recipes. Rich in proteins, vitamin B2, vitamin B12, selenium and zinc, eggs contribute to the well-being of our body. However, their consumption raw or semi-raw, as in the preparation of many traditional dishes, such as pasta carbonara or tiramisu, requires particular attention to their state of freshness. The freshness of eggs is an element of fundamental importance, as the decomposition of the egg can lead to the production of bacteria harmful to health. There are various methods to test the freshness of an egg. The first and best known is to do a simple test in water. Fill a bowl with water and gently immerse the egg in it. If the egg sinks horizontally to the bottom, it means it is very fresh. If the egg sits upright, but stays on the bottom, it's still good, but it's starting to get old. However, if the egg floats, it is no longer fresh and it is better to avoid its consumption. Another method is to look at the yolk and white after opening the egg. The yolk of a fresh egg is bright yellow-orange in color and has a well-defined spherical shape. The egg white, on the other hand, should be viscous and remain attached to the yolk. However, if the yolk is flat and the white is liquid, the egg is not fresh. You can also rely on your sense of smell. A fresh egg has practically no smell. If the egg gives off an unpleasant odor, it is certainly worth discarding. Finally, remember that the expiry date printed on the egg packaging is a further indicator of freshness, although not always reliable. In fact, storage conditions significantly influence the freshness of eggs. If stored at a constant temperature of 7-8 degrees, eggs can remain fresh even beyond the indicated expiration date. So, before preparing your pasta carbonara or your tiramisu, make sure the eggs are fresh. Your health and the taste of your dishes will benefit!
How long does an egg last?
The egg is a food with a high nutritional value and often becomes the protagonist of our tables in numerous recipes, from breakfast to dinner. Its duration and freshness are aspects of fundamental importance both in terms of food safety and taste. When we talk about the lifespan of an egg, the first thing to keep in mind is that it generally corresponds to 28 days from the moment of laying. The reason lies mainly in the preservation of the organoleptic characteristics of the egg: once this threshold is exceeded, in fact, changes may begin to occur in terms of flavour, consistency and color of the yolk and albumen. However, it is advisable to consume the egg within the first 15-20 days of being laid, in order to fully enjoy its freshness and nutritional qualities, with a more complete taste and better digestibility. Regarding the sale of eggs, the law imposes some very specific regulations to guarantee the consumer safety in purchasing: on every pack of eggs sold in supermarkets the expiry date must by law be reported and, in the case of free-range eggs or biological, also the date of deposition. This allows you to have a sure indication of their duration. But what to do if you lose the packaging or cannot read the expiry date? Fortunately, there are some home tricks to check if the egg is still fresh. One of the best known is immersion in water: if the egg sinks, it is fresh, but if it floats, it indicates that it is old. Of course, it is always preferable to make sure you consume fresh eggs, in order to avoid the possibility of running into food problems. Always remember that, beyond all the recommendations, attention when purchasing and correct storage in the refrigerator are the basis for ensuring quality food and maintaining your health.
The Water method
The water method is one of the most well-recorded methods for ascertaining the freshness of an egg and easily reveals the age of the egg in question. This simple but effective method exploits the very nature of eggs and the fundamental laws of physics to give us valuable information. To apply the water method you will need a large glass or bowl and fresh water. Fill the glass or bowl with enough water to completely submerge the egg. Keep in mind that the water must be at room temperature and not frozen or boiling. Once the container has been prepared, you need to gently immerse the egg in the water. At this stage, it is important to handle the egg with care to avoid breaking it. Observing the behavior of the egg allows you to evaluate its state of freshness. If the egg sinks and remains at the bottom of the glass in a horizontal position, it is fresh. This happens because the air inside the egg, which is located in a small sac at the ends, is still in small quantities. When the egg is fresh, the shell is completely full and there is not enough air trapped inside to make it float. If the egg rises upright but remains on the bottom, it is no longer very fresh. This is because over time, the water inside the egg evaporates through the porous shell, increasing the air pocket. The egg then becomes lighter and tends to float in an upright position. If the egg floats, however, it is no longer fresh and its consumption is not recommended. In this case, in fact, the air pocket inside the egg has become so large that the egg floats. This indicates that the egg is old and may no longer be safe for consumption, so it would be best to discard it. I can imagine your doubts: how can such a simple method reveal so much? In fact, this method is based on science: the egg shell is porous and therefore allows small amounts of air and moisture to pass in and out. This property, combined with the natural changes that occur within the egg as it ages, makes testing egg freshness with the water method a reliable and easy-to-use system. Remember though, that it's always best to tread carefully when it comes to food. If you have doubts about the freshness of an egg or if the egg floats in water, it may be best not to risk it and throw it away. Food safety should always be our top priority.
Other methods to tell if an egg is fresh
Beyond the classic method of floating in water, there are other valid methods to ensure the freshness of an egg but specific methods require opening the egg. They will be illustrated in detail below. The first method concerns the observation of the yolk. In a fresh egg, the yolk appears central, swollen and of a beautiful intense yellow, this is due to the presence of a small pocket of air immersed in the egg white which guarantees the oxygen necessary for the development of the embryo. Over time, the evaporation of water through the shell increases the size of the air pocket and the yolk tends to rise to the surface and flatten. So, if when you open the egg it shows a flat and off-centre yolk, it is most likely no longer fresh. The second method is to observe the consistency of the egg white. In a fresh egg, the egg white is characterized by a dense, gelatinous consistency and is divided into two distinct parts: a dense one, around the yolk, and a more liquid one. If the egg is no longer fresh, the egg white tends to become more watery and the two parts are no longer clearly distinguishable. Finally, another important indicator to consider is odor. When an egg is fresh, it should not give off any unpleasant odor. A particularly pungent or unpleasant odor is almost always a sign that the egg is no longer good to eat. This test is the last step, and it is decisive: if an egg passes all the other tests but has an unpleasant odor, it should not be consumed. Always remember that these methods are not foolproof and do not replace expiration dates. Consuming non-fresh food can cause serious health problems and therefore it is always better to be sure of the quality of the foods you intend to eat. If you have doubts about an egg, it is certainly better to choose not to consume it.
How to recycle shells
We should not throw away egg shells, even when we discover that the egg is no longer fresh and edible. We can, in fact, reuse them in ways that are both ingenious and sustainable. One of the most widespread methods concerns the use of shells in gardening. These, in fact, are excellent natural fertilizers, particularly for plants and vegetables, as they are very rich in calcium, an essential mineral for their development and health. After rinsing the shells and letting them dry, you can crush them finely and incorporate them into your vegetable or garden soil directly. If you are a gardening enthusiast, you could also create a real concentrated fertilizer: just put the shells in water and leave them to infuse for a few days before using the water to water the plants. But the power of eggshells doesn't just stop at fertilizer. Even to fight parasites naturally, such as snails and caterpillars, shells can prove very useful. In fact, it is possible to create real "barriers" around the plants with pieces of shell, which, thanks to their sharp and unpleasant consistency to crawl on, will keep these annoying gastropods away. Another interesting way to use eggshells is to give them a new life as seedlings. Simply fill half the shell with a little soil and plant a seed or small plant. Place them in an empty egg carton to keep them stable and you have small individual greenhouses perfect for starting plants. In conclusion, before throwing away eggshells, you can think about the different ways to reuse them. Not only will you be able to reduce waste, but you will also have a greener environment, thanks to healthier plants, nourished and protected from parasites in a natural and sustainable way. Recycling has never been so useful and fun!
