best before date on eggs

[filthiestfis]

I have some eggs in the fridge with a BBE date of 05th april. After 3 weeks, would you chuck them out or use them?

[Buenchico]

Unlike 'use by' dates (which warn of potential health hazards if they're exceeded), 'best before' dates simply indicate that the quality might be degraded after that date. So you won't die if you use the eggs.

However, eggs which are 3 weeks beyond their 'best before' date aren't going to be particularly tasty. Crack one open and sniff to see if there's any hint of hydrogen sulphide. (Even if you've never smelt hydrogen sulphide you'll know it when you encounter it. It's one of the foulest smells known to man and, incidentally, an extremely toxic gas). If there's not, you could use the egg in something which will end up being nothing like an egg (e.g. in cakes) but it would probably still be best not to use it for anything actually 'eggy' (such as fried eggs, omelettes, etc).

I'd happily use eggs (in 'non-eggy' things like cakes) for a week or two after the BBE date but three weeks is (to use a horrid American phrase) 'pushing the envelope' a little.

Incidentally, I normally don't like eggs in their 'basic' form (e.g. fried, scrambled, or whatever). But I've occasionally had a traditional English breakfast which has used eggs laid within the past few hours. The eggs then taste completely different (and absolutely wonderful). Any egg more than a few hours old is probably already 'past its best'.

Chris

[ethandron]

i'd definately use them, they'll be fine. i regularly use eggs well past their best before date. the sniff test is good, if it smells bad don't eat it, otherwise it'll be fine.

[filthiestfis]

Thnks for your replies so far. I do think that 3 weeks and counting is pushing it a bit. I actually DONT have any plans for the eggs yet, so its probably best to chuck them out. Just hate throwing food out and had to throw away smoked kippers tonight which were off (3 days past their use by date).

[Buenchico]

Thanks for the reply Ed.

Just a thought: If (in future) you've got kippers in your fridge, nearing their 'use by' date, just put them in your freezer instead. They freeze well and can be quickly defrosted in your microwave. (About 90 seconds on 'defrost').

Chris

PS: I thought that all kippers were smoked. Surely an unsmoked kipper is just a herring? ;-)

[fethers]

Put your eggs in a bowl of fresh cold water - if they are fresh they will sink to the bottom - if not fresh they will float

[fethers]

Put your eggs in a bowl of fresh cold water - if they are fresh they will sink to the bottom - if not fresh they will float -Google egg freshness

[pastafreak]

They don't so much 'float' as tilt upwards...that is with the end up. Otherwise,they roll over if they have gone bad. I am not sure that I would rely on the 'snif' test as everyone's nose is different.

[fethers]

Try this spot for more info http://www.helpwithcooking.com/egg-guide/fresh -egg-test.html

[tiggertan]

Put them in a jug with cold salted water. If they float they've gone bad.

[poltergeist]

throw them at your neighbors pets

[gelda]

If you've got any green space ( fields or woodland ) near you put them there, foxes are bringing up their young at the moment and need all the food they can get, don't cook them though, raw eggs are part of the foxes diet.

[LucyThomas6]

'Smoked kippers', What other sort is there?