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An egg carton's expiration date is not as reliable as it seems. Here's how to tell if eggs are fresh.
Chances are you almost always have eggs in your fridge. Whether baked, scrambled or poached, they’re one of the most versatile items on the grocery list. You might think the best way to pick a carton is by checking the grade, size and expiration date—but there’s a secret behind how long eggs can sit out, how to store eggs and a more efficient way to tell how fresh your eggs are.
Interested? Keep reading.
Ranging from 001 to 365, the Julian date represents the day the eggs were packaged. Each code corresponds to a day in the year, so 001 would be Jan. 1 and 365 would represent Dec. 31. Once the eggs are packaged, they’ll keep in your fridge for four to five weeks. Psst:Here’s how long your other grocery staples will last.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, eggs can be sold for up to 30 days after they were packaged. So even if they’re in stock and not expired, they might be weeks old. Eew! (If all this is making you wonder why egg yolks are different colors, we have the answer.)
Continued below.
Chances are you almost always have eggs in your fridge. Whether baked, scrambled or poached, they’re one of the most versatile items on the grocery list. You might think the best way to pick a carton is by checking the grade, size and expiration date—but there’s a secret behind how long eggs can sit out, how to store eggs and a more efficient way to tell how fresh your eggs are.
Interested? Keep reading.
How to decode your egg carton
On the side of your egg carton, right by (or below) the “Sell by” date, you’ll see a three-digit code. No, it’s not an arbitrary serial number; it’s the Julian date, your fail-safe guide to fresh eggs.Ranging from 001 to 365, the Julian date represents the day the eggs were packaged. Each code corresponds to a day in the year, so 001 would be Jan. 1 and 365 would represent Dec. 31. Once the eggs are packaged, they’ll keep in your fridge for four to five weeks. Psst:Here’s how long your other grocery staples will last.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, eggs can be sold for up to 30 days after they were packaged. So even if they’re in stock and not expired, they might be weeks old. Eew! (If all this is making you wonder why egg yolks are different colors, we have the answer.)
So why does it matter?
Continued below.
There's a Secret Code on Your Egg Carton. Here's What It Means.
Grocery shopping will never be the same.