# Is the egg "float test" reliable? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 2, 2015, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-egg-float-test-reliable/708755 "2015-01-02T08:50:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-egg-float-test-reliable/708755/1 "2015-01-02T08:50:54Z")
I have a carton of eggs I bought not long before Thanksgiving. I’m in need of eggs again, and would obviously love to not waste the ones I haves if they’re still good. So I tried what the Internet suggested and dropped each one of the remainder into a bowl of cold water. Only one of the 11 floated to the top; the rest sank and stayed sunk. Should this be a pretty good indication that I can use them in my recipes? And it’ll be pretty evident if I’m wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-egg-float-test-reliable/708755/2 "2015-01-02T09:02:09Z")
It’s worked for me on the last two cartons of eggs I bought. I only tried a couple from each carton; I mean they’re all supposed to be of the same vintage. I think the last batch had them submersed but standing on end, which apparently means they’re close to expiring. I had no taste issues with them. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-egg-float-test-reliable/708755/3 "2015-01-02T11:22:37Z")
It is not evidence that they are good or bad, but a measure of their age and the size of the air pocket. Visual or smell evidence is the trump. Although I normally toss floaters. BTW they can also partially float in the middle of the water column and aren’t completely floaters. Use a deep glass. Also: bigendian for life! Lilliput must fall! ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-egg-float-test-reliable/708755/4 "2015-01-02T15:34:13Z")
I cooked 4 eggs a couple days ago, all I had on hand, and one floated. I put it aside to check it out, and it looked and smelled fine, so I used it in my recipe. So far I am alive and well. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-egg-float-test-reliable/708755/5 "2015-01-02T15:45:10Z")
The float test is an indication that some of the water has evaporated, as the shell is permeable, not that there’s a gas buildup (presumably from bacteria) in the egg. Edit: So, they’re probably not the freshest eggs, but whether or not that affects the taste is another question. Personally, I can’t tell. Also, anecdotally, I’ve never had a floater that smelled bad, or that I thought was rotten. ---
**Author:** ![Airk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Airk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airk)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-egg-float-test-reliable/708755/6 "2015-01-02T16:31:21Z")
Eggs last bloody well forever in the fridge. If you’re concerned, crack each one into a bowl and see if it smells before you use it. I wouldn’t bother with the float test. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-egg-float-test-reliable/708755/7 "2015-01-02T19:14:05Z")
Oh, and I shoved the eggs right back into the carton and right back into the fridge without drying them off, since I don’t need them until tonight. Perhaps the wrong thing to do, but if so, there are always plenty of places to buy eggs. Though it sounds like it’s never subtle when you shouldn’t use one…?