How to check if an egg is spoiled or not. How to distinguish a fresh egg from an old or rotten one

Good afternoon, site visitors and regular readers. Today we will talk about ways to check eggs for freshness - rotten egg or not? Eggs are a source of protein, vitamin A and riboflavin, some nutritionists claim that this product can lower cholesterol levels.

The ingredient is often used in baking, for making batter and scrambled eggs, fried, baked, boiled, or eaten raw. give us the most dietary product!

A rotten or simply spoiled egg that does not yet have a characteristic odor can cause severe food poisoning. Low-quality products are found both on the market and in large supermarkets, so you need to know how to determine the freshness of the purchased product.

A dietary egg - up to 7 days of proper storage - is the freshest to eat.

If the egg is a baking ingredient or just a frying dish, it must be broken into a flat plate before use, and take a closer look.

• In fresh specimens, the yolk looks like a ball or oval around which the protein gathers.

• The transparent liquid has an elastic consistency, sometimes has a greenish or yellowish tint caused by the presence of carbon dioxide. But such a product can be safely eaten.

• The yolk, which has sunk almost to the bottom of the plate, indicates that the expiration date of the egg is coming to an end. It is worth using the ingredient only when the protein is transparent and gathers around the oval base.

• It is necessary to throw away the component if the yolk has literally spread over the plate, although its shell is not damaged, and the protein is more like water with an unpleasant fragrance.

How to check eggs for freshness video

Swimming lessons

How to check eggs for freshness in water? A product that needs to be cooked without breaking can be tested with a bowl of water. There should be a lot of liquid so that the egg can be distinguished: the egg sank to the bottom, or floated to the surface.

Fresh ingredients usually fall like a rock and don't move. Ingredients that are a little over a week old also sit snugly at the bottom of the container, but the blunt end rises slightly.

Eggs aged 2-3 weeks take a vertical position, the sharp end looks down. They are still suitable for consumption, but preferably after careful heat treatment.

A product that has completely floated to the surface of the bowl should be thrown away without regret, because it is definitely spoiled.

This method works because, over time, liquid and carbon dioxide evaporate from the chicken ingredient, but the concentration of oxygen rises, which pushes the egg out of the water.

shake and listen

You can’t test products with water in the store, and in order not to buy a dozen rotten copies, experts advise bringing each one to your ear, after shaking it, and listening.

If nothing is heard, and the hand does not feel how the yolk hits, the component can be taken. But eggs that make a squelching sound should be returned to their place, because they are not suitable for consumption.

Identify by color or smell

Some people claim that a spoiled chicken product has a specific flavor that comes from the shell. But this statement will be true for rotten specimens that are too stale on store shelves.

Others argue that fresh eggs have a matte shell, with an even color without spots and inclusions, while the coating of old ones acquires a bluish tint and becomes shiny.

Light and temperature will reveal the truth

In good light, the product is worth looking at in the sun: if the yolk is clearly visible and floats strictly in the middle, you can safely buy. For rotten components, the yellow filling is closer to the shell, sometimes sticks to it, and is difficult to see.

There are suggestions to try the blunt and sharp end with the tongue: if the first is warmer than the second, the ingredient is fresh. Missing eggs have the same temperature on both sides.

The method is very doubtful, because it is quite difficult to fix the difference without a thermometer. Additionally, there are risks of licking off some kind of bacteria, or even tasting salmonella.

Marking to help

How to check eggs for freshness? The “young” dietary eggs, which are no more than a week old, fall into the category of the highest grade. The first indicates that the product is from 7 to 14 days old, the third indicates that the chicken ingredient will soon become unfit for human consumption.

Sometimes eggs are divided into dietary and table eggs, which can be seen on the blue label. On some varieties, they put the date when they were demolished. Therefore, when buying a product, you need to carefully examine it, and read the corresponding inscriptions.

The only way to test the freshness of a boiled egg is to break the shell, because they pass the water and shake tests. The approximate shelf life of such varieties is about a week, provided that the shell remains intact.

Blood blotches are just pieces of blood that got into the egg from a burst capillary at the time of formation. They are a kind of guarantor of freshness, because over time they dissolve in protein.

How to check if a quail egg is rotten or not

We told you how to check eggs for freshness at home using water and candling. Watch the video, let's just say - disgusting!

Sometimes chicken eggs stay in the refrigerator for quite a long time, and it is already difficult to remember how long they have been there. a week? Month? A few years? In order to protect yourself and your family from poisoning, followed by an ambulance trip to the hospital, it is necessary to check the freshness and suitability of each egg before use. So, How to check the freshness of eggs?

First way:

Take the egg in your hand and shake it, but not too hard. If it is fresh, then there will be almost no shaking inside the shell, otherwise, that is, if the egg has been in your refrigerator for a long time, its internal contents will gurgle inside, and you will feel it.

Second way:

Also in order to check rotten egg or not you can use plain water. Pour some cool water into a saucepan, large glass, or similar, and dip the eggs into it. If they are fresh, they will remain at the bottom in a horizontal position. If they lie in the refrigerator for a week, they will lie in the water at a slight slope. Stale eggs will float to the surface. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that the longer the egg lies, the more air accumulates in it (yes, yes, air passes even through the shell, the eggs are not airtight). Accordingly, stale chicken eggs are pulled to the surface by air. This process is shown in more detail in the figure below.

Third way:

The freshness of an egg can be quite successfully determined externally. The color tone of fresh eggs is even, the shell is clean and even a little shiny. Stale eggs become dull and acquire a gray tint.

The maximum benefit of eggs can only be discussed if they are fresh. After lying in the refrigerator for a month, they lose their nutritional value and become hazardous to health. Once in the body, an expired product causes serious intoxication, which can death. Therefore, it is important to be able to independently determine the degree of freshness of such a product and understand the acceptable terms of its suitability. Further in the article, we will describe in detail what to look for when buying chicken and quail eggs, how long they can be stored and where to do it better.

How to understand if an egg is fresh: chicken and quail

The unique structure of the eggshell allows the inside for a long time keep your beneficial features. But for this, certain storage conditions are important. Otherwise, the inside of the product will begin to dry out, and a foul-smelling talker unsuitable for further use will form.

There are many ways to check the freshness of an egg at home. And for this it is not at all necessary to drag a microscope and the rarest chemical reagents into the kitchen. You can judge the degree of suitability of these products even in the store. Let's get into the details.

Did you know? Today, the world's largest producer of eggs is China. People's Republic. About 160 million pieces of this product are produced there annually. Many experts attribute this to the fact that chicken first appeared in this country. And it happened somewhere in 1400 BC.

At the time of buying

Experts advise against making "blind" purchases. In their opinion, it is important visual assessment goods. Therefore, going to the supermarket or the market for eggs, examine them carefully. Recently demolished specimens will compare favorably with the matte surface of the shell. But those that have already lain for several days will be characterized by a specific glossy sheen. But focusing only on this method of verification is not at all worth it. Experts warn that savvy sellers resort to various tricks in order to successfully sell products. One of these is rubbing or washing each instance.
In order for the purchase not to disappoint with an unpleasantly smelling substance, when choosing an egg tray, compare it with the rest of the range. Ideally, the entire ten should have the same shell color and degree of sheen. If you have a diverse set in front of you, most likely, the seller mixed old and fresh eggs. Smell them. Strongly expired boxes will have a strong unpleasant odor.

Important! The shell of a fresh egg has a specific smell, which is very similar to lime.

It also does not hurt to shake a raw egg. If a distinct chattering is heard inside, the purchase should be abandoned. After all, talkers are not suitable for consumption.

Do not ignore what is written on the product expiration date. By informing you about this, the manufacturer guarantees the freshness of the product, provided that it is stored correctly. Always choose only fresh products and try to use them before the expiration date indicated on the package.

When cooking

Many consumers are not serious about stamps on egg trays and continue to eat expired goods. According to experts, in reality, it retains its suitability for a short time. But before use, its freshness must be double-checked.

This is done in the following ways:

Important! Eggs are a source of salmonellosis, so they need to be boiled for at least 5 minutes in boiling water. Keep in mind that Salmonella bacteria lose their viability at a temperature of +70 °C.

Video: checking eggs for freshness with water

At autopsy

Break the shell and visually assess the condition of the inside. Newly laid specimens will have whites that are viscous and tightly collected, while the yolk will be bulbous. If the testicle lay for a long time, then you will see a liquid spreading protein and a flat yolk.

What is the danger

The stereotype about the exceptional benefits of chicken and quail eggs is clearly rooted in society. But if the rules for their storage were violated, then there is no need to talk about the nutritional value of this protein food and the saturation of the body with vital substances. In this case, as evidenced by medical statistics, we will talk about poisoning and its consequences.

Moreover, wrong cooking eggs, use dirty dishes, as well as infected kitchen utensils, threatens to develop salmonellosis. The bacteria that cause this disease live in the egg white, yolk and on the shell. Their source is the laying hen. And according to outward signs even experts will not be able to recognize infected specimens. Neither the color of the shell, nor the smell, nor other visual features of the product will give this away.

Did you know? The Chinese dye their eggs red every time a newborn is born into the family. According to folk legends, such a ritual guarantees the baby a long and happy life..

When eating expired or contaminated eggs are hazardous to health: homemade mayonnaise, raw sugar-egg mixture (protein or yolk), as well as all dishes that have undergone insufficient heat treatment. It can be fried eggs, poached eggs and even traditional scrambled eggs. Therefore, doctors strongly recommend that you strictly monitor the expiration date of such products and cook them at high temperatures.
Signs of egg intoxication become apparent during the first day after taking poor-quality food.

The eater has:

• vomit;
• nausea,
• weakness;
• pain in the abdomen;
• gastroenteritis developing against the background of the disease (when inflammation of the mucous membranes of the small intestine occurs);
• diarrhea (as a rule, stools are very liquid, resemble rice water in consistency and are characterized by dark green or yellow color);
• increase in body temperature up to 39-40 °;
• bloating;
• signs of colitis resulting from inflammatory processes in the large intestine;
• spasms;
• loss of appetite;
• dysfunction of the central nervous system(manifested with severe poisoning and is expressed by headaches, dizziness, insomnia, lethargy);
• malfunctions of cardio-vascular system(pressure decreases, pulse rate and cardiac rhythm change);
• bacterial infection and sepsis (with such symptoms, the outcome is fatal).

Important! To extend the shelf life of eggs at home, grease their shells pork fat, vegetable oil or vaseline and put in a cold room where the temperature is below +10 ° C. As alternative you can wrap each piece with plain paper and fold the sharp ends down, covering with burlap.

The manifestation of the listed symptoms largely depends on the immunity of the victim. But with any degree of egg poisoning, it is important to protect the body from dehydration.
For this purpose, it is recommended:

• solution of "Rehydron" or "Oralita";
• any sorbents (activated carbon, "Smekta", "Polifepan");
• immunomodulatory drugs (multivitamin complexes, "Methyluracil");
• antibiotics prescribed by a doctor on an individual basis;
• restriction of the use of dairy products, raw vegetables and smoked meats (it is desirable to provide the patient with a sparing diet during this period).

If after a day the disease continues to progress, it is necessary, without wasting time, to seek medical help.

Egg shelf life

How long chicken and quail eggs will be fresh depends largely on their origin and storage conditions:

• If we are talking O industrial production, then the shelf life of such products is limited to 28-30 days;
• but homemade products can retain their nutritional value throughout the quarter;
• if all the requirements for temperature regime and the degree of humidity in the room, then fresh goods will not deteriorate even after a month (this applies to cellars and refrigerators);


• boiled eggs are suitable for 2 weeks (provided that they are hard-boiled and stored in the refrigerator);
• when the boiled product is at room temperature, after 48 hours it can no longer be consumed;
• even in the refrigerator, eggs after soft-boiling deteriorate after 2 days;


• under no circumstances should specimens with a broken shell be stored for a long time (they are recommended to be used on the same day);


• if the shell cracked during the cooking process, such an instance can lie in the refrigerator for 4 days;
• in the case when you have prepared shelled eggs for some purpose, they should be used 3 days after storage in the refrigerator;


• Easter eggs will not deteriorate for 15 days, provided that only natural dyes were used for them;


• and here are the Easter eggs that were dyed chemicals, may be suitable for no more than 17 days;


• Easter specimens in thermal film must be eaten within 3 days.

Did you know? If you hold an ordinary fresh egg for several days in 9% table vinegar, its shell will harden so much that it will not break even from hard hit about gender.

Where and how best to store eggs

To store such products, most consumers prefer a compartment in the refrigerator door. But experts on this occasion express their indignation, which is associated with a sharp drop in temperature. Under such conditions, eggs quickly lose their nutritional value and do not represent any gastronomic value.

Experienced housewives advise choosing a place where it is always cold for this kind of product. Under no circumstances should you put the tray in the freezer.

In a refrigerator

Be sure each piece must be fixed in a stable position with the sharp end down. It is important that the eggs do not touch. It is better to leave them in a special stand or tray, spreading them out into cells. Do not forget to close the container, because the eggshell is very sensitive to neighboring odors. From the refrigerator, she will absorb everything nearby.
Make sure that the temperature in the chamber is at the level +2...+4 °C. Never wash shells before storing. Such manipulations shorten the shelf life.

If you've forgotten how long eggs keep in your fridge, you can run a few simple freshness tests:

shaking

If you hear "squishy" sounds when shaking, then the air chamber has already reached big size and the protein became watery. The yolk "tumbles" in the egg if it is not too fresh.

breaking up

Crack an egg onto a plate.

Fresh eggs have a high bulging yolk holding a ring of albumen. If the yolk is flat and the watery white is spreading on the plate, the egg is not particularly fresh, it needs to be quickly processed in the kitchen.

Immersion in water

Place the egg in a tall glass of water. Very fresh eggs will remain at the bottom. Week-old eggs will be angled flat end up. If the egg floats on the surface of the water, then it is already at least three weeks old. The air chamber of this egg has reached such a size that the egg floats.

translucence

Hold the egg, the freshness of which you doubt, to a bright light source so that the light falls from behind. Fresh raw eggs let in light.

No matter how you turn the egg, the yolk is always centered. In older eggs, the yolk begins to "wander".

And finally some more interesting facts

Do brown hens lay brown eggs?

But no! The color of a hen's plumage has nothing to do with the color of the eggs. The color of the egg shell depends only on the genes of the chicken.

Do brown eggs taste better?

And again you are on the wrong track! The taste of eggs is directly dependent on the feed and the health of the chicken. At equal conditions differences in taste and nutritional value of white and brown eggs No.

Every week you bring home huge packages with a variety of products presented on the shelves of markets and supermarkets. On the one hand, this makes your life much easier, and on the other hand, it complicates it, because not everyone can constantly keep in mind the expiration date of all this gastronomic variety. Remember how often you opened the refrigerator door and wondered: “How long have these products been there?” We are sure that this problem is familiar to many people firsthand. This is especially true for eggs. Despite the fact that this is a very delicate product, its appearance does not change over time, and therefore it is almost impossible to determine the freshness of an egg “by eye”. Of course, it's no secret to anyone that you can break an egg and try to determine its freshness by smell, but there are other ways. Here are some ways to check the freshness of eggs:

1. Submerge the eggs in water

Place the eggs in a deep bowl of cold water. If they remain lying on the bottom in a horizontal position, then they are very fresh. Eggs, slightly raised with an obtuse angle upwards, are no longer the first freshness, but can still be used in the preparation of hot dishes. Eggs that float to the surface are spoiled and should not be eaten! We recommend that you get rid of them as soon as possible.

Eggs float to the surface because, over time, the moisture inside evaporates through the shell and the resulting "free" space is replaced by air. The more air inside the egg, the higher it floats. And, of course, the older it is.

2. Check the white and yolk

Break one of the eggs and pay attention to the condition of the yolk and protein. If the yolk is convex, and the protein is viscous and tightly gathered around the yolk, the egg is very fresh. However, if the yolk is flat and the protein is liquid, this is a sign of a stale egg.

Cause: over time, protein chains (different substances associated with each other) break down, in connection with this, in an old egg, the yolk and protein do not adhere tightly together.

3. Shake the egg

If, when shaking, you do not hear extraneous sounds, then you can safely eat the egg - it is fresh. If at the same time bursts or squelching are heard, it means that air has got inside the egg and expanded the natural air bubble. This egg is not to be eaten.

4. Pay attention to the expiration date

On the packaging of eggs there is always information about the expiration date, which should be paid close attention. The supplier guarantees that the product will remain fresh if the storage rules are followed. As a rule, eggs can be eaten for some time after the expiration date, but before that it is strongly recommended to check their freshness by the methods described above.

When eating eggs, special attention must be paid to hygiene. Pay attention to the following recommendations:

• Buy only fresh eggs and use them before the expiration date.
• Store eggs in the refrigerator - at temperatures below 6 ° C, Salmonella bacteria do not multiply. At room temperature, their number increases. Please note that subsequent cooling will not save the situation.
• When cooking with raw eggs, use only very fresh eggs.
• Boil the eggs for at least 5 minutes in boiling water.
• If the eggs have expired, then for some time they can still be eaten, but only if carefully prepared. Salmonella bacteria are killed at 70°C.
• If the shell of the egg is damaged, then it must be cooked immediately. It is no longer possible to store such a product.

Where is the best place to store eggs in a Liebherr refrigerator?

Eggs can be stored in the refrigerator for a maximum of 15 days. In the zone of freshness

We buy eggs in the market or in the supermarket. Unfortunately, it is impossible to check this product for freshness right at the counter, you have to trust the stickers with the expiration date. And only at home you can understand whether fresh eggs were bought or not.

It is simply impossible to determine the freshness of eggs, which is called “by eye”. This product can be kept for a long time at room temperature without any external manifestations imperceptibly. Often, buyers ask the seller how fresh the eggs are and the answer is always the same: “Fresh eggs, take them.” You can check whether the egg is really fresh by breaking it and understanding the freshness by its characteristic smell. If it is repulsive, then the egg is spoiled. But breaking eggs all in a row is not included in our plans, so we will check the freshness of eggs in other ways.

How to check the freshness of eggs in water

Take a large container, such as a saucepan. It needs to be poured cold water straight from the tap (no more than 10 cm), and then place the eggs in it. You can take turns in order not to get confused and determine the freshness of each product sequentially.

How to understand the freshness of eggs:

• If the eggs fell to the bottom and do not float to the top, then you are lucky - you bought the eggs fresh, fresh.
• If you see that the eggs are slightly raised with a blunt tip up, then this means that the eggs are no longer very fresh. They can still be used, but not fresh, but to cook hot dishes (pastries, scrambled eggs, scrambled eggs).
• If the eggs float, then they are definitely spoiled and such a product is generally forbidden to be eaten. These eggs must be discarded immediately. Do you know why it happens that the egg floats to the surface in the water? Every day the moisture gradually evaporates and this space fills with air. The older the product, the more air it contains and therefore the eggs will float.

There is also a similar way to check eggs, you need to pour salt into the water to make the solution concentrated. You also need to lower the eggs and see: if they lie at the bottom, then the “age” of such a product is approximately from 2 to 7 days. If the egg rises with a blunt end, and the sharp one remains “glued” to the bottom, then such a product is approximately 10 days old. If the eggs float in a saline solution, then such eggs are already about 2 weeks old. If the eggs float to the surface of the salt solution and “stick out” of it, then such eggs are forbidden to be eaten, they are not fresh.

Other Ways to Check Eggs for Freshness

An egg can be broken if one of the eggs tested in water floats up, and then examine the protein and yolk. These components look like this:

• if the protein is liquid, and the yolk has become flat, then the egg is not fresh;
• if the protein is dense and viscous, and the yolk is convex, then the egg is fresh.

Another way to check eggs for freshness: you just need to shake the egg, if you didn’t hear anything, then the eggs can be safely eaten if you hear a “squish” or splash, as well as any other sound, this means that there is air inside, which means This egg is no longer fresh and should not be eaten.

About the expiration date and rules for storing eggs

The manufacturer always indicates the expiration date of the product on the packaging. If the eggs were stored correctly, in compliance with all the rules, then they will be fresh.

What to look for when buying eggs:

• You need to buy fresh eggs, so pay attention to the expiration date of the product. If expired, don't risk it.
• You need to store the eggs in a cold place - in the refrigerator at a temperature not higher than +6 o C. If you keep the eggs at home on the table, they will deteriorate faster.
• Boil the eggs for at least 5 minutes.
• If the expiration date has expired, then these eggs can be eaten, but only on condition that the eggs were stored in the refrigerator and you need to cook such a product with enough high temperature(from +70 o C).
• If you see that the egg has burst, then it is forbidden to store it. It is desirable to prepare something from such a product.

How to find out if an egg is spoiled immediately after purchase or at home? Mikhail

The chicken egg is an important and valuable product of the human diet. Housewives love to use it as the main component of various dishes. And they wish that this product was always fresh and of good quality.

Chicken eggs are a popular food product that satisfies the feeling of hunger well, because it has an increased calorie content. One eaten a day becomes an indispensable source of calcium, protein, iron, vitamins of groups B, E, A, and the most valuable trace elements.

Eggs can be checked for freshness immediately after purchase, or a simple test at home before use, after they have been in the refrigerator for a while. To determine whether you are buying fresh eggs in the market or in a store, you must first carefully examine the surface of the shell. Recently laid chicken eggs will have a matte, non-shiny surface.

Older specimens have a glossier and smoother surface. The method is not always relevant, since dishonest sellers can sometimes wash the product before selling, which has a positive effect on the state of its appearance.

In case of difference, the seller could mix fresh and older copies. Another method is shaking the eggs. It is possible to check their condition in this way when buying in order to determine the "talker" - a product that is no longer suitable for consumption. Because if the specimen has been lying for a long time, its insides have dried up and hang out inside the shell.

How to check at home

Sometimes eggs are stored in the refrigerator for a long time. Before preparing any dish, the hostess needs to determine the freshness of the eggs. So it’s really safe to protect your health and loved ones so that dangerous food poisoning does not become the result of using a stale product.

We will not describe the complex methods of how to check the degree of lying eggs, which are associated with the use of ultraviolet radiation or temperature measurements. Let's dwell on the simplest and most affordable ways.

water way

How to check the freshness of eggs with ordinary water? To do this, place them in a container with liquid, poured about 10 cm, and observe. Normal product will quickly go under the water and stay at the bottom. One that has been stored for a week or more will float to the surface with a blunt end. In a situation where it drifts easily on the surface, you can be sure that it is at least 2 weeks old.

When the egg is on the surface, like a fishing rod float, it is advised to get rid of it. He must have been at least a month old. In addition to plain water, it is permissible to use a saline solution. To prepare it at home, it is enough to dissolve a tablespoon of salt in 500 ml of water. There is no need to strictly observe the proportions, since it has been practically proven that old eggs will be on the surface in the shortest possible time, even if they are immersed in a liquid without salt.

It is easy to explain - under the shell there is a shell of two layers, capable of transmitting light, liquid and air. In the blunt part of the testicle there is a fugue - an empty air particle. It is necessary for the embryo during development - through it the process of gas exchange occurs. The size of the fugue increases in proportion to the shelf life of the product.

Bacteria that provoke decay also pass through this shell. After the hen lays the egg, it ceases to be sterile. The smell of a rotten product is also specific - it is the aroma of hydrogen sulfide. Eggs float to the surface, because the gases that accumulate in spoiled specimens have a lower density.

shaking

In order to determine the freshness of the eggs in the following way, each of them is advised to first squeeze so that you can then feel any vibrational movements inside. Then it is gently shaken so as not to damage the shell. An unspoiled egg will not give any unusual sensations, you will not feel vibrations inside, because it is complete.

If, when squeezed tightly in your hand and shaken, something inside the egg dangles and rolls, you can be sure that such a product is unsuitable for eating. He is also popularly called a "talker", because it creates the feeling that something is hanging inside him. Shaking has one significant disadvantage- it does not make it possible to know the shelf life of the egg and the specific degree of its suitability for consumption. It only allows you to select those specimens that are better to refuse to use for food.

translucence

You can check the suitability of an egg by shining it with a source with a power of about 100 watts. The transillumination method allows you to see the pugu located at the blunt end. If it is not there, the product is unspoiled. The puge does not tend to appear immediately; time must pass during which moisture evaporates, and the contents under the shell thicken. In a dietary type of product, the scare should not be more than 4 mm, and in a regular dining room - 8 - 9 mm.

A dietary specimen should have a uniform and dense yolk in consistency. When the product is translucent, the yolk should be visible in the center of each instance. In a table product, the yolk may be located somewhat to the side. But if it is close to the surface of the shell, it is better not to use such an egg for eating. When examining the product, you can sometimes see bloody inclusions.

If they are very small, then they are considered quite normal. If the drops of blood form a ring, set aside such a product, it is unusable. If blood got inside during the formation of the product, then the protein will have a pinkish tint, and the yolk will be orange-red. If dark spots are clearly visible when translucent, then pathogenic microbes began to actively multiply under the shell.

Video "Checking the freshness of eggs"

This video shows an easy way to test chicken eggs for freshness at home.

When buying chicken, you need to be able to choose it correctly, because not only how tasty the dish will turn out (for example, chicken cooked in air grill), but also the health of you and your loved ones depends on the quality of the product. Agree, it is not very pleasant to be poisoned by stale meat.

How to determine the freshness of a chicken

Therefore, every hostess, first of all, should know How to determine the freshness of a chicken. This will be discussed in this article.

Signs of stale chicken

1. Smell. This is the most important and basic criterion for determining freshness. Always trust your sense of smell and it won't let you down. Smell the chicken and determine if you smell sweet-sweet, sour, or putrid. If the chicken is already expired and has begun to deteriorate, it will smell of dampness and mold, but if it frankly smells of rot, then it’s really bad - such a chicken only has a place in a trash can.

2. Color. The chicken that has already begun to deteriorate becomes grayish or grayish-green in color. Small purple spots can often be found near the bird's anus. Remember that in fresh, high-quality chicken, the meat always has a delicate light pink color, and the skin may be slightly moist, with a yellowish tint. You can easily figure out what to eat chicken with if it is initially fresh and healthy.

3. Skin surface. Fresh chicken should be smooth and firm to the touch. If you want to check the freshness of the meat, then press it lightly so that a small indentation forms. If the meat quickly returned to its original state, and the dent disappeared, then you have fresh chicken in front of you. Chicken that has expired or is nearing its expiration date has loose meat, and the dent you made will remain on the surface, and such chicken is unpleasant, sticky and slimy to the touch.

How to choose a quality product

The chicken should be not only fresh, but also of high quality, not treated with third-party chemicals and not old. Try not to buy frozen chicken, as more often than not, manufacturers or sellers give it a "water injection", that is, they simply pump water into it from a syringe. As a result, the weight of the chicken increases by up to 40%. When defrosting such a product, you will find that the actual weight of the meat is much less, moreover, such a chicken is practically devoid of nutrients.

When buying a whole carcass, pay attention to the bird's beak - it should be dry, elastic and slightly glossy. Oral cavity should be slightly shiny Pink colour And have no unpleasant odor.

You can find out whether young or old chicken is sold to you by paws. In a young bird, they are soft, whitish in color with veins and small scales. The paws of an old chicken are distinguished by roughness, a yellow tint and large scales. Also, age can be determined by the brisket. In a young individual, the tip of the sternum is cartilaginous and easily bendable, as it has not yet ossified.

Avoid purchasing chicken that has a strong chlorine smell, as it is likely past its expiration date. The fact is that manufacturers often treat chicken carcasses with chlorine (by law, the allowable amount of chlorine should be no more than 0.004%) to increase the shelf life. If the carcass has a pronounced smell of this chemical, which means that manufacturers have added more chlorine than usual in order for the shelf life to be as long as possible. As you understand, such a chicken cannot be eaten.

When going shopping and intending to buy poultry meat, always remember how to determine the freshness of the chicken in order to buy a really good product. Feel free to inspect and feel the chicken in the store, because your health depends on how good the product is.

Eggs are the basis for preparing various dishes, which every hostess knows about. In addition, they provide the body with many nutrients. But to get such an effect, you need to use only fresh products. IN otherwise can cause serious harm to health. To protect yourself from negative consequences, you need to figure out how to check the freshness of eggs before buying and at home.

What are the dangers of stale and rotten eggs

The danger of such products lies in the likelihood of salmonella infection, which provokes food poisoning and the development of salmonellosis. This disease is quite dangerous and in the absence of timely treatment can lead to death. But this only applies to chicken eggs. Quails lay at a temperature of 40 ̊С, and in these conditions the bacteria that cause salmonellosis do not survive.

And here next danger characteristic of both types of eggs, since, regardless of origin, they are a source of allergens. But if at the dietary stage (up to 7 days after demolition) the likelihood of an undesirable reaction of the body is minimal, then as the shelf life increases, it increases.

Important! Stale eggs often provoke allergic reactions.

How long does the product stay fresh?

For better storage eggs should be provided with certain conditions

Only fresh products can be useful for our body. To protect yourself from possible negative consequences, you should understand the optimal shelf life of eggs.

Table: terms and conditions for storing eggs at home

Checking freshness in the store

In a store or market, you can check the external data and sound

You can determine the degree of freshness of eggs in a store or market by visual signs, smell and sound. Start by inspecting the shell: in a fresh product, it has a rough and matte surface. This applies to both chicken and quail eggs. Spoiled ones will have a noticeable shine.

Important! The presence of cracks or other damage on the surface is unacceptable.

Next, take the egg in your hand and shake it. You should not hear any sounds while doing this. If the egg gurgles, you should refrain from acquiring it. The shell of a fresh product has an odor reminiscent of lime. If it is missing, it is likely that the eggs have been stored for quite a long time. Their shell intensively absorbs the odors of the surrounding products.

Important! If the smell of hydrogen sulfide emanates from the product, this indicates the process of protein decay, that is, the egg is already rotten.

When available in the store electronic scales the suitability of the product for consumption can be determined by weight. Mass of fresh chicken eggs ranges from 35 to 75 g depending on the category, quail - 12 g. More low rates weights testify to their depravity.

Eggs that are too light in weight are spoiled

You can also check using a special device - an ovoscope, which is designed to translucent eggs. The location of the yolk in the center indicates the freshness of the product. If there are dark areas near the protein, this indicates that the egg has been lying for a week or two, but at the same time it is suitable for consumption. Spoiled products do not shine through at all.

Using an ovoscope will give the most accurate result.

Home methods for determining suitability

There are several ways to ensure the freshness of products at home. They are suitable for both quail and chicken eggs.

into the light

1. Hold the egg up to a 100 watt or more lamp and examine it. If you notice an air gap between the shell and the film located under it, then the product is not quite fresh. The allowable size of the pug (this is the name of this formation) is 9 mm and 4 mm (for chicken and quail eggs, respectively). If the layer is more than these indicators, they should not be used.
2. Note also the presence of drops of blood. Point and mobile formations are harmless, they occur when the chicken oviduct is damaged. But if you see a blood ring, which is circulatory system dead fetus, the product cannot be used.
3. The multiplication of microorganisms leads to the formation of dark spots. They can also be detected by translucent eggs. The use of such products is permissible after heat treatment. But it is better not to risk and throw away these eggs.
4. If you have an ultraviolet lamp at home, try it in action. Enlighten the product and carefully examine the color of the contents. At fresh chicken and quail egg should be a rich red hue, while the spoiled one should be lavender or gray.

We use water

A spoiled egg will rise up

To check with the following method, you will need a glass, which must be filled with water to a level of at least 10 cm. A deep bowl is also suitable. Dip the egg into the container and watch its position. If it sinks to the bottom, then the product is fresh, and if it floats, it is unusable.

Important! A fresh quail egg will sink to the bottom, while lying sideways.

A chicken egg with an expiration date will sink to the bottom with one end, and the other will be located on top. It must be consumed in the near future and only in boiled form or used for baking.

Important! Some housewives add salt to the water, being of the opinion that such a solution will provide a more accurate result. But this method is not very efficient.

Video: water test master class

Visual inspection of content

Crack the egg onto a flat plate. Without fear, you can use a product with a convex round yolk and protein that retains its shape. A spoiled egg begins to spread.

If the yolk has acquired a bright orange color, blood has got into it at the formation stage. Do not refuse such eggs: after heat treatment, they become safe. They are used to make pancakes, pancakes, cutlets.

Important! In a spoiled egg, the protein becomes liquid, and the yolk becomes flat.

On the left is a fresh egg (thick protein and convex yolk), and on the right is a stale one (because it has no shape and spreads)

Alternative ways

Pay attention to the labeling. If the eggs contain the date of its application, they are classified as dietary, that is, they were laid no more than 7 days ago. The absence of this information indicates that the product belongs to the table type. These are eggs that are already stored for 7-25 days.

Important! Another way is to check by determining the temperature of the egg using the tongue. The product is applied alternately with a sharp and blunt end. The spoilage of the egg is indicated by the same temperature at both ends. In a fresh product, the sharp edge is colder than the dull one. But this method cannot be called reliably effective.

What to do if already welded

Fresh eggs after cooking smell good and are difficult to peel.

Determining how fresh a boiled egg is is also quite simple:

1. It needs to be cleaned first . The shell is removed from a fresh egg with difficulty, it is easily separated from a stale product.
2. Then cut it. The presence on the yolk of dark blue or green spots is a sign that the egg is not fresh.
3. Also here you can apply the method that is used to raw eggs and sniff them. If there is a smell of hydrogen sulfide, the use of such a product in food must be discarded.

Video: how to avoid buying a spoiled quail egg

Compliance with simple recommendations will help to avoid using a stale product. To eliminate the possibility of harmful bacteria in food, be sure to wash the egg before using it. This advice is especially relevant if there are remains of blood, feathers or droppings on the surface of the shell. And in the process of preparing the dish, first break the product into a plate and make sure that there are no impurities and unwanted odors.