Eggs are a staple in many households. They are versatile sources of protein suited for any meal. They could be scrambled, fried, poached, baked, etc. and paired with an assortment of other foods. However, the expiration date on egg cartons isn’t as clear-cut as the dates on other items. There’s an additional code on an egg carton called the Julian date. Once you decode it, you can ensure you are purchasing fresh eggs.
What is the Julian date?
You can find this code on the side of the egg carton, near the sell by date. It looks like a three digit serial number but it’s actually a date. If you are unfamiliar, Julian dates range from 001 to 365, counting every day of the year, one at a time. For example, 001 is January 1st and 365 is December 31.
What does the egg carton code represent?
This code refers to the day the eggs were washed, graded, and loaded into their cartons. Eggs are freshest four to five weeks after being packaged so keep that in mind while shopping. Because the United States Department of Agriculture allows eggs to be sold for up to 30 days after their packaging, you may find cartons that are weeks old on store shelves.
The downsides of “not-so-fresh” eggs
Of course, fresh is best, but is there an issue with older eggs that are still good? Technically no, you can still eat eggs that aren’t rotten, and it’s always a shame to waste food. However, eggs deteriorate over time, and lose moisture and carbon dioxide, which makes the yolks more breakable and the whites runnier. Plus, older eggs pose a greater risk of food-borne illnesses.
The plant code
The Julian date isn’t the only code you may have overlooked while grocery shopping. Next to the date, there’s a code that begins with the letter P. This is the plant code that indicates the location of the packaging. If there’s a recall, this code will inform you if your egg carton is affected.
How to store eggs
After choosing eggs with the latest Julian date and earliest “sell by” or expiration date, ensure you store them properly. Place them in the coldest area of the refrigerator, not on the door, in their original carton. Keep in mind, eggs are generally safe to consume after their “sell by” date, says UNL Foods.
How to check if eggs are good
If you have eggs and you’re not sure if they are safe, you can try the float test. Fill a large cup or small bowl with water and drop an egg into it. Fresh eggs will sink while older eggs will float because of the enlarged air cell inside. If you’re still unsure, crack the egg into a separate bowl and look for unusual appearances or unpleasant smells.
According to Egg Safety Center, when you buy commercially-produced eggs, there are several important factors you should look out for. These include:
- Always choose eggs from a refrigerated case.
- Open the carton to check for dirty and cracked shells.
- Look for the USDA grade shield or mark since they are held to higher standards.
- Buy only as much as you need instead of stocking up.
- For any egg products, ensure the containers that are tightly sealed and unopened.
Recipes to use up expiring eggs
Sometimes we buy more than we need. We could have assumed we were going to bake cookies or make deviled eggs, and for whatever reason, never did. Now you’ve got a bunch of eggs nearing their expiration and you don’t want to waste them. Here are some ideas to try:
- Quiche
- Shakshuka
- Homemade pasta
- Breakfast burritos
- Pound cake
- Crème brûlée
- Strata
- Crepes and crepe cake
- French toast
- Soufflé
- Torte
- Egg muffins
