Checking the freshness of eggs is a crucial practice to ensure their quality and safety for consumption. Fresh eggs have a number of desirable characteristics, including a firm, intact shell, a thick and viscous egg white, and a centered yolk that stands up when the egg is cracked open. Over time, eggs lose their freshness, and these characteristics begin to deteriorate.
There are several simple methods for checking the freshness of eggs. One common method is the float test. In this test, the egg is placed in a bowl or glass of cold water. A fresh egg will sink to the bottom and lay flat on its side. As an egg ages, the air cell inside the egg grows larger, causing the egg to become more buoyant. As a result, older eggs will float or stand upright in the water.