Other than light vandalism
By Caroline Lange Updated February 13, 2018
EC: Trump’s USDA Wants to Make “Organic” Eggs Less Organic
Credit: Photo by Mirjana Ristic via Getty Images
It seems contrary to most cooking advice, which typically urges freshness, freshness at any expense. But there are times when you actually want something that’s been sitting around for a spell. Cheeses and wines get better with age, of course, and eggs become more versatile. That’s because older eggs—eggs you’ve had for at least three or four days—are better for boiling than fresh eggs. Why’s that? It doesn’t have anything to do with flavor, but with form. As an egg ages, it begins to change chemically in ways that will make the eggs much, much easier to peel. It will be less likely for shells to cling stubbornly to the cooked whites, and thus less likely to finish the job with a lumpy egg missing chunks of white where you desperately tried to rid the thing of its shell.
This all has to do with pH: As soon as an egg is laid, its pH of about 8.0 begins to change, slowly increasing, making it more alkaline. To hear the ever-brilliant author Harold McGee tell it in his classic On Food and Cooking, the fresher an egg is, “the inner membrane tends to adhere to the albumen”—that’s the egg white—”whereas… after three days of refrigeration, around 9.2, the problem no longer exists.” That is, an older egg has a less sticky, less clingy membrane between the shell and the egg white, and the shell will release its contents much more happily.
What’s more, as the egg ages, it actually loses moisture, meaning that there’s more space between the white the shell. This, of course, makes for even easier peeling.
A final bit of insurance: Give just-boiled eggs an ice water bath as soon as they emerge from the pot, cracking them slightly before putting them in the bowl. The cold water will make the hot egg pull away from its shell, and the water will seep through the crack in the shell and wiggle its way between the shell and the white. Ta-da! Perfect boiled eggs—hard- or soft-cooked.
So, save your freshest eggs for frying (one more reason: the yolks of more alkaline eggs are more prone to breaking as soon as they hit the pan) and put your older eggs towards egg salad, deviled eggs, and the like.
Fill a pot with enough water to cover an (old) egg by an inch, and bring to a boil. When the surface is rolling, use a spoon to gently lower an egg (cold and straight from the refrigerator) into the water. Cook exactly 5 minutes for a set white and runny yolk, 7 minutes for a firmer white and a creamy, jammy yolk, and 9 minutes for a fully set yolk. Prepare an ice bath while the eggs boil. Drain the eggs from the pot and crack them lightly against the countertop before slipping them into the ice water. Let sit in the water at least a minute, then peel.
FAQs
Create Your Own Compost
They are rich in nutrients and create easy, thick compost. Make sure to crush up the shells to a fine grain. The smaller they are, the faster your compost will be made. Spread the shells all throughout your garden beds or planters and watch your sprouting seeds stand tall this summer.
What's the best thing to do with old eggs? ›
Create Your Own Compost
They are rich in nutrients and create easy, thick compost. Make sure to crush up the shells to a fine grain. The smaller they are, the faster your compost will be made. Spread the shells all throughout your garden beds or planters and watch your sprouting seeds stand tall this summer.
How to use up old eggs? ›
What to do with a bunch of eggs about to expire? Freeze them, use them in recipes, hard boil them for quick snacks or lunches, pickle them.
Can you use expired eggs for anything? ›
If you're baking, older eggs are fine to use, unless you're whipping egg whites for volume for meringues, macarons, or soufflés; that's when a fresher egg—and “tight” vs. runny whites—are key, Makuch says. Older eggs are also good for scrambling, hard-boiling, or deviling, Makuch says.
What to do with old eggs that float? ›
An egg can float in water when its air cell has enlarged sufficiently to keep it buoyant. This means the egg is old, but it may be perfectly safe to use. Crack the egg into a bowl and examine it for an off-odor or unusable appearance before deciding to use or discard it.
Should I throw out old eggs? ›
Look closely at the eggshell. If the shell has a slimy or powdery texture and is cracked, or discolored, it is best to throw it out, as these may be signs of bacteria growth. Eggs that are cracked are exposed to bacteria and are dangerous to consume if they sit for a long time after being cracked.
What to make with out of date eggs? ›
Any eggs that float are too old to use. If they stand on one end, use them RIGHT AWAY! They may be eaten as scrambled eggs or omelettes, but aren't really attractive fried or poached. They can definitely be used for baking.
What are older eggs best for? ›
Slightly older eggs are better for meringues. They're also easier to separate, and easier to peel when hard-boiled. If you're not sure how old your egg is, lower it into a glass of water.
What do you do with eggs after expiry date? ›
Can you eat eggs after their “best before” date? If you keep your eggs in the fridge, you can eat them up to three weeks after the use by date. ... Another way to check if they're still good is to drop them in a bowl of water, a fresh egg will sink and a bad one will float.
Can I use old eggs for baking? ›
But while older eggs, even those past the date on the carton, may suffer from diminished quality (smell and taste not so great), they are OK to eat or use in baking.
Expired eggs can be used in your garden as a natural fertilizer. To do so, the expert suggests breaking the eggs into small pieces before mixing them with soil. However, you should let the mixture sit for a few days before adding it to your garden.
What to do with a bunch of eggs about to expire? ›
Even though refrigerated eggs stay fresh for several weeks beyond their sell-by or expiration date, they don't last forever. So use the surplus eggs for something practical, like whipping up a drool-worthy frittata for your next breakfast or baking a cake for your upcoming neighborhood potluck.
Can you put eggs in your garden? ›
Many gardeners use eggs in the garden to boost soil nutrients. Try putting eggshells in your compost. You can also plant eggshells or a whole egg in the hole before planting tomato plants.
Can you use eggs that are 10 days old? ›
Eggs may be refrigerated three to five weeks from the day they are placed in the refrigerator. The "Sell-By" date will usually expire during that length of time, but the eggs will be perfectly safe to use.
What to do when eggs go bad? ›
If you open up the carton to find that one of the eggshells has cracked, it's best to discard that egg. Cracks in an eggshell—however small—open up an avenue for bacteria to get inside the egg, accelerating the process of spoilage. Here's the golden rule: When in doubt, toss the maybe-rotten egg out.
Are older eggs better for boiling? ›
Are older eggs better for hard-boiling? It's widely said that older eggs are easier to peel after being hard boiled, but using less-than-fresh eggs comes with other problems. You can use older eggs for hard-boiling, but they may end up misshapen due to the air pocket inside the egg increasing with age.
