Egg Float Test & Freshness Guide
Check if your eggs are still fresh using the water float test
What did the egg do?
Gently lower the egg into a deep bowl or glass of cold water and select the result below.
If known, helps flag any inconsistencies
Perfect for any use — fried, poached, scrambled
14
days left
(room temp)
How the float test works
As an egg ages, moisture and CO₂ slowly escape through the shell's tiny pores. This causes the air cell at the wide end to grow. A larger air cell makes the egg less dense — eventually buoyant enough to float. A very fresh egg has a tiny air cell and sinks flat; an older egg stands upright as the air cell expands; a floating egg has a large enough air cell to overcome the water's density entirely.
UK eggs vs US eggs
In the UK, eggs are not washed before sale, so the natural protective coating (cuticle or 'bloom') remains intact. This means unwashed UK eggs can safely be stored at room temperature. In the US, eggs are washed and must be refrigerated. If you wash your own hens' eggs, treat them like fridge eggs — once the bloom is removed, bacteria can enter the shell more easily and refrigeration becomes necessary.