Eggs that float-What does it mean?

[heronz]

My friend says that is how you know they have salmonella but then somebody else told me it just means they are old,stale,outdated.
Anybody know?

[Vampyra]

An egg that floats means it has gone bad and should be thrown away. When I collect my eggs from the barn and they are full of poo I soak them in water for a couple minutes and they always sink to the bottom of the bowl.

Vamp

[BarbL]

Had this saved from last fall and the kids science fair. They did another experiment but..

Here's why old eggs float:.....

Egg shells may seem pretty solid, but they are in fact slightly porous. Old eggs float in fresh cold water because of a large air cell that forms as the egg cools after being laid. As the egg ages, air enters the egg and the air cell becomes larger and this acts as a buoyancy aid.

Generally, fresh eggs will lie on the bottom of the bowl of water. Eggs that tilt so that the large end is up are older, and eggs that float are rotten. The tilting is caused by air pockets in the eggs that increase in size over time as fluid evaporates through the porous shell and oxygen and gases filter in. The older an egg gets the more gas builds up inside it. More gas = more floating!

Carefully lower your eggs into fresh cold water (do not use salted water) using a spoon:

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If the egg stay at the bottom - it is fresh.
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If the egg is at an angle on the bottom - it is still fresh and good to eat.
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If the egg stands on its pointed end at the bottom - it is still safe to eat but best used for baking and making hard-cooked eggs.
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If the egg float - they're stale and best discarded.

The final test: To make sure the egg is not spoiled, break it into a clean bowl and check to make sure it doesn't have a bad odor or appearance.

[Vampyra]

Great explanation Barb!

Vamp

[JamesC]

tbcross:
That explanation is good except for two things:
As fluid evaporates from the egg, the vaccum pulls air in to replace it. The is no gas drawn into the egg. If there is gas inside the egg, it was generated there by decomposition.
Eggs that float are not necessarily rotten or bad, they're usually just old and a lot of fuid has been replace by air. That's what makes them float. If they're rotten you'll know by the smell and sometimes they'll start to leak. However, if an egg floats it should be discarded - if they don't smell can be boiled and fed back to the chickens.

James

[BarbL]

It's actually not mine, just something that I had found on a science site...But in case they use it this year will ammend it so it's right, you wouldn't believe the big deal the science fair at this little school is! Wouldn't want it to be wrong. Some of these kids start their projects a year ahead! Of course my 2 always put it off till the last minute. This year Tiff turned one potato into mush and kept another preserved for a week both sitting out in the classroom using water and salt. Kelsey made a polymer (I think that's right) from corn starch and glue that bounced. Very interesting and very messy! LOL

[Chester]

if it stinks when you crack it, well then it really is bad

[rulintheroost]

I'm sure that is why we keep chickens..So we know exactly how old our eggs are..Who knows how old the ones from
the store are

[TheGoodEgg]

Good information - Word to the wise - if you think it might possibly be a "bad" egg - get it out of the house ASAP. You would be amazed at the amount of stink that can come from something so small.

I just love knowing how old my eggs are - and where they came from, what they were raised on and collecting them myself. I think I will always have chickens now. Love my girls.

[moorlander]

My policy would always be - if it floats, give it the heave-ho. All the produce of our girls is precious as they work hard for it - BUT - floating eggs mean big air sacks inside and big air sacks mean too old or possibly dodgy for other reasons.

Looking again at threads above - noticed idea of feeding back to hens. Not a policy I would endorse. No chicken products - meat or eggs ever get near my hens, if only if out of respect!