Can You Get Sick From Eating Expired Eggs?
You can definitely get sick from eating expired eggs or eggs that have gone bad. If you see anything which indicates than the egg has gone bad then you should throw it away immediately. Eating expired eggs can expose you the risk of getting infections, diarrhea, fever, and vomiting.
Eating expired eggs puts you at risk for a number of diseases that are associated with eating, particularly food poisoning. Some vulnerable populations are at higher risk for salmonella food poisoning if they eat an egg that has been past its use-by date. If an egg has been damaged or infected by bacteria such as Salmonella, eating it can lead to dangerous consequences (3, 4, 5).
By the way Can You Drink Salt Water, if you’re interested in , check out my article on that.
Even if you are unfortunate enough to receive an egg that has bacteria on it, the food becomes safer if you cook it correctly. Thoroughly cooking the egg will eliminate all harmful bacteria; Partial cooking of an egg means some harmful bacteria may remain, causing an illness. Cooking an egg in boiling water for 45 seconds kills the Salmonella that has infected the exterior of the egg, but does not kill any salmonella bacteria inside of the egg.
| Side effects | Shelf life |
| It can cause infection, fever | Boiled egg 2 hours |
| It can cause diarrhea and vomiting | Fried eggs 2 hours |
If you treat and prepare eggs correctly, you may reduce the risk that you will be exposed to any Salmonella-causing organisms (more on this below). While egg farmers provide a safe, clean, and fresh product, eggs can become contaminated with Salmonella. In addition to eating a bad egg, there is also the problem of eggs that are contaminated by Salmonella bacteria. Just as there is a concern about eating expired eggs, the most common issue of eating contaminated or older eggs is getting a Salmonella infection.
The primary risk with eating bad eggs is a salmonella infection, which can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. A bad egg may contain Salmonella type bacteria, and eating such eggs may lead to vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain. The inside of eggs that look fine may contain a germ called Salmonella, which can make you sick, especially if you are eating eggs raw or lightly cooked.
Both the shell of an egg as well as the whites and yolks may become contaminated, however, and improper preparation and/or storage methods increase the likelihood of getting sick. However, like most protein sources, eggs may go bad, increasing your risk of developing food poisoning. Eating expired eggs puts you at risk of food poisoning, so you will want to check the carton before you break open any.
To learn about Can You Eat Cow Brain, check out my article where I cover everything you need to know.
Generally, you can safely eat expired eggs that are around 3-5 weeks after the date of sale, if they were stored and cooked correctly. If eggs are far past the sell-by date on their carton, you may have to evaluate the eggs further before you decide whether or not they are still safe to eat. With appropriate storage, most eggs are still safe to eat beyond 5 weeks, although their quality and freshness are likely to start to decline.
If you store eggs correctly, eggs may actually survive well past their shelf life and remain safe to eat. To keep them from becoming moldy, store eggs in a cooler, where they will stay fresh up to four weeks after they are opened. As long as eggs show no signs of spoilage, they may still be sold after that time and are considered safe for consumption. This means even if you pick up the carton of eggs with a sold-by time stamp, in theory, they could still be safe to eat at least one more week.
The sell-by time will typically be in the range of three to five weeks, but eggs would still be completely safe to eat. You may also want to check your cartons for Sell-By dates, however, according to the Egg Safety Center, egg processors are actually not required to print the expiration dates. To tell whether eggs are safe to eat, check both the sell by date and expiration date stamped onto the eggs themselves.
If eggs are refrigerated, eggs may be safe to eat one or two days after their expiration date. According to the FDA, refrigerated eggs may be good for three to five weeks. Fresh eggs do not last as long, but you should still be able to eat them within three to five weeks after purchasing them, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). It is important to keep store-bought, refrigerated eggs cool after you get them home–below 40degF (4degC)–to keep them safe for consumption, according to FDA.
As long as expired eggs are processed, stored, and cooked correctly, you probably will not notice a difference when eating eggs a few days or weeks after they are due. If eggs are still within a few days to weeks of expiration date, and you have stored them safely in your fridge, chances are that they are not spoiled–although they might have started to decline in quality. It might be unfortunate to discard expired eggs, but if you are unsure, or you suspect that eggs might have gone bad, it is best to avoid putting your health at risk. Even though a carton of eggs has the date on the side stamped with an expiration, you might be wondering whether the eggs will spoil earlier, or may even have survived longer.
If the thought of using an egg that is a little out of date makes you at least the slightest bit nervous, heres a simple test you can perform to find out whether or not your eggs are past their prime.
Yes, that pesky bacteria will be cooked out, but an underperforming egg is still going to be pretty gross and worth throwing away. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, even though it is sinking at the bottom of your bowl, the egg may still be unsafe to eat.
As long as eggs are not infected with bacteria or mold, they may still be safe to eat days or weeks later. Eggs that have been left at room temperature for two months or more should be discarded, because they could be potentially infected with harmful bacteria. Any eggs that are past their prime, which should be refrigerated immediately upon return to the house, also will be good for six months, according to The Happy Chicken Coop.
Eggs are a staple around the world, but there is a world of difference between fresh eggs and those that are past their expiration date. Eating eggs that have been handled improperly or that have expired puts you at high risk of Salmonella-induced food poisoning – that is not a walk in the park.
What should I do if I ate a bad egg?
The symptoms of rotten eggs usually disappear within a few days of first appearing. Try to stay hydrated while you’re unwell by drinking water, ginger ale, or sports drinks that have been diluted. Call your doctor if your immune system is weak, you are very young or old, or both.
How do you check if eggs are still good?
Put your egg(s) into a glass or bowl that has been filled with four inches or less of cold water. Eggs that are really fresh will rest on their sides and sink to the bottom. An egg that stands on its little end at the bottom is still edible, but it is not quite as fresh.
What will happen if you eat expired eggs?
An egg should be thrown out if there within any possibility when it is doubted to be bad. Salmonella infection, which can cause fever, vomiting, and diarrhea, is the most powerful risk associated with consuming rotten eggs.