Question of the Day

How Do You Know If Eggs Are Fresh? [Video]

Instead of relying on questionable kitchen lore, there is a surefire method to know the age of your eggs.
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Published Sept. 17, 2018.

The age of an egg might not matter when you’re frying or scrambling, but we’ve found that it’s key when preparing our recipe for poached eggs. So just how do you determine the age of an egg? Do you submerge it in water and wait for it to float, which indicates it’s too old? Do you set it on a counter and let the way it rests tell you how fresh it is? Instead of relying on questionable kitchen lore, Cook’s Illustrated’s editor in chief Dan Souza and senior editor Lan Lam have a surefire method to know the age of your eggs.

Key Equipment for Cooking Eggs

OXO Good Grips Non-Stick 12-inch Open Frypan

This pan came slick and stayed that way. It cooked and released eggs and other foods perfectly, thanks to its darker finish and excellent nonstick coating.
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OXO Good Grips 11" Balloon Whisk

With an ergonomic Santoprene rubber handle and a balanced, lightweight feel, this whisk was like an extension of a hand.
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Cuisinart Stainless Steel Slotted Spoon

This nearly perfect spoon had a long, hollow handle that felt like it was molded to fit our palms; its wide, shallow, thin bowl made it a breeze to scoop up poached eggs.
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What’s your favorite way to prepare eggs? Let us know in the comments! For some egg-cellent ideas, check out these recipes:

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