Eggs that have been harvested for centuries have been used as ingredients for almost everything, from simple family recipes to gourmet delicacy. Most eggs sold today contain much more mystery than the external shell suggests.
You may be surprised to find out how much the box is truly fresh or how many weeks the eggs are sitting on the store shelf. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is allowed to sell eggs for up to 30 days after packing eggs. In other words, you can easily buy old eggs that affect taste and safety.1 Related code is printed on the top or side of the egg box.
Cracking egg carton code and using useful storage tips
According to the article published by The Hearty Soul,2 Egg boxes are more than a container that protects eggs during transportation. In fact, they have abundant overlooked information. For example, there are single details that many consumers overlook. The certain eggs are packed and sometimes called the “Julian Date.” If you find it, do not panic in numbers. That means:
“This code can be found near the sales date from the side of the egg box. It looks like a three -digit serial number, but it’s actually a date. If you are not familiar, the Julian date is between 001 and 365, and is calculated one at a time a year. For example, 001 is January 1 and 365 is December 31.
This code is a day of washing eggs, grade and loading in a box. The eggs are the freshest after 4-5 weeks after being packaged, so keep in mind while shopping. The US Department of Agriculture can sell eggs for up to 30 days after packaging, so you can find a few weeks on the store shelf. ”3
But there are more eggs in the egg box than Julian date. Another important information to watch out for is the “plant code” that starts with character P. This represents the position where the egg is packaged. “If you have a recall, this code will tell you if it affects the egg box.4
If you have already stored eggs at home for a while, decide whether to use it to use using “float test”.5 To do this, fill the glass or bowl with water and place the eggs on the surface. I got older when the eggs were straight or floating. But this does not mean that you can’t eat automatically. Also, find a strange smell or shape before you call the eggs in a separate bowl and decide to throw it away.
Another useful tip is to store eggs by protecting eggs from temperature changes. For example, if you leave an egg next to the refrigerator door, you will open all day long and frequent temperature movement. To increase storage life, keep the coldest part of the refrigerator, in the original box.6
The abundant soul also briefly explains the difference between the “sales” date and the date of Julian. “Sales” is not a safety date, but it represents the time when the product should be displayed on the shelf.7 Julian numbers are washed with eggs, rated, and the exact day you put in the box. In short, the two dates cannot be interchangeable, but they provide indicators that represent the freshness of the eggs.8
Deeply dive to egg label rules
Nebraska Lincoln University (UNL) Food and Nutrition Report9 Provide more information about the information printed on the egg box. One of the most notable details is that some states allow the “expiration” or “sales” date in some states, while in other states, these specific labels are completely limited or prohibited.10
For example, if you are mandatory for a pack date (or Julian date), you can find appropriate information about the box, but the “sales” date may not be displayed at all. In contrast, the other state allows the “sales” format to make it easier to understand.
When you realize this inconsistency, it explains why a specific egg box is cluttered with multiple dates and code, while other egg boxes are cluttered with multiple dates and code. The difference in the labeling method also means that more attention should be paid to the appropriate storage guidelines because the date of the box cannot always give the entire picture. To minimize confusion, the UNL provides the following advice:11
“Always buy eggs before the date of ‘sales’ or ‘EXP’. After the egg touches the house, the eggs are refrigerated in the original box and placed in the coldest part of the refrigerator, not the door. For best quality, use eggs within 3-5 weeks from the date of purchase.
The ‘sales’ date usually expires during the period, but the eggs are perfect for use. Using the ‘sales’ or ‘expiration’ (EXP) date is not required for the federal government, but it can be evaluated nationally as defined by the egg law in the state where eggs are sold. Some main eggs do not use the ‘sales’ date. ”
In other words, how long does fresh eggs actually last? According to the EGG Safety Center, it is safe to eat 4-5 weeks after the purchase as long as the egg is refrigerated below 45 degrees.12
Interestingly, the company can pay USDA to rise the quality of eggs, and you can evaluate everything from the shape of the yolk to the overall rigidity of the white egg white. After passing the inspection, the company is given the right to use the special USDA logo to the box. In other words, the box indicates that Mark has met the standard of the agency. This is generally done to be convinced that consumers buy the finest quality eggs.13
Additional information about the purchased eggs
Another important information egg safety center mentioned is a variety of special designations other than USDA rating, such as UEP (United Egg Producers) certification, cage and certified organic farming.14 This label considers agricultural practices, animal welfare standards or environmental issues, and can be found below.15
| certification | definition |
|---|---|
| UEP authentication and UEP certification cage free | The egg box printed with this logo follows the UEPS standards that guarantee the optimal hen welfare created by the Science Advisory Committee. All UEP producers are grateful every year. |
| American Indian Certification | Eggs with this logo meet the standards set by American Humane Society. This means that an egg -lifting hen was grown in an environment without a cage while following the science -based welfare standard. |
| Certified India | Human farm animal care provides this certification for farmers who provide hens with free or pastoral environment. Third -party auditors will continue to meet these standards. |
| rating | The USDA -grade shield in the box indicates that eggs were grateful for quality and weight under the supervision of USDA Grader. |
| There is no antibiotic | The eggs sold by this USDA certification means that hens have never been treated with antibiotics. |
| USDA organic | This is a USDA certification that shows that eggs have grown according to the standard of agency. |
Practical tips for selecting and using quality eggs
I think that the root cause of confusion about knowing eggs to buy eggs is that they lack clear knowledge of production, processing and labeling. You may be tempted to buy a box because you are on sale, but you realized that the eggs are in a longer transportation or storage state than doubted that it comes from CAFO (concentrated animal feed surgery).
In my case, I am now satisfied with raising six henes at home and knowing exactly what they eat. If you can’t raise the backyard, there are five strategies that will help you choose the best eggs.
1. If possible, select the pasture eggs. First, look for a free -range pasture grown grown. This means that chickens have a large space for roaming and eating naturally without eating pesticides. It is less likely that the chickens will reduce the high grains from the omega -6 linoleic acid because of the reliable producer. This lowers multiple unsaturated fat (PUFA) and improves nutrition.
You will find that eggs are more than CAFO eggs because they have better taste and texture. To find the grains of grassland, visit the local farmers market or health food store. Even if you live in the urban area, there is a small distributor that brings a box from the farm that is out of the city limit.
2. Check the yolk color and quality. Breaking the eggs and looking at the bright orange yolk is a powerful indicator of a hen who eats a natural diet. We get more lutein and zeaxanthin from this deeper yolk that supports eye health.
I like to improve the absorption of nutrients by adding raw, grass supply butter or coconut oil on vegetables, because my fat helps my body to eat more fat water -soluble nutrients. It is a small adjustment that provides better nutritional rewards.
3. Quality grade utilization- I recommend visiting Horned egg score cardEgg producers actually rated the way of treating and feeding hens. This helps to avoid genetically modified ingredients and other suspicious antibiotics in the hen feed. When you are healthy first, you need to know how eggs were produced before spending money.
4. Check the packaging and use the appropriate storage space. In the egg box, it is recommended to find a clear labeling and make sure that it is not stored beyond the recommended date. If you see it in the store, avoid gold shells or dirty appearance. When you bring the egg home, place it in the coldest part of the refrigerator. High traffic spots in the refrigerator experienced temperature fluctuations that reduce the quality of eggs.
As for myself, I usually eat about 5 eggs a day, and the blade yolks are mixed with smoothies and cooked lightly with meat. This approach provides a balance of taste, texture and nutritional benefits.
5. Local option search- Many large supermarkets focus on the volume of quality, so you can get better luck from local co -operatives or small specialty stores. It is a good idea to ask farmers how the hen is supplied and can actually roam freely.
If you are a busy parent or a busy schedule, it is a good idea to travel to the peasant market every week and to stockpoon eggs for the rest of the week. This supports the local economy and provides fresh products that do not appear in facilities that rely on feeds tied to corn or soy sauce.
