If you cook a lot, it must have happened at least once that you cracked an egg into a bowl of other ingredients, but the egg broke and you had to throw it in the trash.

When it comes to eggs, it's not always easy to tell how fresh they are, as the dark protective shell hides the true state of the white and yolk.

How to tell if the eggs are bad?

Eggs shouldn't have any particular smell, but if you smell a faint smell of sulfur, something is wrong.

If you are not sure, crack the egg on a clean plate so it smells good.

If it smells strong, throw it away and wash the dish well.

A fresh egg should have a bright yellow or orange yolk and a thick white.

If the egg is spoiled, the yolk will be paler and the white will run.

Simply fill a bowl with cold tap water and place the eggs in it.

If they sink all the way and roll on one side, they are fresh and good to eat.

A spoiled egg will float because it has accumulated air over time.

Any eggs that do not sink to the bottom should be discarded.

What about storing hard-boiled eggs?

It's a different story when it comes to hard-boiled eggs.

They have a shorter shelf life, as the cooking process has removed the outer protective layer of the shell and made them more permeable and susceptible to bacteria and other contaminants.

Hard-boiled eggs can be refrigerated for up to a week if left in the shell, or about five days if peeled.

Be sure to refrigerate the eggs within two hours of boiling.

/KP