Check the expiration or pack date on the carton
Place the egg in a bowl of water
Fresh eggs sink and lie flat on the bottom
Slightly older eggs stand upright on the bottom
Bad eggs float to the top
Crack the egg into a bowl and inspect it
Fresh eggs have a firm yolk and thick white
Spoiled eggs may have a bad smell
Look for cracks or leaks in the shell
Shake the egg gently near your ear
If you hear sloshing, the egg may be old