Fill a bowl or glass with cold water
Gently place the egg into the water
Observe whether the egg sinks or floats
If the egg sinks and lies flat, it is usually fresh
If the egg sinks but stands upright, it is older but may still be usable
If the egg floats, discard it
Remove the egg and dry it if you plan to use it
Crack the egg into a separate bowl before cooking if you are unsure about freshness