Put the egg in a bowl of water: if it sinks and lies flat, it’s fresh; if it sinks but stands upright, use soon; if it floats, discard
Crack it into a separate bowl: if you see an off smell (sour, rotten, sulfur-like), discard
Check the appearance after cracking: if the yolk is broken or runny and the whites are watery, it’s older (use soon)
Look for unusual color: green, pink, or moldy spots in the egg or shell area mean discard
Smell the shell: if the shell smells bad when cracked, discard
Check the expiration or “best by” date: if past the date, test using water float and crack-test
Use the “sniff test” for any cooked egg: if it smells off, discard
Discard if the shell is cracked or leaking
Discard if there are visible cracks, slime, or mold on the shell