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 egg whites are thick and the yolk is firm and rounded
A fresh egg should have little to no odor
Shake the egg gently near your ear
Fresh eggs should not slosh much inside the shell
Look at the shell for cracks, slime, or powdery spots
Use the egg before the recommended storage time has passed