How Bad Is It to Use an Egg With Cracks in It?
AnnMarie Mattila
December 21, 2024 at 2:00 PM
It would be hard to name an ingredient as versatile as the standard chicken egg. Whether you're a baker or a home cook, they are essential in so many egg recipes. Heck, sometimes they are the recipe if you're just frying a few up for breakfast.
The types of eggs you will find in your grocery store or local farmers' market can make mile-high meringue pies and hearty egg salad sandwiches. And they have one major thing in common besides their versatility: Boy, are they fragile! You could say they're even more so here in the U.S. because eggs are washed prior to being sold (which is why they are refrigerated).
So chances are, you've come across a cracked egg or two in your life. But that begs the questions: to eat or not to eat? Is it safe to use and eat a cracked egg? The short answer is probably not, but it depends on the situation. It's important to know the risks about consuming cracked eggs. Let's see what the experts (eggs-perts, if you will) have to say.
Is a Cracked Egg Safe to Eat?
According the USDA, it is not safe to use eggs that have cracks. The simple reason is that "bacteria can enter eggs through cracks in the shell," most commonly salmonella. The CDC estimates that only about one in every 20,000 eggs are contaminated with salmonella. But considering the severe gastrointestinal issues that could occur if you are sickened by it, it's much better to play it safe than sorry.
Especially if you don't know when that crack happened or how it got there, it's best to use the old adage: When in doubt, throw it out. Now with that said, if you caused the crack and saw it happen, you can still salvage the situation. If you accidentally cracked an egg while bringing it home, simply remove it immediately from it's shell and place it into a lidded, airtight container and stash it in the fridge for up to two days. Also, if an egg cracked while you were hard-boiling it, it is okay to consume, per the UDSA.
How to Avoid Cracked Eggs
This may not be new to you, but when you go to buy eggs, make sure you open and check the carton before purchasing. Don't be shy about twisting them, too, because sometimes cracks are on the bottom. And if you want to be kind to your fellow shopper, you can alert store employees about broken and cracked eggs so they can be removed.
When transporting the eggs home, be sure to pack the eggs on the top of your shopping bag. It's also very smart to unload that bag first and double check the carton before placing it in the fridge. This is when you can salvage any cracked eggs. And though you can buy a pretty egg holder, the best way to store them is right in the container they came in. Just don't store anything on top of them.
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