How to Tell If Eggs Have Gone Bad

I have had a dozen eggs in my refrigerator for a long time. Checking the expiration date, these were dated October 17. Today is March 15. (I need to start buying eggs by the half dozen.) That made me wonder if the eggs were still good to use. My research indicated the following things:

1. Eggs can be frozen to preserve them longer if you take them out of their shells (an Instructables for another time).
2. If kept in a refrigerator, eggs are considered "good" for about 5 weeks after their expiration date.

So, how can you tell if eggs are passed their prime? You do what is known as the "float test."

You will need:

1. A container of some sort at least as tall as two eggs are long.
2. Water to fill the container.
3. Eggs.
4. A towel to wipe off the eggs if they can go back in the fridge.

Fill the container with the water. Leave a little space in the top of the container for water displacement.

Lightly place an egg in the water.

If the egg is floating at the top of the water, then the egg has expired. It has ceased to be. It has met its maker. This is an ex-egg!

If the egg sank, then it is still considered "fresh." Dry off the egg, put it back in its container, return it to the fridge, and either use the eggs within 5 weeks of their expiration date or freeze them (wherein they will be "fresh" for up to 2 months) using a proper egg-freezing technique (NOT in the shell).

My conclusion is that I need to use my eggs quicker. Time to search for egg-based recipes.