We’ve all been there – you crack an egg, and before you even see it, the horrible smell punches you in the nose. Instead of playing a risky game of “Is this egg still good?” you can save yourself the trouble by cracking the mysterious code printed on the shell and carton.
Eggs are a kitchen essential, a breakfast staple, and an all-day protein powerhouse. Whether you love them scrambled, fried, poached, or baked into a delicious cake, eggs find their way into countless recipes.
But when it comes to buying eggs, have you ever noticed those extra numbers printed on the carton? Beyond the expiration date, there’s a secret code known as the Julian date – a key to understanding the true freshness of your eggs. Let’s crack the code and make sure you’re getting the best eggs possible!
Julian date
If you take a close look at your egg carton, you’ll find a three-digit number printed near the sell-by date. This isn’t a random serial number – it’s the Julian date, which tells you the exact day the eggs were packaged, USDA explains.