The shell of an egg should never be soft, but a good way to tell is by shaking the egg. ... Old eggs tend to float, whether raw or boiled, as they have lost moisture and their density has decreased. Fresh eggs sink in water, whether raw or hard boiled.

How can you tell if an egg is hard boiled?

If you're wondering how to tell an egg is hard boiled, set it on the counter and give a quick spin. Once it's moving, tap your finger on it to stop the spinning. Eggs that are cooked will spin easily and rapidly and stop quickly.

Are boiled eggs supposed to float when they're done?

To perform the float test, gently set your egg into a bowl or bucket of water. If the egg sinks, it is fresh. If it tilts upwards or even floats, it is old. This is because as an egg ages, the small air pocket inside it grows larger as water is released and replaced by air.