Shoppers have seen significant price spikes on eggs as of late and since everyone wants to make the most of their hard-earned money, there are a few simple rules and tricks you should know to prevent prematurely tossing or wasting the staple protein.
Most egg cartons sold in stores get stamped with a "best if used by" or "best before" date for stores to control and rotate inventory. The U.S. Department of Agriculture explains that the printed "expiration date" is there so consumers know how long the eggs will be at their highest quality and best taste when stored in ideal conditions.
"Use by" dates show shoppers how long they have to consume the eggs before their overall quality diminishes. According to the USDA, the "use by" date "may not exceed 45 days including the day the eggs were packed into the carton."
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However, in many cases eggs can still be safely consumed beyond that date if they aren't spoiled.
Eggs can last up to five weeks after they were packed, when stored in proper refrigerator conditions, according to The American Egg Board.
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