Just curious - what is average age of store eggs?

[JennsPeeps]

I've been wondering how old an average store-bought egg is. Can anyone point me to a website that would demonstrate the average processing & shipping time. I'm curious.

Let's not resort to "hey, those nasty things are waaay older than what my girls give me" but keep it to facts.

 

[Nikki28]

Hmmm good question.

 

[HorseFeathers]

Just a wild guess: Old?

 

[geoaware]

hey, those nasty things are waaay older than what my girls give me

Sorry...just had to do it!

I was once told that it takes two weeks or longer for eggs to make it to the shelves in large supermarket chains...but I would like to know the facts too.

 

[JennsPeeps]

Did a google search and found this: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=15441

(serves me right, I say...)

 

[deerman]

you can do the float test, place eggs in water if older than a month they will float. If they stay on the bottom with large end up 2 to 3 weeks old. Fresh eggs only a few day old will lay flat on the bottom.

 

[lurky]

I think they must be pretty old. After having fresh eggs for almost 2 yrs now, i had to buy eggs once and when i cracked the first one open i was disgusted by it. I tossed them all.
They are so different in color, texture, smell, and thats as far as i got

 

[maplesky7]

I have a poulty book i got from farm and fleet...i read in that book they (egg farmers) have 30 days to get it to the store.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

The next time you are at the store check the stamp on the carton. I just pulled some cartons from our cupboard. The end stamp said P1176B317. The P1176B is the packer's license number. The 317 is the day they were packed, November 13. It is also stamped Best By Dec 26, which is about six weeks later. Assuming the eggs were a week old at the most before packing and the stores are selling them a few weeks before the Best Buy date, I'd say they are 2 weeks to a month old when you buy them.

 

[deerman]

Quote:
Mac, was checking some old carton. How did you get Nov. 13 from the # 317 ??