Updated 28 July 2026 · Written by Daniel Wright
Fresh eggs last about 3 to 5 weeks in the fridge, and often stay good past the best-before date on the carton. Hard-boiled eggs keep for around one week. The printed date is a quality guide, not a hard cutoff, so use the float test and your nose to judge older eggs.
Raw eggs: 3 to 5 weeks in the fridge. Hard-boiled eggs: about 1 week. The float test tells you if they are still good.
How Long Different Eggs Keep
- Raw eggs in shell: 3 to 5 weeks refrigerated.
- Hard-boiled eggs: about 1 week in the fridge.
- Cracked or beaten raw eggs: 2 to 4 days, covered.
- Leftover cooked egg dishes: 3 to 4 days.
The Float Test
Place an egg in a bowl of water. A fresh egg sinks and lies flat; a slightly older but still fine egg stands upright; an egg that floats has a large air pocket and is likely too old, so discard it. Always store eggs in the main body of the fridge, not the door, and keep them in their carton in a sealed container or on a stable shelf.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you eat eggs past the best-before date?
Often yes. The date is a quality guide. Eggs stored properly in the fridge are frequently good for a week or more beyond it, but test with the float test and smell first.
How can you tell if an egg is bad?
Use the float test, and crack a questionable egg into a separate bowl. A sulfurous smell or a pink, iridescent or off-colored white means it has spoiled.
