Pay attention to this date from now on. It’s not an ordinary expiration date. After working for years and years in grocery stores, I see that most people just randomly buy eggs without really noticing this detail

 

Pay Attention to This Date From Now On — It’s Not Just an Expiration Date

When you're at the grocery store picking up a carton of eggs, you probably do what most people do: open the carton, give the eggs a quick glance for cracks, and toss them in the cart. But here’s the thing — if you’re not looking closely at the date printed on the carton, you could be missing a very important detail.

After working in grocery stores for years, I’ve seen it time and time again: most shoppers don’t realize there’s more than just an expiration or sell-by date on those cartons. And knowing what that extra number means can help you make smarter, fresher, and safer choices.

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The Date You Should Be Looking At: The Julian Date

Alongside the typical “Sell By,” “Use By,” or “Expiration Date”, there’s often a three-digit number stamped somewhere on the carton. This is called the Julian date, and it tells you the exact day of the year the eggs were packed — not when they expire.

For example:

• A Julian date of 001 means the eggs were packed on January 1st

• A Julian date of 256 means they were packed on September 12th (today!)

• A Julian date of 365 is December 31st

Why does this matter?

Because eggs are typically safe to eat for 3 to 5 weeks after that pack date — if they’ve been properly refrigerated. That means you could be buying eggs that are already several weeks old if you’re only relying on the “Sell By” or “Best By” date.

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So, What Should You Do When Buying Eggs?

Here are a few simple tips to make sure you're getting the freshest eggs possible:

🕵️‍♀️ 1. Find the Julian Date

Look for that three-digit number near the expiration or sell-by date. The closer the number is to today’s Julian date, the fresher the eggs.

📅 2. Compare Dates

Two cartons with the same sell-by date can have very different pack dates. One might have been packed two days ago, and another two weeks ago. Always go for the fresher one!

❄️ 3. Store Eggs Properly

Keep them in their original carton (not in the fridge door!) to maintain freshness and avoid temperature fluctuations.

🧪 4. Do the Float Test (at home)

If you’re unsure how old your eggs are, place one in a bowl of water:

• Sinks flat: still fresh

• Stands upright: getting old, but still usable for baking

• Floats: toss it!

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Extra Egg Tips from an Insider:

• Brown vs. white eggs? No difference in freshness or quality — just a difference in hen breed.

• Cage-free or pasture-raised? Labels matter, but always check the pack date first.

• Cracked eggs in the carton? Skip them. Bacteria can get in easily, even if the crack is small.

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Final Thoughts

Eggs are a grocery staple, and for good reason — they’re affordable, versatile, and protein-packed. But if you're not checking the Julian pack date, you could be missing out on the freshest pick.

Next time you're in the dairy aisle, take an extra five seconds to flip that carton over and check the numbers. Your omelets, cakes, and scrambled eggs will thank you.

Because when it comes to eggs, fresher really is better.