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What happens if I eat a bad egg?

Author

Mia Kelly

Published Jan 13, 2026

If a person has any doubt about whether an egg has gone bad, they should throw it out. The main risk of eating bad eggs is Salmonella infection, which can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and fever.

How long after eating bad eggs do you get sick?

If an egg is bad, symptoms of illness appear within six to 48 hours and may include: Diarrhea. Stomach pain and cramps. Fever‌

What should I do if I ate bad eggs?

In most cases, your body will recover from the symptoms of bad eggs within a few days. While you are sick, try to stay hydrated by drinking water, ginger ale or diluted sports drinks. If you are very old or young or have a compromised immune system, call your doctor.

What happens if you cook and eat a bad egg?

Unlike good eggs that have simply gone bad, an egg infected with salmonella won't smell bad. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include vomiting, fever, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. They typically appear within 12-to-72 hours of eating the infected food and may last several days.

Can you get sick from eating an old egg?

Eggs that are expired but not spoiled may still be perfectly fine to eat. However, eating old eggs that have been damaged or contaminated puts you at risk of getting sick from contracting the foodborne bacterium Salmonella.

34 related questions found

Can you eat eggs that are 2 months old?

But what is the ideal expiry date for eggs? “The shelf life of an unrefrigerated egg is 7 to 10 days and for refrigerated egg it's about 30 to 45 days,” notes Dr Batra. But that doesn't mean you can pop a 2-month old egg for a quick omelet. - Eggs can last for about 5-6 weeks if refrigerated properly.

What does a bad egg look like?

What Does a Bad Egg Look Like? It's hard to tell if an egg is off just by looking at the shell. A fresh egg should have a bright yellow or orange yolk and a thickish white that doesn't spread too far. If it's off, the yolk will be flatter and discoloured and the egg white will be far runnier.

Will bad eggs taste bad?

You might not necessarily get salmonella from bad eggs, but according to Emily Rubin RD, LDN at Thomas Jefferson University Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, they can be the cause of some pretty uncomfortable digestive symptoms like cramps and diarrhea. Plus, of course, they taste terrible.

What happens if you eat eggs that float?

If the air pocket becomes large enough, the egg may float. While this method may tell you whether an egg is fresh or old, it doesn't tell you whether an egg is good or bad (3). An egg can sink and still be bad, while an egg that floats may still be fine to eat (3).

Is salmonella killed by cooking?

Thorough cooking can kill salmonella. But when health officials warn people not to eat potentially contaminated food, or when a food is recalled because of salmonella risk, that means don't eat that food, cooked or not, rinsed or not.

Can you eat 3 week old eggs?

Eating healthy should still be delicious.

Regardless of what that date actually is, the optimal storage time for raw eggs in their shells, according to the USDA, is three to five weeks. So, if you've noticed your eggs are three weeks past their expiration date, you're technically good to go.

What are the chances of getting Salmonella from eggs?

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 1 in every 20,000 eggs are contaminated with Salmonella. Persons infected with Salmonella may experience diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, headache, nausea and vomiting.

Can you eat boiled eggs that float?

If the egg stands on its pointed end at the bottom – it is still safe to eat but best used for baking and making hard-cooked eggs. If the egg float – they're stale and best discarded.

Can you hard boil rotten eggs?

How to Tell When Hard Boiled Eggs Go Bad. The most noticeable sign that a hard-cooked egg has gone bad is the odor. If the egg has any sort of unpleasant, sulfurous, or rotten smell, it has gone bad and should not be consumed.

How do you know if an egg has salmonella?

You can't tell if an egg has salmonella just by looking at it. The bacteria can be present inside an egg as well as on the shell. Cooking food thoroughly can kill salmonella. Be aware that runny, poached, or soft eggs aren't fully cooked — even if they are delicious.

How can I tell if an egg is still good?

The water test for egg freshness

First, fill a bowl or glass with about four inches of cold water and gently place your egg(s) inside. Very fresh eggs will sink to the bottom and lay on their sides. If an egg stays at the bottom but stands on its small end, it's still fine to eat; just not quite as fresh.

Do eggs go bad if not refrigerated?

However, the experts at the USDA recommend never leaving eggs unrefrigerated for more than 2 – 3 hours. A cold egg left out at room temperature can sweat, facilitating the movement of bacteria into the egg and increasing the growth of bacteria. Refrigerated eggs should not be left out more than 2 hours.

Why is there black stuff in my egg?

Blood spots are uncommon but can be found in both store-bought and farm-fresh eggs. They develop when tiny blood vessels in the hen's ovaries or oviduct rupture during the egg-laying process. Eggs with blood spots are safe to eat, but you can scrape the spot off and discard it if you prefer.

Are eggs still good after 3 months?

With proper storage, eggs can last for at least 3–5 weeks in the fridge and about a year in the freezer. The longer an egg is stored, the more its quality declines, making it less springy and more runny.

Why are my eggs floating?

An egg can float in water when its air cell has enlarged sufficiently to keep it buoyant. This means the egg is old, but it may be perfectly safe to use. Crack the egg into a bowl and examine it for an off-odor or unusable appearance before deciding to use or discard it.

Is it bad to eat raw eggs?

Eating raw eggs can be potentially dangerous if they contain Salmonella. About one in 20,000 eggs does. Salmonella is a bacteria commonly found in food that causes diarrhea, fever, cramps, and vomiting.

Do runny eggs have salmonella?

Do you like your eggs over easy, sunny side up or well done? For many Americans, sopping up runny yellow egg yolks with toast is a beloved breakfast ritual. Yet raw eggs can contain Salmonella Enteritidis - bacteria that can cause mild to severe gastrointestinal illness, short term or chronic arthritis, or even death.

Can fresh eggs give you diarrhea?

What Is Egg Intolerance? An egg intolerance is a non-life-threatening adverse response to the consumption of eggs. You might have an intolerance to the egg white, egg yolks, or both. Such an intolerance most commonly leads to gastrointestinal upset, such as abdominal bloating or diarrhea.

When should you not eat an egg?

If the egg smells fine, doesn't float, and doesn't have a swishy sound, you're probably good to go—but there is one last sign that the egg could be bad: if you ever crack it and the egg white is discolored in any way (or excessively runny), it's no good.

What kills Salmonella in the body?

Antibiotics. Your health care provider may prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacteria. These are usually given if your provider suspects that salmonella bacteria have entered your bloodstream, your infection is severe or you have a weakened immune system.