[ellied]

Having only bought eggs from shops or other chicken owners I realise I don't know how long eggs stay fresh!  Boxes have a sell by date on and can presumably be used for some time after that but I don't even know how long after

But what is the sell by date in relation to the actual laying date?  And the use by?

Someone told me eggs need to be 10 days old before the whites will peak properly when beaten for meringue making, so I'm guessing a couple of weeks maybe safe?

Not that I have an egg to show yet but just wondering as the first one laid might be kept for a while til I show everyone

Sorry I'm sure this is a totally ignorant query but probably one of many

[little blue]

I believe (but could well be wrong!) that commercial eggs have a three-week-from-laying date on them,
so next time you're in the supermarket, have a look at the date & think how old the eggs already are!

[Bioman]

About 2-3 weeks to stay fresh.

The thing about the meringues is utter garbage as far as I'm concerned

[doganjo]

Agree about meringues.  You can have success (or failure) with any age of egg white.  I was once told that a supermarket egg can be a couple of months old before you get it   No idea how true that is.  I generally tell people not to leave them more than three weeks, but I doubt they are kept that long as they're just so delicious.

[sam.t]

dont no about a mirange? but i do no that fresh eggs dont peel they are a night mare lol
sam

[melodrama]

I didn't know that Sam.  We took fresh boiled eggs on a picnic with us at the weekend and they were a nightmare - I wondered if there was something wrong with the eggs so I'm glad that its just cos they're fresh! 

[darkbrowneggs]

Glad you have got some nice chucks now.  It looks to me like eggs will be on the menu soon

There is loads of interesting stuff here, about how long eggs keep etc, and if you mooch about the site there is info on what to do with that GLUT of eggs you will have soon 

All the best
Sue

[Heather]

if you have an egg you're in doubt about, just put it in a glass and fill glass with water.  If egg floats it is 'off'.