What is the shelf life of eggs?

One can safely eat refrigerated eggs three to four weeks after the sell-by date. Refrigerated egg substitutes maintain freshness three to four days after the sell-by date. Egg whites stay fresh in the refrigerator for two to four days, while egg yolks last one to two days.

The freshest eggs, when placed in a bowl of water, sink and lay on their sides. A rotten egg floats in a bowl of water without touching the bottom, as a result of air accumulation inside the aging egg. Rotten eggs have a sulfuric smell and may have a pinkish tinge to the egg white. Eggs refrigerated around 40 degrees Fahrenheit maintain freshness longest.