Curious if cracked egg are safe to eat ? The answer : It depend . Here ’s what to fuck before you make with that cracked egg .

Eggs are one of the most affordable and easiest to wangle sources ofvegetarian protein . ( One big testicle offers 6.2 g of protein and just 74 gram calorie , according to theUnited States Department of Agriculture . ) Many of us visit a carton of egg before add it to our grocery carts , but what if you block and come home to retrieve a bats ballock in your cartonful ? It need not spoil the dozen nor scramble yourbreakfast plans . Here ’s what you ask to know if you come across an already - cracked ballock and how to store cracked eggs .

Better Homes & Gardens

brown eggs in egg carton

Credit:Better Homes & Gardens

Can You Eat a Cracked Egg?

The answer depend on if you incidentally crack it yourself or if the egg was already cracked in your purchased carton .

Since bacteria can be introduced to the yolk or whitened through cracks in the shell , it ’s important to examine your testis at the supermarket . nullify any containers with crack eggs , suggests the USDA’sFood Safety and Inspection Service . If you purchased testicle that were already cracked , do not expend them ; throw them away ! In eccentric you postulate more convincing that the answer is " no " to your question , " Is a cracked egg safe to eat?“Taiwanese researchersfound thatSalmonellawas much more likely to be find in testis with weak or cracked shield . With jeopardy like that , you always want to beusing eggs safely .

The answer is unlike ifyouwere the one who accidentally crack an egg or if you ’re wanting to crack eggs the night before to cook with them . In that case , you could still use the cracked egg later , when stored correctly . Read on for the best ways to store crock up eggs .

infographic on how to store cracked raw eggs

Credit:BHG / Sydney Saporito

BHG / Sydney Saporito

How to Store Cracked Eggs, If They’re the Safe Kind

How long do cracked eggs last ? That vary for whites , yolks , or whole eggs and how you want to store them .

How to Refrigerate Cracked Eggs

If you accidentally crack an egg at dwelling , put the egg into a fresh container , sealing wax , and store in the icebox up to two days .

When you ’re quick to scramble , poach , or omelet - ize that egg , be sure to cook it to the full to demolish any possible bacteria . Here are the safe doneness temperatures foreach kind of egg preparation , according to theEgg Safety Center :

How to Freeze Cracked Eggs

set-apart egg Elwyn Brooks White can be safely freeze for a year ; sample portioning them in ice cube tray wells . you’re able to freeze down whole eggs by beating the testicle whites and yolks together and freezing in a plastered container . These will also last for up to one year . Separated egg yolkscannotbe frozen .

If an egg happens to break during hard - boiling in a pot on the kitchen stove or in your Instant Pot , just strip and use it as you would usually . This kind of kooky egg is safe to consume . Now that you know if you may use cracked eggs or not , you ’ll be all sic for holiday baking .