When a raw egg fully floats in water, it usually means the egg is old and very likely no longer good to eat, so it is safest to throw it away.

Quick Scoop

  • Fresh eggs : Sink and lie flat at the bottom of a bowl or glass of water, because they are denser than water and have only a tiny air cell inside.
  • Older but often still usable eggs : Sink but stand upright or tilt, meaning the air cell has grown and the egg has lost some moisture; these should be used soon and checked by cracking into a separate bowl first.
  • Floating eggs : Rise toward or sit at the top of the water, showing a large internal air pocket and much lower density; this strongly suggests the egg is very old and may be spoiled, so discarding it is recommended.

If an egg ever floats, the safest move is to crack it into a separate bowl and use your senses: any sour, sulfur-like smell, discoloration, or unusually runny white or yolk means it should not be eaten.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.