Sometimes even the most responsible housewife cannot remember how long chicken eggs have been in her refrigerator. A stale product can cause poisoning for the whole family, so be sure to check the suitability before cooking. The problem of expired products can be not only in spontaneous markets, but also in supermarkets that have a promoted name.

Eggs contain vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates and fats, amino acids. They take pride of place not only in the adult, but also in the children's diet. In terms of importance, they can be put in second place after milk.

You should not start cooking until you are convinced of the excellent quality of the eggs. Do not forget that they can be demolished a few weeks before they hit the shelves. How can you tell if an egg is rotten or not?

  • Why are they useful?
  • How to check the quality?
  • How can you identify a rotten egg without cracking it?
  • How to store?
  • Reviews and comments

The protein of this product is completely absorbed by the human body. It is better to eat them boiled or fried. But raw can be dangerous if they have an infection. They are rich in magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc and other useful elements.

They must be eaten by people who rarely go to the sun, because they contain a lot of vitamin D. It is simply indispensable for strengthening bones. Lecithin has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the liver, brain activity, strengthens the walls of blood vessels. Luten improves vision, and choline prevents the development of cancer cells. Folic acid is indispensable if you are planning to become a mother.

The shell contains more than 30 trace elements, approximately 2 grams of calcium. It is useful to use it in combination with lemon juice. Grind the shells, mix and add to food by a teaspoon.

But to get all these benefits, you need to eat only a good fresh quality product.

How to check the quality?

How can you tell if an egg is rotten? Expiry date, unfortunately, some unscrupulous consumers indicate unreliably. Therefore, the hostess must learn to determine the freshness of the egg "by eye". Then it will be possible to avoid indigestion and other serious diseases that are treated only in a hospital.

Rotten and fresh differ according to the following main criteria:

  • The three-day product does not have an unpleasant odor, unlike the spoiled one;

  • If you shake fresh egg, there will be no noise inside;
  • The contents are rotten if they do not sink in a container of water;
  • Unroll it - if it does not stop for a long time, then it has been lying for a long time.

The easiest way to recognize a rotten egg is to smell it. Stale has a characteristic smell that is difficult to confuse with any other. Another criterion is the yolk. It should not shake or knock on the walls. If you put it in the light, then the yolk should be clearly visible. On a flat surface, the rotten will spin for a long time - this is another method that helps determine freshness.

Many people know how to identify a rotten egg by placing it in water. This method is based on the laws of physics. Fill a glass with two-thirds of the water and place the egg in it. If it is “not older than” 3 days, then it will immediately sink in water. Week-old eggs will remain tilted, while rotten ones will float on the surface.

This is because they are not sealed. Microorganisms can enter the pores that are present on the shell. If putrefactive processes have already begun, then gases will be released, which are raised to the surface.

Of course, these methods can not always be used in the store. The quality of the product is affected not only by weight, but also by the time it was demolished. Eggs that are not yet three days old are assigned top grade. A week-old product is classified as the first grade, and a three-week old product is classified as the second.

How can you identify a rotten egg without cracking it?

Its surface should be uniform, without cracks and chips. If the shell has a grayish tint and there is no shine, then it is already stale.

There is another way to check that will help the buyer in the supermarket to determine the freshness of the product. You need to use an ovoscope - a special device for transillumination. When a dark yolk is immediately visible, and it is closer to the shell or sticks to it, blackouts are visible, which means the product is “old”. The damaged ones are not visible at all. If you do not have a device, you can bring the product to a light source and make sure that there are no dark spots under the shell.

When you break an egg, carefully inspect the yolk.

In a fresh product, it is tight and convex. If it is not the first freshness, then the yolk will be flat, and the protein will be watery. Fresh ones are much harder to clean than old ones.

How to store?

They can be stored fresh for quite a long time, but not more than six weeks. They must be placed in the refrigerator separately from other products.

They absorb odors very quickly. In addition, infections can enter through the pores if infected meat or fish lies nearby. To close the pores, grease the shell with vegetable oil.

You need to fold them with a sharp "nose" down. Then the yolk will not affect the air layer, and "settle" in the center. Store in this position in the refrigerator for up to five weeks. If the shell is cracked, they should be eaten as soon as possible.

It will not be difficult to figure out how to determine a rotten egg when cooking. If it has already completely deteriorated, then an unpleasant smell will be felt immediately as soon as you pick it up. A rotten egg will be different from a normal one when boiled. The protein will curl up, and as you break it, you will smell an unpleasant odor. Although the bacteria will die from high temperatures, you can’t eat it - poisoning is inevitable.

As you can see, every housewife can check the quality of an egg without violating the integrity of its shell. We wish you more fresh tasty and healthy dishes!

Eggs are a valuable source useful substances, practically, a storehouse of health. Despite certain restrictions, this product must be included in the human diet. It is extremely important to choose the right eggs, and for this you need to know how to check the eggs for freshness. Factory ones have markings that make the task easier. But if you take a farm product or store-bought eggs have been stored in your refrigerator for a long time? Outwardly, the quality or damage does not manifest itself in any way. However, there are some surefire ways to determine if a product is edible.

How to choose?

Several simple secrets will allow you to understand how fresh the product is. It must be remembered that during long storage the egg starts to dry out. If the product has been on the display for a long time, then its inner part begins to separate from the shell. Before buying, the egg should be shaken slightly to understand what the consistency is in the middle. In the case when the product is not fresh, it will "hang out".

You can also sometimes tell if an egg is fresh by looking at it. If the chicken has laid an egg recently, then its shell will have a matte color. If the product has been on the shelf for a long time, the surface of the shell becomes glossy. When buying a product on a substrate, as a “cassette”, it is very important to look into the middle.

Sometimes sellers pack fresh eggs with those that have already become unusable. Therefore, it should be assessed whether all eggs have the same color. However, unscrupulous sellers wash eggs. This shortens the shelf life, increases the risk of the product spoiling, and removes the glossy sheen that would indicate a long shelf life.

Pot of water

The simplest and most effective method to test the freshness of eggs is to use water. To do this, you need to draw water into the pan, up to about 10 cm. Then an egg is placed in the water.

If the product is fresh enough, it will remain at the bottom. If it is stored for 1 week, it will rise to a vertical position. In this case, eggs can still be eaten, but for children's menu better not to use them. If the egg has floated to the surface and holds well in the water, then it is stale. It is better to dispose of it so as not to endanger the health of loved ones.

Breaking the egg

It is easy to check the eggs for freshness directly during cooking. In order to make sure and not spoil the main dish, it is better to break eggs over a separate container. If it is fresh - send the cooking, if spoiled - in the trash. A rotten egg will give off a strong characteristic odor and a dark color of the contents.

In a stale, but still edible egg, the yolk will be flat, and the protein will be liquid, like water. In a fresh product, the yolk is convex, and the protein is rather dense, well collected at the core and there is a lot of it, it pours easily. If the egg has been stored for a long time and begins to dry out, the protein will thicken and decrease in volume.

Advice! If an egg from a store or refrigerator came with a crack, do not rush to throw it away. Wash it with soap more gently than the whole. And then cook at a sufficiently high temperature until the protein is completely curtailed and the yolk is steep. Most dangerous bacteria are neutralized, eg Salmonella dies at 70°C. Boil eggs for at least 5 minutes to fully disinfect.

By smell

If the eggs were not stored in polyethylene, then their freshness can be assessed by smell without breaking. The shell has many pores and therefore actively absorbs odors. It is easy to guess from them if the goods are stale on the shelves. A fresh egg smells like lime.

A broken egg will instantly reveal all its secrets. Even a faint smell of rotten meat means that the product must be disposed of immediately. This method is effective for both chicken and quail eggs.

Advice! If the egg is cracked, it can still be hard boiled. To do this, you need to run more salt into the water: 2 tsp. for every egg.

With the help of cooking

There is no point in boiling rotten eggs, they should not be eaten! But if the product is not spoiled and cooked, peeling, it is easy to understand whether the egg is fresh or not. The "older" the product, the easier the shell comes off. In fresh, it will be difficult to separate from the protein. A thin film between the shell and the egg in this case is held quite tightly.

By temperature

This method, like the previous one, is convenient only at home. Purchased eggs should be washed under running water at room temperature and wiped dry. Then touch the tongue to the blunt and sharp part of the egg.

If the product is fresh, then its poles will differ in temperature: the blunt end will be warmer than the sharp one. If an egg cannot qualify for the "D" (dietary) label, the poles will be the same in temperature.

The resource "Womenburg.ru" strongly recommends at the time of purchase raw eggs pay attention to the packing date and expiration date indicated on the package. They will tell you with maximum accuracy about the freshness and quality of the product, if the storage conditions have not been violated.

It is important not only to determine the freshness of the product, but also to store it correctly:

  1. Try to use the product before the expiration date has passed. To determine how much it costs to keep the product in the refrigerator, the information indicated on the package will allow.
  2. Never wash eggs for storage. The shell is covered with a thin protective film, if it is removed, the product will deteriorate very quickly. Eggs should be washed before cooking.
  3. It is better to store the product in the refrigerator, at a temperature of 6 degrees. It is these conditions that prevent the development of salmonella.
  4. Unfortunately, if the eggs were kept under room temperature(which many sellers sin), then it will not work to disinfect them by moving them to the refrigerator. At the very least, the reproduction of the pathogenic microorganism will slow down or stop.

Using one of the above methods, it is quite simple to understand whether an egg can be eaten. The product will be safe for health only if the storage and preparation conditions are not violated.

The benefits of eggs cannot be overestimated. They are rich in protein, amino acids, minerals, vitamins B, A and E. However, this product is useful if it is fresh. As soon as the expiration date expires, its use becomes dangerous. We will learn how to determine the freshness of eggs using simple methods.

Shelf life

First, consider what is the most optimal storage period for eggs. It is recommended to keep the product at a temperature not lower than +4 °С and not higher than +24 °С, preferably in a refrigerator. Eggs do not need to be washed or processed in any way before being stored. In this case, they remain suitable for about 3-4 weeks. If you washed the eggs beforehand, it is recommended to cook them within 4 days.

If you break the shell on the way home, store the egg white and yolk separately for no more than 4 days. It is best to use beaten eggs within 1-2 days. After preparation, the product remains suitable for about 1 week.

Popular verification methods

The fastest method to determine the freshness of eggs is visual and tactile assessment. The shell should be hard and smooth. Its surface is matte and dry, with a pleasant uniform shade. As soon as the product begins to spoil, the shell becomes dull and soft to the touch. Its color is dark and uneven. The surface acquires a specific sheen.

You can also bring the egg to a bright light source. If the product is spoiled, a characteristic darkening is observed in its center. If the egg at the same time emits a pronounced rotten smell, throw it away without hesitation.

A fresh chicken or quail egg has more weight than a spoiled one.

Another method is suitable if you need eggs to cook a dish. Break the shell and pour the contents onto a saucer. The following signs speak of the freshness of the product: a dense protein practically does not spread over the surface, and a round yolk rises significantly. There is no strong odor. If the shelf life is running out, the protein is quite liquid and spreads quickly, filling the entire bottom of the saucer. The yolk does not hold a round shape.

You can determine the freshness of eggs using a container of water. If the product sinks and lies at the bottom, then it is fresh. The egg, which is stored for 2 weeks, falls with the sharp end down, and the blunt end up. Although it is not the first freshness, it can still be consumed. If the egg floats on the surface of the water, then it is spoiled. It's best to throw it away. This is due to the fact that over time, air accumulates under the shell, which pushes the egg to the surface of the water. This method is effective if the shell is intact.

If you don't have time to experiment, just shake the egg. Grab it with your index and thumb.

If, when shaking, you feel the movement of the yolk inside, the product is no longer fresh. To verify this, conduct a visual assessment of the albumen and yolk on a saucer.

The freshness of quail eggs also needs to be checked. There is a very simple way to do this. Weigh them on an electronic scale. A fresh egg weighs about 20 g, a rotten one - 5 g. This difference is due to a chemical process, as a result of which air accumulates under the shell instead of a liquid mass. These changes occur inside the egg after a certain period of time. Of course, these are approximate figures. They may differ slightly. The lower the weight of the egg, the longer it will keep in the refrigerator.

The danger of spoiled eggs

Often, housewives immediately break eggs into a dish during cooking, forgetting to check their freshness first. And only after that they notice a pronounced greenish color and a specific rotten smell. As a result, you have to throw away a lot of products at once. Of course, it is unpleasant when efforts and money are spent in vain. But on the other side of the scales there is a huge danger of harming health, one's own and relatives, when using a spoiled product.

Many people think that if eggs are in the refrigerator for only a few days, they are necessarily fresh. However, remember that you can bring already spoiled product from the market or store. To prevent this, pay attention to the expiration date indicated on the package. Also, always check the freshness of eggs using one of the methods listed above.

Hello dear readers! Every day we go to the grocery store to cook delicious, nutritious or quick lunches and dinners. Eggs, which are fried, boiled, added to dough, minced meat, salads and other dishes, are a constant, sought-after product. They are always in the refrigerator, but we do not always remember how long this product has been there. It is impossible to determine by appearance: a rotten egg or not. Today we will talk about how to check eggs for freshness.

Important! Chicken eggs are a valuable source of riboflavin, vitamin A, protein, an integral part of diet food. You need to eat them to maintain the balance of nutrients in the body. It is only necessary to follow a few rules.

In the store, on the market, it will not be possible to determine the “life span” of this product. Watch the expiration date. It is desirable to eat eggs that are no more than 7 days old. The staleness of the purchased goods can lead to food poisoning.

Before cooking, break this ingredient into a separate bowl and carefully inspect.

Transparent part without inclusions, elastic. It may have a yellowish or slightly green tint - this is normal (the presence of carbon dioxide gives color) There is such a product is allowed.

A fresh egg is characterized by a round or slightly elongated yolk, which is surrounded by protein.

A flattened, loose yolk is evidence that the shelf life of the product is running out. You can eat if the white part is transparent, dense, does not separate from the yolk sac.

The contents of the shell have spread out in liquid on the saucer and smell unpleasant, although the shell is intact - discard the ingredient immediately.

How to check the freshness of eggs in water


Another way to test eggs for freshness is to place them in a container of water. Take a deep bowl, fill it with cold water and dip the chicken "component" into it.

The young testicle will quickly reach the bottom of the bowl and will not wobble. The product from a week ago will also sink to the bottom, but the blunt part will be raised up.

An ingredient from a laying hen aged 2-3 weeks will take a vertical position in a container with water, the sharp end looks down. You can eat such an egg only after prolonged treatment with high temperature.

The ingredient hung in the water or floated to the surface - carry it in the trash. Floating is associated with the evaporation of moisture inside and filling the void with air. This is the process of egg rotting. The egg is not suitable for food.

Why shake a chicken egg

In the store, you do not have the opportunity to test chicken products with water or breaking the shell, but you can use the “shaking” method. Bring to your ear and quickly move your hand with the goods.

If no squelching is heard (as if there is water inside), there are no pushes of the yolk into the fingers through the shell when moving - the product is edible. There is no one hundred percent guarantee that today's testicle, but sweeping away the rotten way will help.

When you hear gurgling and hitting the contents in your hand, return the product to the shelf, it is not good for food.

You can see the contents in the light. Lighting power is not less than 100 W indoors or outdoors in sunny weather. An edible egg is distinguished by the location of the yolk strictly in the center, its slight displacement to the sides is permissible. The contours of the embryo (embryo) inside are not allowed.

A light test may show pinpoint blood blotches - this is normal. It is bad when a blood ring is observed, large clots inside, such a component of chicken production is not suitable for food, even after heat treatment.

The protein part of the visible pink hue with multiple dark blotches says that pathogenic microbes multiply under the shell.

Market traders sometimes offer to lick the sharp and blunt edge of the egg: if the second is warmer, then the products are fresh. The method is not justified, you see, it is unlikely to feel the difference of a quarter or half a degree with your tongue, but there is a risk to get microbes, to acquire salmonella.

Some people say that a specific unpleasant odor comes from the shell of a spoiled chicken product. A questionable indicator that does not provide reliable information.

Others say: a freshly laid egg is of an even matte color, there are no spots and darkening of the shell, and a long-standing one shines with a bluish color and becomes shiny. Subjective opinion, there is no practically confirmed information.

Attention: Some advise adding salt to the water to check the freshness of the eggs, arguing that this is a more accurate result. In reality, salt does not affect the final result.

What does egg labeling mean?

"Young" testicles - which are no more than 7 days from the day they were born, they are also dietary. The marking of the first grade indicates the age of the component 7 - 14 days. The third is assigned to a product whose expiration date is about to expire.

Manufacturers often put a blue stamp in the category "dietary" (D) or "table" (C), the date of birth of the testicle. Use this information when buying, it multiplies the chances of getting a quality item.

Not only people love to feast on eggs. The salmonella bacterium carries a dangerous disease of an infectious nature, its favorite dish chicken eggs. Protecting yourself from this scourge is not difficult, observing a number of rules:

  • A dirty shell with lumps of litter adhering to it indicates poor hygiene, a violation of the rules on a poultry farm or a backyard. Try not to buy this kind of product.
  • A cracked outer shell is a sign of a possible infection in the egg contents. You can't eat.
  • Before cooking or eating raw, wash the surface with a sponge and soap under running water. Hands, too, if they touched the egg.
  • Store at -0 - 5C away from raw meat and very fragrant products.
  • Like milk, it can be pasteurized. Break into sterile dishes, after washing. Quickly heat up to + 63C, also quickly cool.


The topic "How to check eggs for freshness" is relevant all year round anywhere on the planet. Knowing the rules for choosing this product, you will protect yourself and your loved ones from unpleasant moments and germs.

Health and prosperity to you!

Chicken eggs are used for cooking almost daily. Whatever the hostess has in mind - from pastries to meatballs - everything requires the addition of an egg. This product contains many vitamins and useful trace elements, in addition, chicken protein is perfectly absorbed by the human body. But if passed, the rotten taste can ruin the whole dish. to avoid this situation?

Method one - water test

The easiest way is to determine the freshness of eggs with cool water. All you have to do is put the product in cold water and see what happens. Fresh like chicken, they immediately sink to the bottom, slightly turning on their side. The old ones try to float or float, and the higher the egg is, the older it is. This method is based on the fact that over time the contents of the shell dries up, more air accumulates under it, which helps to rise to the surface of the water. Therefore, it is better not to use all eggs that confidently float in water.

Method two - shaking

How to determine the freshness of an egg if there is no container of water at hand, but you need to figure it out quickly? It is enough to shake it, placing it between the thumb and forefinger. If the product is fresh, nothing will move under the shell, even if you shake very, very hard.

If the fingers feel the movement of the yolk in different directions, the egg can be safely thrown away.

Method three - shell inspection

For those who cannot complain about observation, there is another way to determine the freshness of an egg. Carefully examine the shell - in fresh eggs it is hard, smooth, looks matte and dry. If it shines, seems greasy and casts gray - the expiration date has already expired. Moreover, you should not eat those products whose shells are soft to the touch. Their contents are definitely rotten.

Method Four - Content Evaluation

If all the previous methods did not reveal anything suspicious, but doubts still remain, break the egg into a separate flat plate. Inspect it: in fresh, the yolk should be dense and round, rather high.

The protein should surround the yolk in a thick layer, without spreading over the surface of the dish. In stale eggs, the yolk looks more squeezed and not so elastic, and the protein spreads all over the plate.

Why is a spoiled egg dangerous?

It is best to remember how to determine the freshness of an egg, and use at least one of the tests described above. Otherwise, the possibility of getting a rotten product into the dish is not excluded. The taste of all other components will be clearly spoiled. If the eggs were bought a long time ago, you should first use those methods that evaluate appearance and do not require violation of the integrity of the shell. If the contents are rotten, they will smell intense and unpleasant. It is advisable to avoid this and not violate the integrity of the eggs that aroused suspicion, immediately carefully throwing them away. So your dishes will always be appetizing, and the kitchen will retain its cozy aromas.

Eggs are a product that can be found in any refrigerator. Have you ever boiled eggs and noticed that they are spoiled? Or perhaps the packaging does not indicate the date by which the product must be consumed, is it possible to eat them at all or is it better to send them to the urn? Determining a spoiled egg is not difficult. In this article, we will tell you how to determine that an egg has gone bad, and how to determine that it can be consumed. If eggs have been in your refrigerator for a very long time, you just need to determine if they are fresh in order to eliminate deplorable situations.

How to test a rotten egg

What does expiration date mean? This is the period of time when the products are the freshest, tastiest, recommended for cooking culinary dishes. It does not mean at all that after this period has passed, the eggs have deteriorated, they are simply inferior in taste to those that are fresher.


The manufacturer's code (letter and number) is indicated on the product.

In many countries, it is customary to indicate the packing time on the eggs themselves. Because they can be sold without packaging by the piece. The manufacturer is obliged to inform about the period of consumption.


In order to avoid a temperature difference, the eggs should be in the coldest part of the refrigerator. The refrigerator door is categorically not suitable for this, because it is here that the temperature regime can fluctuate.

Do not put unwashed eggs that have lain on the table in the refrigerator. In many countries, it is customary for eggs to be kept in kitchen cabinets and not put in a refrigerator. Given that the chickens are given all the necessary vaccinations, nothing will happen to the eggs in the cabinets.


If you do not know if the eggs in your refrigerator are fresh, or there are such suspicions that they have been lying for more than 1.5 months, you need to know the signs of rotten eggs, with which you can easily determine if these eggs can be used in cooking .

How to spot a rotten egg


When a boiled egg has a greenish tint, it has been boiled for too long or there is an excess of iron in the water. It can be eaten.

If you find blood spots in the egg, it can also be eaten, it is quite fresh. This does not affect the taste of the egg itself.

How to tell if an egg is rotten or not


Ideally, if the egg good quality, it should be in a glass on its side.

If the egg is located in a vertical position in water, it was packed a relatively long time ago, but nevertheless it is still suitable for cooking.

An egg that is not fresh enough will not sink. It can still be used in cooking. It needs to be broken into a bowl in order to determine if it is fresh, pay attention to the protein. Eliminate that it is spoiled by smell. An egg that cannot be used is with a pungent odor.


A fresh egg will not make any sounds.

When there are any sounds in the egg, this does not mean that it cannot be eaten, such an egg is quite fresh.


In an egg that is far from the first freshness, the yolk will burst very quickly.

If it floats on the protein, this is also an indicator that the egg is old and it is better not to use it in cooking.

Pay attention to the color of the protein itself. A white with a gray tint means that the egg is very fresh. A transparent protein indicates that the egg is not very fresh, but you can eat it and this will not affect your health in any way.

  • The yolk should always be round, if it is flat - such an egg should never be used.
  • Do not store eggs with the rest of the ingredients, as they will absorb odors in a very short time.
  • If the egg is cracked, it must be consumed within a short period of time.
  • Villagers increase the period of consumption of eggs by lubricating them with sunflower oil.

Be careful:

Children and the elderly are not recommended to eat eggs with an expired shelf life. It is not necessary to rely on the fact that eggs can be consumed for some time after the expiration of consumption, you must definitely know how to check eggs. Be careful not to harm yourself and your family. Always pay attention to the date of manufacture.

It can be quite difficult for many housewives to answer the question of when the eggs stored in the refrigerator were purchased. Not to mention the fact that it is not known how long they lay in the store. Therefore, the question of how to check eggs for freshness often becomes very relevant. This article will cover all the subtleties of identifying "old" eggs and talk about how to conduct simple but effective freshness tests.

Checking chicken eggs for freshness at home

Eggs are considered a valuable source of trace elements and vitamins. “Chicken caviar” is used as an independent dish or various dishes are prepared on its basis.

But if fresh this product only benefits the body, then eating spoiled eggs can lead to poisoning, which leads to serious health problems, even death.

You can identify a product that has been stored for a long time even in a supermarket.

So, the freshness of eggs is determined by the following criteria:

  • Surface structure. The shell of fresh eggs is matte and slightly rough to the touch. Old ones will stand out with a glossy sheen and turn out to be smooth.
  • Smell. The eggshell has the ability to absorb the smells of surrounding objects, like a sponge. If fresh food smells of lime, then over time they will attract extraneous aromas.
  • Sound and vibration level when shaking. If raw egg bring it to your ear and shake it slightly, in the case when it is fresh, there will be no extraneous sounds. Gurgling and vibration occur if the product has been stored for a long time.
  • Product weight. If a fresh egg weighs from 55 to 70 g, then as a result of long-term storage, this figure will decrease.
  • View of the egg in the light. If possible, you need to bring the egg to a window or lighting fixture. When the product is fresh, it will be perfectly visible, in addition, there are no dark blotches inside. And the "air chamber", located in the wide part of the egg, will be barely noticeable. The longer the product is stored, the greater this formation.
  • Reaction to spin. If there is a flat horizontal surface near the counter, place an egg on it and spin it with your fingers. fresh product it will quickly stop its movement, and the one that has been stored for a long time, just like the boiled one, will turn into a “top”.