How to store eggs properly to make them last longer, according to food experts

We’re breaking down what you actually need to know about egg expiration dates, the right and wrong way to refrigerate them, plus some hacks you can use to check whether they’re still fresh.

Updated Feb. 27, 2025, 2:30 PM EST

Cory Fernandez

Commerce Editor

For starters, it’s best to keep them in their original carton rather than transfer them to another container, according to experts.Getty Images

Bridget Vickers is a senior chef instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education’s Los Angeles campus, with experience in bread and pastry.

Elisa Maloberti, manager of partner innovation and food safety at the American Egg Board.

Why trust NBC Select?

I’m commerce editor at NBC Select, where I write about home and kitchen-related topics, including food storage. I’ve written about the best stainless steel cookware, how to clean a cast-iron skillet, and have reported on the food and cooking space for almost ten years. For this story, I spoke with culinary school instructors and a member of the American Egg Board, and consulted information from the USDA and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Cory Fernandez

Cory Fernandez is a commerce editor for NBC Select, and an authority on all things food, cooking, kitchen, home, and general lifestyle.