Pay attention to this date from now on. It’s not an ordinary expiration date. After working for years and years in grocery stores, I see that most people just randomly buy eggs without really noticing this detail…. I never knew this before 😱

Many experienced grocery employees say they rely on this number more than the expiration date when selecting eggs for themselves. That’s because expiration dates can sometimes be misleading—they’re designed to indicate a window of usability, not necessarily peak freshness. Eggs can be packed days or even weeks before the expiration date is printed, meaning two cartons with the same expiration date could have very different pack dates.

There’s also a simple rule often followed in the industry: eggs are typically safe to consume for several weeks after the pack date if they’ve been properly refrigerated. However, for the best taste and texture, fresher is always better—especially if you’re planning to fry or poach them.