PIP'S TIPS - What's up with those Best Before Dates?

9 September 2026

The 35-day rule

PIPS TIPS - Best Before Dates on Eggs....Under the Rules by MPI when Eggs are laid for the domestic market (that's us in NZ), that is day one and we are to give them 35 days Best Before dates....so we count 35 days ahead and thats the date that you will have on your eggs! This is the same rule for all producers....so when you standing at the supermarket shelf and you can see that the eggs still have 2 weeks before their best before....they are already 21 days old!

Easiest Solution - get your eggs from us!! We pride ourselves on trying to get them to you super quick! Somedays with the organics, you are getting them the same day they are laid!!!

What that actually means for freshness

So what does that 35 days actually mean for freshness? Eggs don't go "off" the way milk does, but they do change over time....the white gets thinner and the yolk sits flatter, which is actually why an OLDER egg is easier to peel once boiled (much easier than a dead-fresh one - who knew!). But for things like a clean fried egg or a proper meringue, fresher is better every time.

Want to check how fresh your eggs really are once they're home in your fridge? Here's a trick that takes about ten seconds and just needs a glass of water: PIP'S TIPS - How Old Are My Eggs?

And if you're wondering whether the fridge or the bench is the right spot for them, I've got you covered there too: PIP'S TIPS - Should I Keep My Eggs in the Fridge?

Best Before isn't the same as unsafe

One last thing worth knowing - Best Before is about QUALITY, not safety. An egg past its date isn't automatically bad, it just might not be at its peak. Give it a sniff or try the water trick above if you're ever unsure.

Hope you all have an eggceptional weekend!