Quail Eggs & Meat Expiration: Storage and Safety Tips

Quail is a delicacy that brings a touch of elegance to the table, whether you’re serving the petite roasted birds or their speckled eggs. However, because they are smaller than their chicken counterparts, they can be more sensitive to storage conditions.

Here is how to keep your quail meat and eggs fresh.

Quail Meat Shelf Life

Like other poultry, fresh quail meat is highly perishable and needs to be handled with care.

• Refrigerator (Fresh Whole): Lasts 1–2 days.
• Freezer (Fresh Whole): Best within 6 months (180 days).

Handling Tips

• Immediate Cooling: Store fresh quail in the refrigerator immediately after purchase.
• Freezing: If you don’t plan to cook the bird within 48 hours, freeze it. Use moisture-proof wrap or freezer bags to prevent freezer burn, which can dry out the delicate meat.

Quail Eggs: Storage & Freshness

While quail eggs are similar to chicken eggs, their small size means they have a higher surface-area-to-volume ratio, making them prone to drying out faster if not stored correctly.

How to Store Quail Eggs

• Keep Refrigerated: Always store quail eggs in the refrigerator.
• Use the Carton: Keep them in their original carton to protect them from absorbing strong odors from other foods in your fridge.
• Don’t Wash: Do not wash the eggs before storage. Washing removes the natural protective bloom, allowing bacteria to enter the porous shell.

The Float Test (Freshness Hack)

Not sure if your quail eggs are still good? Use the float test.

1. Fill a bowl with water.
2. Gently place the egg inside.
3. If it sinks: It is fresh.
4. If it floats: It has aged significantly and likely gone bad. As eggs age, the air pocket inside grows, causing them to float.

Signs of Spoilage

• Meat: Look for a slimy texture, a gray or dull color, or a foul, sulfurous smell.
• Eggs: If the white is watery or the yolk is flat and breaks easily, the egg is old. A distinct rotten smell when cracked is a sure sign to discard it.