Why do boiled eggs smell?

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The smell of boiled eggs in one of the most well-known scents to the human nose. Just about anyone can identify the smell of sulfur present when eggs are boiled. However, there is a reason for this odor, and it correlates directly to the freshness of the egg.

Identification

When boiled, eggs let off a very distinct smell, identified as hydrogen sulphide, according to the website Doctors of Smell.

Causes

The smell is generated when the proteins in the egg that carry the sulphur compounds break down during the boiling process, releasing a hydrogen sulphide gas. Fresh eggs only carry a faint sulphur smell; rotten eggs, however, have a much strong smell because of the bacteria present during the rotting process.

Warning

Avoid consuming boiled eggs that have a strong sulphur smell because it is likely that it is rotten.

Testing

To test the freshness of an egg, place it in water. If it sinks, it is fresh; if it doesn't, it could be rotten.

Fun Fact

You can create a strong rotten egg smell by helping your eggs rot faster. Poke a hole with a sharp needle into the top of an egg and then place it in a warm place for roughly seven days. Upon cracking the egg, you will get a whiff of a strong, putrid sulphur odor.

Source:

Abc.net.au: Doctors of Smell: E is for... eggs

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Why do boiled eggs smell?

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