Can eggs with cracks still be eaten?

It really depends on how big the crack is and how long the egg has been sitting around like that. If it's just a tiny hairline crack and you just bought the egg or it was still in the fridge, then you can usually still eat it. The shell mainly protects against bacteria getting in, but if the crack is really small, nothing bad happens.

But if the crack is bigger or the egg has been sitting around for a while, I wouldn't take it. Germs like salmonella can get in through bigger cracks and then it becomes unsafe. And if the egg white or yolk have already leaked out, that's definitely a no-go. How long have you had the egg anyway? And what does the crack look like - pretty small or bigger?

If you're not sure, just cook it thoroughly. With scrambled eggs, omelets, or in cake batter, the germs are gone faster than with soft-boiled eggs. But honestly, when I have doubts, I'd rather throw it away - it just feels too risky to me and eggs don't cost that much anyway.

That's generally okay, but you should keep a couple things in mind. The critical point isn't really the crack itself, but how long the egg has been sitting around like that and under what conditions - if it was at room temperature, bacteria can get in and multiply, then I'd rather skip it. But if you processed the egg right away or it was kept cold the whole time, you can use it without worry, as long as it doesn't smell or look weird. I just process eggs like that right away myself instead of letting them sit around - as someone who has to keep track of things daily, I like to keep it organized and risk-free.

But watch out - if the crack is bigger or the egg's been sitting around longer, bacteria can get in. Then I'd rather just throw it away, too risky for me. With a tiny hairline crack and if it was still fresh in the fridge, it's fine. I've done it plenty of times when I was on the road between trips.

Like I said, it really depends on the circumstances. Personally I'd eat it if the crack is small and the egg was refrigerated, but I'd crack it open first and quickly check if it still smells and looks normal. With bigger cracks or if the egg's been sitting out at room temperature for a while, I'd rather just toss it - it's just not worth the risk to me. Did you have an egg like that at home?