Eggs are incredibly versatile and play an important role in countless dishes, from brunch favorites to baked goods. Chances are, if you live in the United States, you have a carton of eggs in your fridge right now, but how long do they stay good, and can you keep them past the date on the package? The answer may surprise you.

In the U.S. and several other countries, eggs are washed and sanitized after they are laid, and therefore must be refrigerated. Raw eggs are good for three to five weeks, even past the sell-by date, as long as you purchase them before that date, put them in the fridge straight away, and follow these other cautionary measures and storage guidelines.

Make sure your fridge is set to 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below, and store your eggs in their original carton in the coldest part of your fridge; never store them on the fridge door, which fluctuates in temperature. Once you crack your eggs open, the yolks will last for up to two days in the fridge, while whites will last up to four days.