How long can egg white last in the fridge?
In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “how long can egg white last in the fridge” with an in-depth analysis of the shelf life of egg white. Moreover, we are going to discuss ways to minimize the risk of Salmonella poisoning from eggs.
So without much ado, let’s dive in and figure out more about it.
How long can egg white last in the fridge?
Raw egg white can last for about 2-4 days when stored properly in the fridge at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit in an air-tight container or plastic zipper bag.
Thus, the cold temperature of the fridge will decrease the rate of bacterial growth and will subsequently prolong the shelf life of your egg white.
How long does egg white last at room temperature?
Egg white lasts for about 2 hours when kept out at room temperature.
You should discard the egg white that has been left in open for more than 2 hours as bacterial growth takes place at a faster pace between the temperature of 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, therefore there are greater chances of the egg white being already contaminated with bacteria when left out for more than 2 hours.
Moreover, if the temperature of the surroundings is about 90 degrees Fahrenheit, then the process of spoilage takes place at a faster pace and it is recommended to discard egg white that is left out in the open for more than an hour at 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
How long does egg white last in the freezer?
Egg whites if kept in an air-tight container or air-tight bag in the freezer can last for about 10-12 months provided that they were stored properly but it is recommended to use them within 4-6 months for optimum quality.
Thus keeping the egg white in the freezer will increase its shelf life considerably owing to the cool temperature of the freezer that halts the bacterial growth on egg white.
So what you gotta do is to crack fresh eggs and separate the egg whites from the yolks. Now with the help of a whisk or spoon, mix the egg whites. If you are storing a large number of egg whites then it is recommended to divide egg white into portions or serving sizes that you commonly need for baking or cooking purposes.
The reason for dividing the whole egg whites mixture into portions or serving sizes is that now you can easily thaw the number of egg whites that you need for your recipe while the rest of the egg whites can stay in the freezer untouched.
So once you have divided your egg whites into the required portion, take plastic freezer bags or air-tight containers and add the egg whites to them. Carefully seal the bags while gently squeezing them to eliminate air from them. Label the plastic freezer bags and store them in the freezer.
It is worth mentioning that the figures mentioned above are the estimated shelf life of the egg white.
You can read egg whites nutrition here.
How to thaw frozen egg white properly?
You should always thaw your frozen egg whites by leaving them in the fridge.
The reason behind doing so is that egg whites will gradually defrost in the fridge and they do not have to face extreme temperature fluctuation which can otherwise mess up the quality of egg whites. Moreover, you should never thaw frozen egg whites in the microwave or hot water.
Other FAQs about Eggs which you may be interested in.
How long can cooked eggs be left out?
Ways to minimize the risk of Salmonella poisoning from eggs
The consumption of spoiled eggs is associated with Salmonella poisoning that is a serious condition and is characterized by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. Moreover, it can even prove to be extremely fatal in vulnerable populations.
Therefore you should consider the following tips while buying and storing eggs to reduce the chances of Salmonella poisoning to some extent.
- Do not buy or consume eggs having cracks in them.
- It is better to buy pasteurized eggs and egg products.
- The eggs should be refrigerated promptly. You should always store your whole egg as well as egg whites at 40°F or below. Bacterial growth takes place at a faster pace between the temperature of 40°F and 140°F, therefore it is always advised to store your eggs at a lower temperature.
- Moreover, you should always consider the appearance, consistency, and smell of the egg to figure out whether it is spoiled or not.
Ways to spot bad egg whites
- If you crack your egg and spot some discoloration in your egg whites (presence of pink color) then it means that the egg is spoiled.
- If the consistency of egg whites is runny and thin then it is an indication that they are past their prime time.
- Fresh egg whites do not have a noticeable smell associated with them, therefore if you smell something unpleasant, putrid, or sulfur-like smell while taking a sniff test of your egg whites then it is an indication of bad egg white.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we answered the question “how long can egg white last in the fridge” with an in-depth analysis of the shelf life of egg white. Moreover, we discussed ways to minimize the risk of Salmonella poisoning from eggs.
Citations
https://www.eggs.ca/eggs101/view/39/egg-storage-freshness-and-food-safety
https://www.incredibleegg.org/recipes/egg-tips-tricks/egg-storage/
