How Long Do Cooked Eggs Stay Good?

In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “How long do cooked eggs stay good”, we will provide you a brief illustration of how long-cooked eggs stay good.

How long do cooked eggs stay good

Cooked eggs easily go bad at room temperature and should not be left out for more than 2 hours, as per the USDA guidelines. If you want to make them last longer, put them in a shallow container in the refrigerator. Firmly cooked eggs stored in the refrigerator can last for up to 4 days. On the other hand, hard boiled eggs can last for a week in the refrigerator.

Cooked eggs should be used within 3 to 4 days if stored in a refrigerator. Provided that the storage temperature of the eggs is ideal which is 40 C or below.

If eggs are not stored properly in a refrigerator they may be a cause of bacterial contamination which ultimately leads to food poisoning.

The different shelf life of cooked eggs are given below:

Raw eggs in the shell: 3 to 5 weeks
Hard-cooked eggs: one week
Casserole with eggs: 3 to 4 days
Scrambled eggs: 3 to 4 days
Quiche: 3 to 5 days

How to Correctly Store Boiled Eggs

When eggs are the protective coat that covers the shell is removed, makings eggs more susceptible to bacterial contamination.

Therefore, it is necessary to keep hard-boiled eggs in a refrigerator from spoiling or contaminating.

Storing eggs in a refrigerator increases their shelf life and decreases the growth of potentially harmful bacteria.

The hard-boiled should be refrigerated within 2 hours of cooking and you should avoid keeping them in the open air.

Hard-boiled eggs in a shell should be placed in their original carton and refrigerated. Soft boiled eggs in their shells can also be stored upright in their egg cartons.

Peeled soft boiled eggs should be placed in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Why should You Store Unpeeled Hard-Boiled Eggs

To stay cautious you should peel hard-boiled eggs only when you are ready to eat them or use them in a recipe. This reduces the chance of contamination.

Peeling hard-boiled eggs before storing them in the fridge will reduce their shelf life to four or five days.

If the eggs are already peeled, you should store them in an air-tight container and should be refrigerated as early as possible.

Do you have to cool hard-boiled eggs before Refrigerating

Although it is perfectly safe to place freshly boiled eggs in the fridge while they are still hot, you should allow them to cool slightly before storing them.

The eggs are cooled off slightly to reduce the disruption to the fridge’s internal temperature. Place eggs into the fridge as soon as they cool down.

To prevent the egg from becoming overcooked, cool them down by placing them in a bowl of icy water quickly. This reduces the formation of a grey-green ring developing around the yolk.

Other FAQs about Eggs which you may be interested in.

Can you refrigerate scrambled eggs?

Can I use whole eggs instead of egg yolks?

Why do Eggs need to be Refrigerated

The eggs are stored in the refrigerator because they are prone to contamination with Salmonella. Its habitats in the intestines of many mammals and it only causes serious infection when it enters the bloodstream of the animals.

Common sources of Salmonella outbreaks are alfalfa sprouts, chicken, and eggs. In the 1970s and 1980s, eggs were estimated to be responsible for 77% of Salmonella outbreaks in the United States alone.

This lead to the improved safety of the eggs and the Infection rates caused by Salmonella have since decreased

Salmonella causes serious infection and typically lasts 4-7 days after eating contaminated food. Its symptoms include the following:

Diarrhea
Vomiting
Fever
Abdominal cramps

How long do hard-boiled eggs last unrefrigerated

hard-boiled eggs will not last for long without proper refrigeration. Cooked eggs and recipes containing eggs expire quickly when they’re unrefrigerated.

When leaving them out in the heat bacteria grow quickly in warm temperatures and can cause food poisoning.

How do You Know if Your Boiled Eggs have Bad

We usually have to rely on our senses to determine if the eggs have gone bad. The first thing you notice is the appearance of the egg and the next thing you notice is the smell.

If you notice an unpleasant smell or small black or green spots, these are signs that your egg has been contaminated by fungi or bacteria

For safe consumption, you should also keep a track of the boiled eggs as to when you placed them in the refrigerator.

Can you freeze boiled eggs

No, it’s not suitable for you to freeze boiled eggs to eat later. Frozen cooked eggs lose a lot of their water when they’re thawed out for eating.

As a result, the eggs have an odd taste, crumbly yolk, and rubbery egg whites that are not pleasant to eat.

So freezing eggs in advance is not suitable as eggs become tough and are not palatable now.

Conclusion

Hard-boiled eggs can be kept for 1 week in your refrigerator.
If the egg develops an unpleasant odor or chalky texture, discard it, as eating spoiled eggs can make you sick.

In this brief guide we answered the question “How long do cooked eggs stay good”, we discussed how long eggs can be kept in the refrigerator under various conditions.

The Whole Portion

How long do cooked eggs stay good?