How Long Can Raw Eggs Stay Out?
Raw eggs can sit out for only two hours, after which they will start to go bad. It is advised to either cook these eggs after two hours or shift them in the refrigerator. It is also advised to cook eggs thoroughly; the white and the yolk before eating them.
The short answer to the question of how long eggs should remain out on the counter is two hours, both shelled eggs (i.e., those that are uncooked) and those that have been boiled. Generally, cooked eggs can stay at room temperature for a few hours in their shells, and up to two weeks when peeled. Do not wash or scrub the fresh eggs; they can be stored for one month at room temperature or in the fridge for three months. As far as the eggs are concerned, most US manufacturers of liquid or frozen eggs advise using fresh yolks and whites only if you are going to serve them at room temperature (above about 40F) for more than two hours.
Scrambled eggs that include farm-fresh eggs may stay outside of the refrigerator for up to two hours, and should have a temperature at or below 50 F. For example, if eggs are stored in a cooler set to just 38 degrees F, the eggs are only safe to be left outside for 20 minutes, while they are safer for 1 hour when temperatures are at or above 90 degrees F. If kept refrigerated, raw eggs should never be allowed to sit outside of the refrigerator for longer than two hours, because fluctuating temperatures increase bacterial contamination risks.
| Eggs | At room temperature (60-68°F) | Freezer (0°F) |
| Cooked eggs | 2 hours | 2-3 months |
| Fresh eggs | 1 month | 3 months |
| Scrambled eggs | 2 hours | 2-3 months |
| Unscrambled raw eggs | 2-3 weeks | 3 months |
Raw eggs that have been removed from the shell must be stored refrigerated in tightly covered containers. You may let unwashed, unscrubbed raw eggs sit at room temperature for two or three weeks, or keep them at refrigeration temperature for three months. If that coating remains intact, that extends the period of time that you can leave eggs out for without having to refrigerate them, for two to three weeks. Fresh eggs have a protective coating which helps them to keep for up to five weeks when refrigerated; after boiling, the protection is removed and the eggs only keep for a week when refrigerated.
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Whether or not you are refrigerating the eggs, it is critical that you keep a burgeoning (protective covering on the raw eggs, as this extends the shelf life of the eggs. Refrigerating eggs, regardless if you are cooking or not, will help them to last longer, as cooler temperatures tend to inhibit the bacterial growth and delay spoilage. If you are raising your own chickens or buying eggs from a local chicken farmer, you do not have to refrigerate eggs right away. If the eggs you get from a farm are farm-fresh, they have already been washed, you will want to store them in a refrigerator so they stay fresh and delicious.
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When it comes to keeping your fresh eggs, you can store your eggs at room temperature in any sort of container, like a egg skelter, but if you want to ensure they remain fresh, put them into an egg carton. Fresh, uncooked, and unwashed eggs can be kept at room temperature for two or three weeks, unless they are placed in a cooler. Unwashed eggs can be collected and stored at room temperature on the counter of the kitchen for 2-4 weeks, where they will stay just as edible, if not just as fresh, as they were laid. Newly laid eggs can remain outside at room temperature for at least one month before they need to move into the fridge.
Once you have cooled the eggs without washing, you need to maintain this temperature, which will keep them there for two or three months. Eggs that have been previously refrigerated that are left on a countertop at room temperature will perspiration, creating a germ-growing environment. The refrigerator door will have the highest level of temperature fluctuations, which puts your eggs at a higher risk for bacterial contamination.
Temperature fluctuations are a risk to eggs, so you are better off throwing them out if you left them overnight in your car. According to chefs and bakers, unless your kitchen has extreme temperature fluctuations, you cook eggs carefully, and you wash your hands after handling eggs, eggs left outside overnight should be safe to eat. In this case, you should use a food thermometer and cook egg dishes to an internal temperature of 160degF or cooler before eating or refrigerating.
Never leave cooked eggs or eggs dishes outside of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours, or more than 1 hour, when temperatures are over 90degF. Bacteria that can cause disease grow rapidly in warmer temperatures (between 40degF and 140degF). Chickens and eggs should be cooked after sitting at room temperature for only an hour, as salmonella bacteria can grow on them far more rapidly. Leaving them out of the refrigerator too long may result in the fresh eggs getting a little perspiration, which increases the chances that bacteria will enter the eggs.
There is an exception to this rule: If you have to wash the eggs in water, it is okay to keep your eggs straight in the fridge — that is because you removed the blossoms from them (more on that below). If you decide to put your eggs in the fridge (either because you cleaned the eggs and removed the bloom, or because you want to keep them cold), they will be fine for up to six months in the fridge- we would not keep them longer than that. By the way, unless you are using reusable container for eggs storage (like the ones I love best on Amazon), you are limited to the amount of time that your eggs can remain fresh in the fridge. Most containers will have a best-by date stamped on the packaging, but generally speaking, you can count on eggs staying fresh for 4-5 weeks when kept refrigerated consistently.
Eggs kept in sealed containers, like your lunchbox, can easily last for up to six months, and will still have that fresh flavor. Eggs can be frozen up to one year, but they need to be used within four months to maximize freshness. Your eggs should last about two weeks on the counter, but they can last as long as four when kept refrigerated.
The Incredible Edible Egg says eggs kept refrigerated last around four to five weeks past their pack date. The following graphic shows you just how long both cooked eggs and uncooked eggs will last if stored in a fridge. Raw eggs, out of the shell, will keep for up to two weeks if kept at 40-50 degrees F. Because strong smells can create a stinky disaster in the interior of the fridge, they are best stored out of the fridge.
The wash process, however, damages the eggs natural protection qualities, so in order to ensure eggs are protected against future contamination, eggs should always be refrigerated. You can leave eggs on the counter for around two hours at room temperature, or an hour if it is 90 degrees or warmer, before you begin to worry, according to the Egg Safety Center.
How long can I store eggs at room temperature?
According to the Egg Safety Center, you can leave eggs on the counter for roughly two hours at the average temperature or one hour if the temperature is 90 degrees or higher before you start to worry. It would be safer to get a new dozen of eggs after two hours than to take a chance with the old ones.
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Are eggs ruined if left out overnight?
Your eggs should have been refrigerated because you live in the United States, but they have been exposed to warm temperatures for at least a day already. Over two hours without refrigeration is not suggested for eating eggs, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.
Are store bought eggs OK if left out overnight?
The USDA website states that after being refrigerated, eggs must continue to be chilled. “If a cooled egg is left outside at room temperature, it may sweat, allowing bacteria to get inside and proliferate. Eggs shouldn’t be left out in the air for more than two hours after being chilled.”