How Long Can Scrambled Eggs Sit Out?
To put it simply, scrambled eggs can sit out for only two hours at room temperature, without going bad. However, it is recommended to lower this time limit to one hour to be on the safe side. This is because bacteria is likely to grow in scrambled eggs quickly in warm temperatures.
You can continue to scramble the eggs at room temperature for 2 hours, but you must then throw them away. Because bacteria are most active at room temperature, you should never keep scrambled eggs more than two hours if you want to be absolutely certain that they are safe to eat. Cooked eggs, just like scrambled eggs, can be left out for up to two hours before you need to store them in the fridge. As a U.S. Department of Agriculture food safety guidance says, a boiled egg may only stay at room temperature for two hours before it is unsafe to eat.
Scrambled eggs cannot sit out overnight, simply because germs multiply in the warm room temperature, making them ripe much faster. As with most meat products, raw, scrambled, or cooked eggs need to be tossed for their own safety if left to sit at room temperature for two hours or more, because the raw eggs will start to sweat, which makes it easier for bacteria to grow. Whether raw or cooked, eggs should never be left out for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour if outside temperatures are 90degF and higher). Temperature fluctuations are dangerous to eggs, so if you left eggs out in your vehicle overnight, then best to throw them away.
Eggs should be stored NOT in the fridge door, but in the refrigerators core, so that they maintain consistent, cold temperatures. The primary way to know you are buying safe eggs is to buy them only when they are located in a cool storage facility. It is recommended that eggs should be stored in a fridge for up to 2 days after being purchased at a market.
| Storage | Temperature | Shelf Life |
| Kitchen counter | 60-68°F | 2 hours |
| In the refrigerator | 32-34°F | 3-4 days |
| Freezer | 0°F | 4 months |
This means if you purchase eggs at a store, they should last you through about late February. Your eggs should last about two weeks on the counter, but they may last as long as four when kept refrigerated. Cooked eggs should also be stored in the refrigerator, promptly placed into a zipper-lock bag or food-storage container once removed from heat, where they typically will last 3-5 days. Second, if you have prepared more eggs than you and your dinner guests at the table will be able to consume, let them cool to room temperature for 5-10 minutes after taking them off the heat, and then seal them in a ziplock bag or food storage container, and put them into the refrigerator.
To learn about How Long Can Smoked Salmon Stay In The Fridge, then check out this article.
Serve eggs and foods made with eggs right after they are cooked, or store and use within three or four days. When serving, you may place one dish of eggs on top of a second plate or bowl filled with ice so it does not sit outside for more than two hours.
The longest time you can leave cooked eggs outside is two hours, unless they are kept refrigerated with ice or warm in a heated plate. If your cooked eggs are left outside for 2 hours, they can appear perfectly normal and safe to eat. This means that there is no sure-fire way to know whether or not your cooked eggs are safe to eat, and those that have been left out longer than recommended should be discarded. Other dishes made with cooked eggs, such as casseroles, frittatas, and omelets, should not be left out more than 2 hours at room temperature.
If you’re interested in How Can I Tell If A Pineapple Is Ripe, then check out my another article.
If you have an oven that has a “heat” setting, that may be a good way to keep your cooked eggs hot enough for eating. At temperatures of 145degF or higher, your scrambled eggs will be hot enough to serve, and you can keep them that way for 2-3 hours. At that temperature, cooked eggs will be hot enough to prevent a scary bacteria infection, but not so hot they continue cooking and become rubbery and inedible.
Eggs can get overcooked, dry, and rubbery if exposed to high temperatures for too long. Otherwise, it would be too warm, and the fridge would need to do more work, and take longer to chill the eggs. It is best to keep the scrambled eggs on one of the shelves in your fridge, not on the door, because the fridge doors experience lots of temperature fluctuations.
If you let your scrambled eggs sit outside in temperatures above 90 degrees F, make sure that they are no longer more than 1 hour old before eating or keeping. If you are serving a buffet of scrambled eggs, you may want to keep it hotter in a casserole dish or double oven over 145 degrees F. to keep potential harmful bacteria from growing in the dishes. You may want to serve eggs in a chafing dish or a double boiler if you are hosting a party or buffet that is going to be going on for more than 2 hours. To ensure the safety of your fresh eggs, keep them stored at a temperature of 40 degrees or cooler at all times.
Taking them out of the refrigerator too long could make them sweat, increasing the chances that bacteria will enter the eggs. It is important to note that eggs lose moisture when exposed to air, so if you are planning on keeping eggs for long periods of time, put them into a bowl covered in plastic wrap. Eggs should always be stored with the largest end facing upwards, just as you would pack eggs into an Egg Box. The easiest way to know whether or not your eggs are fresh is by the best-by date on your eggs carton, which is why it is best to always keep eggs stored in their original carton.
If you have a backyard chicken coop, eggs can be stored at room temperature (ambient) since they are uncleaned and will still have the blossoms intact. You should throw away boiled eggs that you leave in open air for longer than 2 hours, because bacteria grow at a faster rate in temperatures of 40 to 140 degrees F., so the chances are high that the boiled eggs are already infected with bacteria if left out for longer than 2 hours. Never leave scrambled eggs or eggs dishes outside the fridge for more than 2 hours, or more than 1 hour, when temperatures are over 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Bacteria that can cause disease grow rapidly in warmer temperatures (between 40degF and 140degF). Leftover raw eggs whites and yolks should be placed into an airtight container and stored immediately in the refrigerator.
How do you tell if scrambled eggs are undercooked?
Your food’s cooked state can be determined visually by looking for indicators like consistency and color. The presence of liquid in your eggs is another sign that they are still raw. Look for clear, soupy patches in omelets or scrambled eggs. If the egg is over-easy, poached, or basted, you can look at the membrane separating the yolk from the white.
How long are eggs good after being cooked?
Regardless of the method of preservation, they will remain fresh after cooking for about a week. Hard-boiled eggs should be kept in a covered container, such as Glad Entrée Food Container, in the fridge for optimum storage.
Can I eat scrambled eggs that have been left out?
Never keep cooked eggs or egg-based foods out of the fridge for longer than two hours, or for longer than an hour when the temperature is above 90 °F. In heated environments (between 40°F and 140°F), bacteria that might cause sickness to proliferate swiftly.