How Long Can Uncooked Eggs Be Left Out
Uncooked eggs can stay out for about 3 days if stored in a cool place. Refrigerated, uncooked eggs will stay good for 4-5 weeks from laying. Cooked eggs should also be stored in your fridge, in a ziplock bag or food storage container. Try to collect the eggs twice a day to reduce the potential for bacteria growth.
Whether they are not cooked or they are, eggs should never sit outside for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour if outside temperatures are 90degF and higher). Because of this, eggs sold in the United States and Canada should never sit out longer than 2 hours, and must be kept refrigerated at all times, with storage times up to 4-5 weeks. For example, if eggs are stored in a cooler set to just 38 degrees Fahrenheit, the eggs are only safe for 20 minutes outside, while they are only safe for one hour outside when temperatures are 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
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Scrambled eggs containing fresh farm eggs may stay outside the refrigerator for up to two hours, with temperatures should be at or below 50 degrees F. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that you do not eat eggs that have been outside the refrigerator for longer than two hours.
| Storage | Shelf life |
| Uncooked | 3-5 weeks |
| Cooked | Up to 7 days (in refrigerator) |
You are in the U.S., so your eggs were supposed to have been kept in the refrigerator, and they are now out without that protection from refrigeration temperature for at least 12 hours. Fresh eggs have a protective coating which helps them to keep for up to five weeks in a refrigerator; after boiling, that protection is removed and eggs only keep one week in the refrigerator. There is no reason to put a mineral-based coating on eggs purchased at a store, since once an egg has been refrigerated, it should actually remain so until you are ready to use it.
The problem is, although cleaning an egg eliminates bacteria, it also removes the natural covering that covers eggs. Another downside of being clean is that the eggs lose their natural protection provided by their shells, requiring them to be refrigerated from this point on. Without most of the cuticle, eggs are generally more vulnerable to infection, so it is recommended to keep them refrigerated in order to slow down bacteria growth.
Since eggs sold in most European countries are unwashed, they have a naturally occurring protective barrier, shielding them from pathogenic bacteria, whether they are refrigerated or not. However, the process of washing damages the eggs natural protective qualities, and thus, in order to ensure that eggs are protected against further contamination, eggs should always be kept refrigerated. Raw eggs that have been removed from the shell must be stored in a tightly covered container.
Regarding the safety of eggs, most US manufacturers of liquid or frozen eggs advise using fresh yolks and whites only if you intend to serve them at room temperature (above about 40F) for longer than two hours. The USDAs own safety guidelines advise against leaving unrefrigerated fresh, shelled eggs for more than 2 hours. USDA experts advise never to leave eggs unrefrigerated for more than 2-3 hours.
The short answer to the question of how long eggs should stay on the counter is two hours, both shelled eggs (i.e., those that are uncooked) and eggs 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. An egg can remain edible for a half-hour at room temperature, up to 24 hours in the sun, and up to 17 days without refrigeration in a warm car. Chickens and eggs must be cooked after sitting at room temperature for only an hour, as salmonella grows on them far more quickly.
Fresh eggs may remain fresh for five to seven weeks at room temperature, but the longer they are left outside, and the warmer they get, the greater chance they have of developing an off-tasting flavor or becoming contaminated with bacteria. If a refrigerated egg is left outside at room temperature for an extended time, it will begin to sweat. A refrigerated egg that has been left out at room temperature on a counter top will start to sweat, creating a germ-growing environment. Taking them out of the refrigerator for too long will result in the fresh eggs getting a chance at bacterial contamination.
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Temperature fluctuations are a risk with eggs, so if you left them overnight in your vehicle, then it is best to throw them out. 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).
Eggs cooked for too long or refrigerated incorrectly may potentially develop harmful bacteria in the yolk or white. Eggs marked Salmonella-vaccinated hens should not be refrigerated, because doing so can actually make them more susceptible to bacteria growth. Eggs are refrigerated almost immediately to prevent the introduction of any new bacteria (salmonella thrives at temperatures of 40-140oF). Eggs that were refrigerated before (like those you buy at a grocery store) should be refrigerated immediately after you buy them.
This, if you ever wondered, is why eggs always have to be refrigerated in the U.S. and Canada, while in Europe and other parts of the world, they are sold and stored at room temperature. If eggs are transported and stored correctly, they can last many weeks in a refrigerator, or even longer in the freezer (8, 9). Your eggs should last about two weeks on the counter, but they may last as long as four when kept refrigerated. You can expect eggs to last at least one week after reaching your local grocery stores shelves.
Cooked eggs should also be stored promptly after being removed from heat, either in a zipper-lock bag or a food-storage container, where they typically will keep 3-4 days. Most containers will have a best-by date stamped on the packaging, but generally, you can count on eggs staying fresh for 4-5 weeks when kept refrigerated at all times. The Incredible Edible Egg says eggs kept refrigerated last for around four to five weeks past their best-by date.
Once eggs are washed, USDA regulations dictate that the cleaned eggs are immediately moved into cooling rooms maintained at 7.2 degrees Celsius (45 degrees Fahrenheit) or lower. It is crucial to wash eggs correctly – failing to do so may actually increase the chances that bacteria will leach from the manure outside of them back into the shell.
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 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.
What happens if you use cold eggs for baking?
Eggs that have reached room temperature are preferable for baking because they blend more evenly in recipes and facilitate dough rising more easily than eggs that have just been pulled from the refrigerator. Cold eggs, on the other hand, may cause uneven batter, a stodgy texture, and demand longer baking times – and nobody wants that!
Can you cook eggs straight from the fridge?
Your eggs can be placed in a steamer insert in a covered pot that is steaming vigorously on the stovetop or you can lower them directly from the refrigerator into water that is already boiling. Reduce the heat to the lowest simmer if it starts to boil. For hard eggs, cook for 11 minutes; for soft eggs, cook for 6 minutes. Serve.