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How Long Do Boiled Eggs Last?
To put it simply, the good thing about boiled eggs is that they can last up to one week after being cooked/boiled, regardless how you are storing them. The storage method doesn’t matter, you just have to keep them in a covered container and then place them in the fridge.
If you are wondering whether or not eating eggs left outside at room temperature is safe, you should know that a hard-boiled egg that is left out in the cold does not last longer than two hours, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Peeled hard-boiled eggs do not last nearly as long as they unpeeled ones, so if you are not planning to eat the eggs in around five days, you can leave the shells on to give yourself an entire week. With this, you will still have up to one week to finish off unpeeled hard-boiled eggs before they eventually spoil, compared to the five days you would need for a peeled one.
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Unpeeled eggs will keep for a couple of days longer than peeled ones, so it may make more sense if you are making a big batch to leave them in their shells. According to the U.S. Egg Board, boiled eggs that are still in their shells will stay delicious for about a week if stored correctly (meaning in a refrigerator not warmer than 40F), but peeled eggs should be eaten on the day. If frozen cooked eggs are still in the shell, the hard-boiled eggs can simply be placed back into the carton they came in and stored.
Whether hard-boiled eggs are peeled or still in the shell, properly stored in a refrigerator, hard-boiled eggs should be consumed within a week of cooking. Hard-boiled eggs that were rapidly chilled and placed in their shells in the fridge Hard-boiled eggs should be consumed within seven days. According to the Food and Drug Administration, you can store hard-cooked eggs in the refrigerator up to seven days after cooking. According to the U.S. Department of Agriclture, you can safely store hard-boiled eggs, either peeled or not, for up to about one week if handled correctly.
Keeping your hardboiled eggs in the fridge helps to suppress bacteria growth, as the bacteria that are potentially harmful grow slowly at temperatures under 40degF (4degC). Bacteria grow rapidly in warmer temperatures and can cause food poisoning, so if you are not ready to serve or eat the eggs, do not remove them from the fridge. Before you boil, discard any eggs with cracked shells or imperfections, advises the FDA.
| Different forms of eggs | Shelf life |
| Boiled egg | Up to 7 days in refrigerator |
| Fried egg | 2 hours at room temperature |
| Half boiled egg | 2 hours |
During boiling, the protective layer coating the shell is removed, making eggs more vulnerable to airborne contaminants and harmful germs (1). The protective coating on the shell is destroyed during boiling, leaving the yolk exposed to air and dangerous microorganisms. Raw eggs have a thicker shell that protects them, keeping out any harmful bacteria that get in and touches the yolk.
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They do not last as long as raw eggs, as the protective coating on the shell is compromised in the cooking process, with exposed pores making it easier for bacteria to enter and contaminate the eggs. Hard-boiled eggs in the shell have a much shorter shelf life than uncooked eggs in the shell, which may last for three to five weeks in the refrigerator. Raw eggs in the shell have an average expiration date of about two weeks, depending on how they are stored. While raw eggs can still be fine for weeks in the fridge, after cooking, they quickly drop their shelf life. How Long To Keep Cracked Eggs According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, fresh, uncooked eggs can last in the refrigerator for three to five weeks.
Because eggs outer shells are brittle after being cooked, you may leave them out unrefrigerated only a couple of hours before they spoil. Cooked eggs and eggs-heavy items such as mayonnaise go sour fast when left unrefrigerated, so do not leave it sitting in heat. Instead, place eggs after boiling into a bowl of ice water, then move eggs into the refrigerator to preserve their long shelf lives.
Simply boil the entire eggs the way you would normally (covered on a burner for 12 minutes or so), allow them to cool, remove the yolks, and pack into a sealed container for freezer-friendly storage. You can freeze the entire eggs — just whisk all of them together, like you would do for scrambled eggs. When the eggs are cold, you can peel them, starting by rolling over a hard surface to help break off the shell; then peel them under running cold water.
Store the eggs cradled in a bowl or an empty egg carton — just make sure you mark them cooked, though, to avoid confusing them with the similarly-looking, unshelled, raw eggs. If you are unsure of how long you have been holding the boiled eggs, look for an emaciated, slimy, or chalky look on the shells. Hardboiled eggs are supposed to last just one to two months in a freezer, so be sure to tag the outside of your container with a date.
A bad hardboiled egg will have a greenish ring around the yolk, which is a sign the egg is not fully cooked and needs to be cooled. Freezing a hardboiled egg is not recommended, as the egg whites and yolks become tough and watery, making it less pleasant to eat.
It is not recommended to store the perfectly cooked eggs in a moldy shell on your fridge door, as you will be opening and closing your cooler every once in a while. Well, if you are going to conceal hard-boiled eggs for hunting, make sure to do it just before you start hunting, so the eggs are still in a two-hour window when you are all found, and they can be put back into the refrigerator for later consumption. If you are planning on eating your Easter eggs, hide them in an enclosed area just before your egg hunt, and refrigerate immediately afterwards. These perfectly cooked eggs will keep in the refrigerator fresh for up to one full week – provided that you keep them promptly (i.e., within two hours of cooking).
If you are not sure how long you have stored your eggs, test your shells on several occasions. Peeled, solid-boiled eggs stored in a refrigerator should be consumed within 48 hours because the surface area of moist egg white is exposed and there is the possibility for growth of microorganisms.
This sounds wonderful, but the pressure washing process also removes the protective blooms from the eggs, which allows bacteria to easily enter the eggs once washed, which is why you need refrigeration. While it is completely safe to put fresh cooked eggs into your refrigerator when they are still warm, you might want to let them cool down slightly to lessen any shock to your refrigerators internal temperature.
How do you tell if boiled eggs have gone bad?
The smell is the first clue that a hard-cooked egg has gone rotten. The egg has gone bad and shouldn’t be eaten if it emits any form of foul, sulfurous, or rotten scent. You might need to crack open the hard-boiled egg if it is still in its shell in order to smell it.
How long do unpeeled boiled eggs last?
The egg’s shell can shield it from microorganisms and keep it from absorbing flavors from other items in your refrigerator. A short beginner’s advice is that hard-boiled eggs can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
Can you eat hard-boiled eggs after ten days?
Hard-boiled eggs can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a week. Both unpeeled or peeled hard-boiled eggs can be consumed within a week after they have been boiled. To remember how long they are refrigerated, write the boiling date on each one and keep them in the refrigerator.