How Long Can You Store Hard-Boiled Eggs In The Refrigerator?
Learn the best way to store your hard-boiled eggs in the fridge, including how long they will last.
Fact checked by Jillian DaraMedically reviewed by Jerlyn Jones, MS, MPA, RDN, LD, CLT
Are hard-boiled eggs one of your favorite breakfast or lunch-time staples? Do you typically make a batch of a half-dozen or dozen hard-boiled eggs and then store them in your fridge so you can grab them for easy consumption when hunger strikes? Well, we're glad you're savvy with time-saving meal prep techniques, but you might not be aware of the following basic food safety guidelines for hard-boiled eggs. Speaking for ourselves, we've definitely left things in our fridge a day or two longer than we should have and still ate the items. No more.
How Long Can You Keep Hard-Boiled Eggs In The Fridge?
According to the FDA, hard-cooked eggs can be stored in the refrigerator up to seven days, whether in the shell or peeled. The eggs have to remain at a temperature of 40° F or below to be safe to eat.
Hard-boiled eggs should be kept whole until you're ready to eat them. Once you use those hard-boiled eggs in a recipe like egg salad or deviled eggs, the lifespan is much shorter. Serve the dish within a day or two, and keep in mind that most leftovers only last three or four days (and that's assuming your eggs aren't already seven days old).
What About Soft-Boiled Eggs?
If you love topping your soups and rice bowls with jammy, soft-boiled eggs, be aware that they are not considered as safe. Undercooked eggs can cause food poisoning and shouldn't be eaten at all by those who are at greater risk for illness. If you prepare soft-boiled eggs, eat them right away or store them in the fridge for two days at most.
How Should You Store Hard-Boiled Eggs?
Because of the contamination risk, hard-boiled eggs should never be stored in their original egg carton. The American Egg Board recommends keeping them in the shell and storing them in a loosely covered container. If you have peeled eggs to store, seal them in a zipped plastic bag.
While you're thinking about it, be sure to always label storage containers—for hard-boiled eggs or otherwise—with the date something was prepared so you know how long it's been in the fridge and you can plan your weekly meals out accordingly.
Can You Freeze Hard-Boiled Eggs?
The American Egg Board doesn't recommend freezing whole hard-boiled eggs, peeled or in the shell.
"Hard boiled whole eggs and whites become tough and water when frozen, so don’t freeze them," the organization states. If you won't be able to eat your hard-boiled eggs anytime soon, freeze the cooked yolks only to use as a topping or garnish in your recipes.
How To Tell If Boiled Eggs Have Gone Bad
Simple observation can tell you if hard-boiled eggs have spoiled. If they smell rotten or off in some way, throw the eggs out. If the texture of the egg or shell turns slimy or chalky, that's another sign they've gone bad.
However, smell and appearance are no guarantee your eggs are germ-free, according to the Centers for Disease Control: "Food that is contaminated with Salmonella or other harmful germs usually looks, tastes, and smells normal." If your eggs weren't properly refrigerated or are over a week old, it's safest to throw them out.
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